The Bower
Encyclopedia
The Bower is an 1806 Federal style building in Martinsburg, West Virginia
, USA. It was later remodeled with Gothic Revival features after a fire in 1892. The name appeared as early as 1753 when Major General Adam Stephen
had a hunting lodge at this location.
, a town he founded. The Bower was given to his daughter Ann Stephen and her husband Alexander Spottswood Dandridge, whose first cousin was Martha Dandridge Custis Washington
. The property passed to Stephen's only grandchild, Adam Stephen Dandridge I, in 1791. Dandridge built the main house in 1806. In 1833 The Bower passed to Adam Stephen Dandridge II.
During the American Civil War
, Major General J.E.B. Stuart
set up a headquarters at The Bower at Adam Stephen Dandridge II's invitation. His staff included Generals Wade Hampton
and Fitzhugh Lee
, as well as staff officer Heros von Borcke
from September 28, 1862, to October 10, 1862. A horse bred at The Bower was given as a gift to General Lee to use when his primary mount, "Traveler," needed a rest. That horse was the well known "Lucy Long."
Novelist John Pendleton Kennedy visited The Bower in 1832, and based his novel Swallow Barn on his views of the estate. Danske Bedinger Dandridge, the wife of Adam Stephen Dandridge III lived at The Bower for a time before moving to Rose Brake
. Her poetry appeared in The Century and Harpers
.
In the early 20th century the house became a summer home for Bishop Edmund Pendleton Dandridge, Episcopal Bishop of Tennessee. The property remains in the same family today.
Martinsburg, West Virginia
Martinsburg is a city in the Eastern Panhandle region of West Virginia, United States. The city's population was 14,972 at the 2000 census; according to a 2009 Census Bureau estimate, Martinsburg's population was 17,117, making it the largest city in the Eastern Panhandle and the eighth largest...
, USA. It was later remodeled with Gothic Revival features after a fire in 1892. The name appeared as early as 1753 when Major General Adam Stephen
Adam Stephen
Adam Stephen was a Scottish-born doctor and military officer. He came to North America, where he served in the Virginia colonial militia under George Washington during the French and Indian War. He served under Washington again in the American Revolutionary War, rising to lead a division of the...
had a hunting lodge at this location.
History
A land grant from Lord Fairfax, General Stephen lived at "Bower Lodge" from 1753 to 1772, when he moved to his residence in Martinsburg, VirginiaVirginia
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...
, a town he founded. The Bower was given to his daughter Ann Stephen and her husband Alexander Spottswood Dandridge, whose first cousin was Martha Dandridge Custis Washington
Martha Washington
Martha Dandridge Custis Washington was the wife of George Washington, the first president of the United States. Although the title was not coined until after her death, Martha Washington is considered to be the first First Lady of the United States...
. The property passed to Stephen's only grandchild, Adam Stephen Dandridge I, in 1791. Dandridge built the main house in 1806. In 1833 The Bower passed to Adam Stephen Dandridge II.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Major General J.E.B. Stuart
J.E.B. Stuart
James Ewell Brown "Jeb" Stuart was a U.S. Army officer from Virginia and a Confederate States Army general during the American Civil War. He was known to his friends as "Jeb", from the initials of his given names. Stuart was a cavalry commander known for his mastery of reconnaissance and the use...
set up a headquarters at The Bower at Adam Stephen Dandridge II's invitation. His staff included Generals Wade Hampton
Wade Hampton III
Wade Hampton III was a Confederate cavalry leader during the American Civil War and afterward a politician from South Carolina, serving as its 77th Governor and as a U.S...
and Fitzhugh Lee
Fitzhugh Lee
Fitzhugh Lee , nephew of Robert E. Lee, was a Confederate cavalry general in the American Civil War, the 40th Governor of Virginia, diplomat, and United States Army general in the Spanish-American War.-Early life:...
, as well as staff officer Heros von Borcke
Heros von Borcke
Johann August Heinrich Heros von Borcke was a German American cavalry officer in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War and in the Prussian Army during the Austro-Prussian War.-Biography:...
from September 28, 1862, to October 10, 1862. A horse bred at The Bower was given as a gift to General Lee to use when his primary mount, "Traveler," needed a rest. That horse was the well known "Lucy Long."
Novelist John Pendleton Kennedy visited The Bower in 1832, and based his novel Swallow Barn on his views of the estate. Danske Bedinger Dandridge, the wife of Adam Stephen Dandridge III lived at The Bower for a time before moving to Rose Brake
Morgan-Bedinger-Dandridge House
The Morgan-Bedinger-Dandridge House, also known as Poplar Grove, then Rosebrake, is part of a group of structures affiliated with the Morgan's Grove rural historic district near Shepherdstown, West Virginia. The house was known as Poplar Grove until 1877. The original building was built circa...
. Her poetry appeared in The Century and Harpers
Harpers
The Harpers are a fictional and semi-secret organization in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of the role playing game Dungeons & Dragons...
.
In the early 20th century the house became a summer home for Bishop Edmund Pendleton Dandridge, Episcopal Bishop of Tennessee. The property remains in the same family today.