Happy Retreat

Happy Retreat is a historic estate in Charles Town, West Virginia, associated with Charles Washington, the youngest brother of George Washington and the founder of Charles Town. The property began as Washington's residence and agricultural estate in the Shenandoah Valley and later developed into a substantial brick mansion through several building phases. It is also known by the names Charles Washington House and Mordington. Charles Washington inherited land in the Shenandoah Valley after the death of his older brother Lawrence in 1752. In 1780, Charles and his wife, Mildred, moved from the Fredericksburg area to the property. By that time, two one-story structures had been built on the site, separated by a breezeway or portico. Washington called the property Happy Retreat. The estate was located beside land that became the town of Charles Town, which the Virginia General Assembly formally established in 1786 on 80 acres of Washington's property. Washington contributed to the planning of the new settlement and its early construction. The property's earliest development may predate the traditionally cited 1780 establishment date. A date of 1768 appears on the cornerstone of the old kitchen, although the date has not been conclusively authenticated. Architectural evidence suggests that the kitchen and brick smokehouse may be pre-Revolutionary, while a former clay-chinked limestone quarters building may have been even older. The estate also retains an octagonal wooden powder house, traditionally associated with Revolutionary-era storage and later used as a schoolhouse for Charles and Mildred Washington's children. George Washington visited his brother at Happy Retreat on several occasions. One documented visit occurred in June 1788, when George Washington traveled through the region while examining the Potomac River corridor and spent a night at the property. Charles Washington transferred his holdings to his son Samuel and Samuel's heirs shortly before his death in 1799. In 1800, Samuel Washington sold Happy Retreat, including the mansion and approximately 100 acres, to Thomas Hammond. The property remained in the Hammond family until 1837, when George Washington Hammond sold it to Isaac R. Douglass, a circuit court judge and real-estate investor. Douglass completed the estate's central section and connected the earlier wings, creating the principal form of the mansion. He renamed the property Mordington, after an ancestral estate in Scotland. Later ownership changes brought the original Happy Retreat name back into use, and William and Mrs. Gavin acquired the property in the 1960s. Architectural analysis identifies three principal construction phases. The first included the old stone kitchen and part of the west wing. The second added the brick portion of the kitchen and the one-story east wing. The third, undertaken after Douglass's 1837 purchase, raised the wings to two stories and added the large two-and-a-half-story central block. The resulting white-painted brick house has a formal facade with a Doric pediment, elliptical fanlight, three-bay front, and a one-story porch supported by Doric columns. Its wings are joined to the center by short hyphens and have stepped masonry gables. Some exterior details reflect later revival-style alterations. Happy Retreat is best understood as a historic property and cultural-heritage site rather than a conventional commercial brand. Its significance derives from its connection to the Washington family, the founding history of Charles Town, its layered eighteenth- and nineteenth-century construction, and the survival of associated outbuildings. In 2014, the City of Charles Town began working toward purchasing the house for inclusion in the municipal parks system. The available reference material does not establish the final ownership outcome or a current operating model.

