Gap View Farm
Encyclopedia
Gap View Farm, near Charles Town, West Virginia
, is a historic farm complex built in 1774. The farm was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
on January 9, 1997.
made by the Potomac River
at Harpers Ferry.
, Virginia
, in 1770 and began clearing the property. A small limestone house was built by Baker in 1750, on property that was granted to Henry Lloyd by Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron
. The main house of the farm was built by Baker in 1774. At Baker's death in 1820, the property was sold by Baker's widow, Jacobina, to James L. Ranson. When Ranson fell on hard times, he sold it to Parker Strode in 1868. In 1871, the property was acquired by Charles Aglionby, who owned the adjoining Mount Pleasant estate and a portion of Media Farm
. Over time the house was expanded in four phases. In 1937, the farm was again sold to a family by the name of Barlett.
In 1954, the farm was purchased by World War I
veteran
Frank Buckles
and his wife Audrey (who died in 1999). Their daughter Susannah was born there in 1955 and would come back to live there after her Mother's death. Buckles would ultimately become the last U.S.
survivor of World War I, and lived there until his death on February 27, 2011 at the age of 110.
On January 9, 1997, the farm and property were placed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
Many local agencies have worked with the Flanagans to trees and shrubs, as well as wetland species of trees and shrubs, along the property's stream and wetland areas.
The Flanagans also installed 15,000 feet of fencing as part land retirement program called the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. The fencing separated the farm's conservation areas from the farm's other residents, 130 head of cattle.
In July 2009, it was announced that the farm was in the running for the West Virginia Conservation Farmer of the Year, though it is unclear if the farm won. The farm had won Jefferson County Conservation Farmer of the Year in 2009.
In October 2009, the property was being "challenged" by development, causing the Flanagans to consider the West Virginia Agricultural Land Protection Program to prevent that from happening.
Charles Town, West Virginia
Charles Town is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,907 at the 2000 census. Due to its similar name, travelers have sometimes confused this city with the state's capital, Charleston.-History:...
, is a historic farm complex built in 1774. The farm was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on January 9, 1997.
Origin of name
The property gets its name from its view of the gap in the Blue RidgeBlue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
made by the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
at Harpers Ferry.
History
Walter Baker came to then, Berkeley CountyBerkeley County, West Virginia
Berkeley County is a county located in the Eastern Panhandle region of the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population is 104,169, making it the second-most populous county in West Virginia, behind Kanawha...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, in 1770 and began clearing the property. A small limestone house was built by Baker in 1750, on property that was granted to Henry Lloyd by Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron was the son of Thomas Fairfax, 5th Lord Fairfax of Cameron and of Catherine, daughter of Thomas Culpeper, 2nd Baron Culpeper of Thoresway....
. The main house of the farm was built by Baker in 1774. At Baker's death in 1820, the property was sold by Baker's widow, Jacobina, to James L. Ranson. When Ranson fell on hard times, he sold it to Parker Strode in 1868. In 1871, the property was acquired by Charles Aglionby, who owned the adjoining Mount Pleasant estate and a portion of Media Farm
Media Farm
Media Farm is a farm complex near Charles Town, West Virginia that dates to 1780, and has remained in the same family ever since. The property was acquired by Charles Yates, an English immigrant, from Thomas Rutherford. In the twentieth century, author Julia McDonald Davis spent her childhood...
. Over time the house was expanded in four phases. In 1937, the farm was again sold to a family by the name of Barlett.
In 1954, the farm was purchased by World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
Frank Buckles
Frank Buckles
Frank Woodruff Buckles was the last surviving American veteran of World War I. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1917 and served with a detachment from Fort Riley, driving ambulances and motorcycles near the front lines in Europe.During World War II, he was captured by Japanese forces...
and his wife Audrey (who died in 1999). Their daughter Susannah was born there in 1955 and would come back to live there after her Mother's death. Buckles would ultimately become the last U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
survivor of World War I, and lived there until his death on February 27, 2011 at the age of 110.
On January 9, 1997, the farm and property were placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Conservation
Susannah Buckles Flanagan and husband Mike Flanagan run the day-to-day operations of the farm and have made the farm more eco-friendly. In May 2008, volunteers planted over 1,000 trees and shrubs on the farm.Many local agencies have worked with the Flanagans to trees and shrubs, as well as wetland species of trees and shrubs, along the property's stream and wetland areas.
The Flanagans also installed 15,000 feet of fencing as part land retirement program called the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. The fencing separated the farm's conservation areas from the farm's other residents, 130 head of cattle.
In July 2009, it was announced that the farm was in the running for the West Virginia Conservation Farmer of the Year, though it is unclear if the farm won. The farm had won Jefferson County Conservation Farmer of the Year in 2009.
In October 2009, the property was being "challenged" by development, causing the Flanagans to consider the West Virginia Agricultural Land Protection Program to prevent that from happening.
External links
- Gap View Farm, Charles Town vicinity, Jefferson, WV: 2 photos and 1 data page at Historic American Building Survey