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Phelps-Tavenner House a doorway to Wood County’s past

Dottie Bibbee, vice president of the Wood County Historical Society, points out fire damage that occurred to the home during the Civil War Era that can still be seen all these years later. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Historical and Preservation Society and the Wood County Public Library teamed up Saturday to reconnect Parkersburg to its roots with a fun-filled day of activities at the Phelps-Tavenner House, the oldest residence in the county on an original site.

It was the last day of the Spring History Scavenger Hunt at the historic house, and included the hunt and a Garden Heritage Day celebration. The celebration included a children’s librarian reading garden-related stories to children and “garden art treasures” for sale to benefit the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society.

The National Register lists the house as being built circa 1810, when the region was the American frontier, but through lore and other documents “we feel it was probably built prior to 1799 and is the actual place where Wood County was formed,” said Dottie Bibbee, vice president of the Wood County Historical Society.

Built by Col. Hugh Phelps, the house, located at 2401 Camden Ave., is the most historic property in Wood County, relating specifically to the pioneers of the area.

According to Bibbee, who was one of multiple people stationed around the grounds to tell the history of the house, the home was the gathering place for many of the political, economic and social events of the day.

The Wood County Historical and Preservation Society and the Wood County Public Library teamed up on Saturday to reconnect Parkersburg to its roots with a fun filled day of activities at the Phelps-Tavenner House Saturday. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

Phelps himself served as sheriff of Wood County, and was an early justice for the county and a colonel in the 113th Regiment of the Virginia Militia.

Phelps also operated a tavern, or “ordinary,” most likely in his house, where travelers and influential men of the area enjoyed food, conversation and “spirits.”

Wood County was formed in Hugh Phelps’ house and it served as the first Wood County Courthouse.

According to Bibbee, Col. Thomas Tavenner purchased the house when Phelps died in 1823. It was owned by Tavenner’s family until the last grandchild died in 1940.

Tavenner was also a militia officer and prominent early settler of the area, having roles in local and state government. He served as justice of the peace, was on the Wood County court, served as deputy sheriff and was elected to the Virginia Legislature.

Maps of Wood County over the years can be found in the resource building at the Phelps-Tavenner House and are available for use by the public. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

The Phelps-Tavenner House was acquired by the historical society in 2015. Since its construction and until 2014, the last owners being the Life family, the house was used as a residence. The home is now called the Phelps-Tavenner Research Center.

The house has been remodeled to some extent over the years.

Through the scavenger hunt, participants were able to locate things such as sections of the house that showed signs of fire damage, which happened during the Civil War Era and was not repaired; sections of the original brick not covered by stucco, which according to Bibbee was three layers thick; rooms of the house named after its historical residents, including Hugh Phelps and his wife, Hannah, Thomas Tavenner and sisters Hattie and Lydia; and artifacts owned by the family members, like a travel trunk.

The scavenger hunt also took participants to the Tavenner Cemetery to locate tombstones of some of the former residents and read their inscriptions.

“This is only a portion of the local history that can be learned from this home,” said Bibbee.

Saturday was the last day of the Spring History Scavenger Hunt at the historic Phelps-Tavenner House. Visitors participated in a scavenger hunt and enjoyed a Garden Heritage Day celebration. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

Madeline Scarborough can be reached at mscarborough@newsandsentinel.com

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