Sycamore Dale, human settlement in West Virginia, United States of America
Sycamore Dale is a large brick house in the Greek Revival style that rises from the hillsides of Hampshire County southwest of Romney, overlooking the South Branch Potomac River. The two-story structure features a distinctive wide portico with eight Tuscan columns, tall six-over-six sash windows, and hand-carved interior woodwork that exemplifies rural architecture from around 1836 to 1839.
The house was built between 1836 and 1839 for David Gibson, a local businessman and influential figure in Romney who held the property until his death in 1870. During the Civil War, the house served multiple roles, from a hidden position for Confederate sharpshooters to a temporary Union headquarters, and the site became the location where McNeill's Rangers surrendered in April 1865 as fighting in the region wound down.
The house embodies early 19th-century American taste through its classical columns and hand-carved woodwork, reflecting the wealth and refinement of its original owners. The carefully preserved interior spaces, filled with period furnishings and original details, show how prominent families in the region lived and expressed their status through their homes.
The house is a private residence today and not open to the public, though the classical facade with its prominent columns is visible from the adjacent rural road. The location on County Route 8 southwest of Romney allows visitors to view the exterior architecture and the scenic river landscape in which the structure sits as a registered landmark on the National Register of Historic Places.
Bullet holes from the Civil War remain visible in the interior woodwork, documenting a skirmish in 1861 when Union soldiers were persuaded to spare the house from destruction. General Lew Wallace, later author of the celebrated novel Ben-Hur, spent time at the house and reportedly wrote portions of his famous work while staying there.
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