Happy Retreat developed from land in the Shenandoah Valley inherited by Charles Washington after the death of his older brother Lawrence in 1752. Charles was still a teenager at the time and initially lived near Fredericksburg, Virginia. In 1780, he and his wife, Mildred, relocated to the inherited property. Two one-story structures had been erected by then, and Washington gave the estate the name Happy Retreat. The property became closely connected with the founding of Charles Town. In October 1786, the Virginia General Assembly authorized the creation of Charles Town on 80 acres of Washington's land adjacent to Happy Retreat. Charles Washington helped lay out the town and participated in its early development. The estate therefore served not only as a private residence but also as a base associated with the formation of the surrounding community. The date of the property's earliest occupation remains partly uncertain. Although 1780 is commonly used as the establishment date, the old kitchen bears a 1768 cornerstone date that has not been definitively verified. Building materials and construction methods suggest that the kitchen and old brick smokehouse may date from before the American Revolution. A limestone quarters building that survived until relatively recently may also have been an early structure. An octagonal wooden powder house, comparable in form to one at Mount Vernon, remains on the property. It is traditionally associated with Revolutionary-era powder storage and was subsequently used as a schoolhouse for Washington's children. George Washington visited Happy Retreat during the period when his brother was developing the property. A particularly well-documented visit took place in June 1788. George Washington traveled through the region in connection with his interest in improving navigation along the Potomac River, reached the area near Harper's Ferry, and then went to Happy Retreat, where he dined and spent the night. His diaries record other visits to Charles Washington during the same general period. In the months before Charles Washington died in April 1799, he transferred his property to his son Samuel Washington and Samuel's heirs. This explains why the estate was not part of Charles Washington's property for distribution through his will. On February 23, 1800, Samuel sold Happy Retreat, together with the mansion and roughly 100 acres, to Thomas Hammond. The property remained with the Hammond family until 1837. George Washington Hammond sold the estate in 1837 to Isaac R. Douglass, a circuit court judge and real-estate investor. Douglass expanded and formalized the house by completing the central section and connecting the two earlier wings. He called the enlarged mansion Mordington, adopting the name of an ancestral Scottish estate. Later owners used different names, but the property eventually reverted to Happy Retreat. William and Mrs. Gavin became owners in the 1960s. Modern historical-engineering analysis divides the physical development of Happy Retreat into three phases. The first phase comprised the old stone kitchen and part of the west wing. The second included the brick portion of the kitchen and the one-story east wing. The third followed Douglass's acquisition in 1837 and added second stories to the wings as well as the large two-and-a-half-story central block. The main building is white-painted brick, with a formal central facade, Doric pediment, elliptical fanlight, three-bay arrangement, and a porch supported by Doric columns. The wings are connected by short hyphens and terminate in stepped masonry gables. While the house retains a distinctive historic massing, portions of its exterior have been modified with revival-style details. In September 2014, Charles Town began efforts to purchase Happy Retreat for inclusion in the municipal parks system. The supplied material does not document the conclusion of that effort, subsequent ownership, or the property's current public-access arrangements. The estate's importance rests on its architectural evolution, its association with Charles and George Washington, and its role in the early history of Charles Town.

• 2014

  Charles Town explored municipal acquisition

  [1]Happy Retreaten.wikipedia.org

  The city began efforts to purchase Happy Retreat for incorporation into its parks system.

• 1960

  The Gavin family acquired the property

  [1]Happy Retreaten.wikipedia.org

  William and Mrs. Gavin purchased Happy Retreat during the 1960s; the exact year is not specified in the reference material.

• 1837

  Isaac R. Douglass expanded and renamed the mansion

  [1]Happy Retreaten.wikipedia.org

  Judge Isaac R. Douglass acquired the property, completed the central block and connections between the wings, and renamed the estate Mordington.

• 1800

  Samuel Washington sold the estate

  [1]Happy Retreaten.wikipedia.org

  Samuel Washington sold Happy Retreat, including the house and approximately 100 acres, to Thomas Hammond.

• 1799

  Charles Washington transferred his property to his heirs

  [1]Happy Retreaten.wikipedia.org

  Shortly before his death, Charles Washington transferred his holdings to his son Samuel Washington and Samuel's heirs.

• 1788

  George Washington visited Happy Retreat

  [1]Happy Retreaten.wikipedia.org

  George Washington visited his brother's property during a journey connected with examination of the Potomac River route and spent a night at the estate.

• 1786

  Charles Town was established beside the estate

  [1]Happy Retreaten.wikipedia.org

  The Virginia General Assembly authorized Charles Town on 80 acres of Charles Washington's land adjacent to Happy Retreat.

• 1780

  Washington family moved to Happy Retreat

  [1]Happy Retreaten.wikipedia.org

  Charles and Mildred Washington moved from the Fredericksburg area to the estate, which Charles named Happy Retreat.

• 1752

  Charles Washington inherited Shenandoah Valley land

  [1]Happy Retreaten.wikipedia.org

  Charles Washington received land in the Shenandoah Valley following the death of his older brother Lawrence Washington.

A historic house and heritage property interpreted through its connections to Charles Washington, George Washington, the founding of Charles Town, and layered eighteenth- and nineteenth-century architecture.

• Historic house and cultural-heritage property

  Happy Retreat historic estate

  The principal offering or asset associated with Happy Retreat is the historic estate in Charles Town, West Virginia. It includes the main white-painted brick mansion, earlier east and west wings, a historic kitchen, a brick smokehouse, and an octagonal wooden powder house. The property is significant for its association with Charles Washington, George Washington, and the founding of Charles Town. Its present public-access and operating arrangements are not established by the supplied sources.

• 2014

  Proposed transfer into the Charles Town parks systemStrategy

  Background

  Charles Town sought a long-term civic preservation and public-use role for the historic property.

  Action taken

  The city began working toward purchasing Happy Retreat for inclusion in its parks system.

  Aftermath

  The supplied reference does not confirm whether the proposed purchase was completed.

  Source

1. 1Happy Retreaten.wikipedia.org
2. 2Friends of Happy Retreathappyretreat.org