Harewood, human settlement in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States of America
Harewood is a plantation estate in Jefferson County with a large house built from local limestone around 1770. The two-story building displays Georgian architecture with symmetrical Palladian styling and sits among over 268 acres of green fields and pastures.
Samuel Washington, brother of President George Washington, built the house around 1770 and made it a center for family and community. In 1794, future second president James Madison married Dolley Payne inside the house, making it a place of national historical importance.
The name Harewood comes from an old English word for the sycamore tree, which grew in this region. The Washington family shaped life on the estate and made it a place where important moments took place, including the wedding of James Madison inside the house.
The estate sits on the edge of Charles Town and is accessible by walking through the generous grounds with old trees and open spaces. The best time to visit is in good weather when you can examine the architecture outside and explore the landscape surrounding the house.
A marble fireplace mantel, possibly a gift from Lafayette to George Washington, was later installed in the house as a rare sign of French friendship from the American independence era. Historical surveys from the 1930s document the building in detailed records that preserve its structure for future generations.
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