Blakeley

Blakeley
Blakeley and Claymont Court face each other across the lush valley of the Bullskin’s North Fork with Huyett Road crossing between them. Blakeley was built by John Augustine Washington II, Bushrod’s brother. Blakeley is not as grand as Claymont Court. It is said that this was because John A. knew that he would inherit Mount Vernon. In 1829 Mount Vernon did become his and Blakeley was used as a summer home. John Augustine II had two sons, John Augustine III and Richard Blackburn. Richard inherited Blakeley and lived there with his family through the calamitous Civil War.

In 1864 Blakeley burned. Richard succeeded in rebuilding the house and lived there with his large family until 1875. After the war was lost and unable to recover from financial troubles, Richard sold Blakeley at auction. The purchaser was his niece Louisa Fontaine Washington Chew whose husband was Col. R. Preston Chew, famed commander of Confederate artillery unit “Chew’s Battery.”

In the 1940s R. J. Funkhouser bought Blakeley. He restored the house and added the front with its Doric columns. Blakeley is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

If you go: Located at 24 Blakeley Farm Lane, Charles Town, WV, Privately-owned residence is not open for tours.