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MOST SIGNIFICANT SAVE OF AN ENDANGERED SITE AWARD, 2015 HISTORIC PRESERVATION AWARDS

10/12/2015

 
The Significant Save of an Endangered Site Award – sponsored by the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation – was presented to Happy Retreat in Charles Town, West Virginia.  The award was accepted by Walter Washington on behalf of Friends of Happy Retreat. Walter is a direct descendant of President George Washington.

​In 2010, Happy Retreat was added to the Endangered List.  Happy Retreat is located in Charles Town and was the home of Charles Washington, youngest brother of George Washington and founder of the City of Charles Town.  It is a 6500 square foot mansion situated on a 12.2 acre lot along with several historic outbuildings.  Because of Charles Town’s proximity to Washington DC, the press for residential development had greatly increased and Happy Retreat was put on the market. The threat was that it might be sold to developers and the 12.2 acres would be developed into single or multifamily homes.
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After almost ten years of tireless fundraising, Friends of Happy Retreat acquired the property and have protected the site from residential development.  Like many preservation projects, this was made possible through effective partnering, as well as generous donations.  Last December, the City of Charles Town and Friends of Happy Retreat agreed to work together to purchase the 12.2-acre property. The City agreed to purchase 10 acres of land, which it will include in a planned linear park along Evitts Run in Charles Town’s West End. Friends of Happy Retreat agreed to purchase the house, historic outbuildings, and the 2.2 acres of remaining land. The Happy Retreat grounds will also connect to existing City of Charles Town park and recreational lands, as part of an overall Charles Town initiative to revitalize the community’s west end.

We are celebrating this acquisition today but please remember that funds are still needed to preserve and re-use the property for an educational facility.

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  • AmeriCorps
    • About Preserve WV
    • Current Preserve WV Members
    • Join Preserve WV AmeriCorps
    • Preserve WV Stories
    • Sponsor a Member
  • Programs
    • Advocacy >
      • Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits
    • Annual Awards
    • Blair Footsteps Interpretive Trail
    • Historic Masonry Workshop
    • Historic Wood Window Preservation Workshop
    • West Virginia Endangered Properties >
      • West Virginia Endangered Properties List >
        • Endangered Properties Blog
        • Saved Sites
        • Lost or Archived Sites
    • West Virginia Historic Preservation Conference
    • Webinars >
      • Webinar Archive
    • West Virginia Historic Theatre Trail >
      • Movie Theatres of West Virginia
    • WV New Deal Trail
  • Resources
    • Fund Your Preservation Project >
      • Historic Preservation Loan Fund
      • Saving Historic Places Grant
    • Consultants and Contractors
    • Preservation Techniques >
      • Historic Building Assessment
      • How to Recycle Asbestos
      • Mothballing Property
      • Window Rehabilitation
    • Frances Benjamin Johnston: A West Virginia Icon >
      • Selected Photos
      • Behind the Lens Activity
    • Historic Preservation Degrees
  • News
    • Preservation Spotlights
    • Monthly E-newsletter
  • Contact
    • About Us >
      • Our Team
      • Our Story
  • Give
    • Become a Member of PAWV
    • Give Online
    • Ways to Give to PAWV
    • #GivingTuesday
    • Volunteer