×

DAR gives $10K to Henderson Hall

PARKERSBURG – Henderson Hall in Boaz has received $10,000 from the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

“Isn’t that wonderful,” said Dave McKain, curator and director of the 19th century mansion located south of Williamstown on River Road off West Virginia 14.

The grant is through the Special Projects Grant sponsored by the Blennerhassett Chapter of the DAR and will be used to catalog and preserve the massive amount of documents and other artifacts at Henderson Hall, McKain said.

“Which is voluminous,” he said.

The funds will be matched with $10,000 already obtained by the McDonough Foundation, he said.

However, the archival project will take more than $20,000 because of the two centuries worth of material stored at the mansion, McKain said.

“But it’s a wonderful start,” he said.

Someone with experience will be hired for the project, perhaps in the next month, McKain said.

“It’s going to take years to get that stuff straightened out,” he said.

Henderson Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The mansion was completed in 1859 by George Washington Henderson and the plantation once comprised 2,000 acres that went into Williamstown. The house was constructed of brick fired on the estate.

The U.S. Department of the Interior in 1957 designated 65 acres and the family cemetery as the Henderson Hall Historic District.

It is among the few surviving homes in the U.S. with artifacts preserved by a family that knew George Washington, George Mason, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. For example, there is a deposition sent to President Jefferson and Secretary of State Madison by the Hendersons warning them of a plot by Aaron Burr and Harman Blennerhassett.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today