GREENBRIER COUNTY W.Va. (WVDN) – The Greenbrier Historical Society cannot wait to have guests at the opening event and home tours of the Home Tour Weekend in the Frankford/Renick area of the Greenbrier Valley. Dr. Sarah McCartney will lead off with a presentation about the history of the “Spring Creek” area at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, June 13, in the auditorium of the New River Community and Technical College with refreshments on the lawn at the North House. The event will conclude on Saturday, June 14 with the Home and History Tour from 10-4 pm. This is a major fundraiser for GHS and virtual tickets for all events as well as ticket packages are available on the GHS website https://bit.ly/ghshometourtickets
In addition to tours of the Charles Stuart House, Buffalo Ridge, and the Bright-Wilson House, the historic Frankford Presbyterian Church will be open for visitors.
The Frankford Presbyterian Church was organized in 1853 and the building was erected in 1855. The building retains many of its original features including the chandelier. When State Route 219 was built it ran through both “the church’s hitching ground and over the site of the Dowd School in which log structure the local church was organized and in which the Session often met until 1858….” The only grave in the churchyard is that of Rev. Samuel Henry Brown, the first pastor, who was ordained and installed on November 23, 1855. He was stricken by typhoid fever and died on August 1, 1857. The balcony pews were for enslaved people and all pews are original. Visitors can see the original log floor joists and beams through an opening in the basement. The present congregation will be offering refreshments and visitors may use their bathrooms.
The Home and History Tour this year offers two special “view spots.” The first is the Bowen-Simmons House. Please drive by and use your imagination to picture the Bowen-Simmons House when it was built by James Bowen in 1822. This house contains 30 windows, each with 18 panes, making a total of 540 panes of glass that had to be acquired in 1822. The fireplace mantles and window and door facings are by Conrad Burgess, noted local wood carver. The bricks for the building were burned on site. As the father of thirteen children, nine of whom were daughters, Bowen designed what amounts to two houses side by side with two front doors. He planned to keep his daughters safe from suitors on one side and himself peaceful on the other side. Daughters are ingenious at finding ways around fathers and soon all were married to local men!
The second “view spot” is the Renick House or the Cave Farm. It is one of the most striking houses along Rt. 219 and sits on some of the 400 acres of choice farmland purchased from Robert McClanahan by William Renick, likely in 1769 when he visited the area in the company of John Stuart. Having married Sarah Hamilton in 1768, William Renick built a log cabin and stockade fort. In 1793 or 1794, they constructed a fine house of native stone. Built around the same time as Old Stone Church, it may have been built by the same mason. The inside woodwork is cherry and it had a detached kitchen.
Around 1825, at a time when other stately brick houses were being constructed in the area, a brick addition was made to the north end of the house by William Renick II. This addition is a completely separate structure built against the side of the stone house and connected to it by an inside door. The brick structure has a single large square room on the first floor with a stair on the rear wall leading to a similar room above. The woodwork was lavishly carved by Conrad Burgess.
While visitors are in the area, there are several points of interest available to explore. “Old Renick,” down by the Greenbrier River, will be available to explore with the help of signage which identifies landmarks from bygone days. The Renick Community Center will have a photo and history display to assist with further learning. Dr. Kim McBride, Vice President of GHS, said, “I am so excited by all the history available on this tour. Who knew that lumber for the largest desk factory in the country was processed in Renick?” Visitors will also be welcome at Falling Springs Vinyard.
Food will be available at Mountain Table and the Good Roads Bakery in the immediate area as well as all the fine, award winning restaurants in Lewisburg.
More information and virtual tickets are available online on the GHS website with a discount for early purchase. Visitors who have purchased tour tickets can claim their wrist bands and brochure/map at any site and sites can be visited in any order. Day-of tickets can be purchased by cash or check at any site or by credit card at the North House Museum or by logging on to the GHS website by phone.
