Cedar Lawn, human settlement in Charles Town, West Virginia, United States of America
Cedar Lawn is a two-story brick house built in 1825 in Charles Town for John Thornton Augustine Washington, a relative of the first president. The structure features a hipped roof with two central chimneys, a one-story eastern porch in Greek revival style with a pediment, and an adjoining kitchen wing on the south side.
The property was originally part of the larger Harewood estate before Thornton Washington built a log house called Berry Hill around 1780. That structure burned down, prompting John Thornton Augustine Washington to construct the current Cedar Lawn in 1825 as its replacement.
The property takes its name from the cedar trees that grow on the estate. The house represents how relatives of George Washington established themselves in the region during the early 19th century.
The house is a private residence viewable from the exterior and is located about 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Charles Town off Earl Road. The site is part of the Washington Heritage Trail and can be explored as part of a self-guided tour of the area's historical properties.
One of the owner's sons, Benjamin Franklin Washington, led a group of 80 young men to California in 1849 during the Gold Rush and later became the first editor of the San Francisco Examiner. This unexpected connection to a pivotal moment in American history reveals how far the family's influence extended beyond the region.
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