Shepherdstown, Philipi, Harpers Ferry... these are many of the places most associated with battles during the War Between the States. But there's another significant campaign that was waged in West Virginia - and the location, and its outcome, may surprise you.
It may come as a bit of a surprise to learn that our beloved Capital City was not only the site of this significant skirmish between Union and Confederate soldiers, but it was also under siege by Confederate troops for a full six weeks after the Battle of Charleston in 1862.
According to records, a mere 1,500 people lived in Charleston in 1860. Some historians believe the Confederate troops that arrived in Charleston in the autumn of 1862 numbered upward of 5,000 men.
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The battle lasted less than a day before the Union troops retreated across the Kanawha River leaving the town open for the Confederate forces to take over.
But The South's reign over the soon-to-be capital city of West Virginia was short-lived. By the end of October, the Confederate soldiers withdrew from their stronghold after just hearing about 12,000 Union soldiers that were enroute to take back the town.
Many historic towns and cities in West Virginia have reminders of — and monuments commemorating — Civil War battles.
In Charleston, the grounds of the State House are home to the West Virginia Civil War Memorial. The memorial contains four plaques; one of them reads: In Memory of the thirty-two thousand soldiers, sailors and marines, contributed by West Virginia to the service of the Union during the Civil War. 1861 - 1865.
Do you remember learning this fascinating piece of Civil War history in school?
The Abandoned Castle in West Virginia That Was Never Finished or Occupied
Mount Wood Castle is a compelling piece of history in Wheeler, West Virginia, and its crumbling facade is what remains of a home that had so much potential.
Ever since I was a child, I've been fascinated by abandoned places. In my neighborhood, there was an abandoned barn where my sister and I would spend time playing. Surprisingly, the shabby exterior wasn't creepy enough to deter two kids from going inside and checking things out. Old tools and other items littered the interior, and we loved it! Abandoned places may be long forgotten to some but are utterly beguiling to others, especially if you're into urban exploration like I am. If you've ever been to Wheeling, West Virginia, perhaps you've visited the intriguing abandoned castle that's been left to decay for nearly a century. Mount Wood Castle has a fascinating story behind it, and I am certain you'll want to see it in person one day.
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If you love creepy content, Only In Your State’s Vacant series – which partners with talented photographer Johnny Joo – explores a dozen other fascinating abandoned places just waiting to be discovered.
Editor’s Note: Due to the nature of abandoned destinations, many of the places featured in this series are off-limits to visitors or have actually been demolished. We do not condone trespassing and other illegal activity but rather encourage readers to enjoy learning about these fascinating destinations.
To give a little background on Wheeling, West Virginia, it is home to Fort Henry and was founded in 1769. By 1795, it was established as a town, and in 1818, the National Road brought commerce to Wheeling. Due to its location on the Ohio River, Wheeling also became a popular trading route stop in the 1880s.
As you can probably tell, Wheeling is quite a historic town. Like most historic towns, there are preserved and not-so-preserved remnants of the past. For preserved historic sites, there's Mt. Wood Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in town, established in 1848. Overlooking Wheeling Creek Valley and the Ohio River Valley, it's the perfect spot for scenic views. In 2013, Mt. Wood Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Across from Mt. Wood Cemetery are the mysterious remains of a home that was never fully built and a dream that was never fully realized. Construction of what's now known as the Mt. Wood Castle began in 1921 and it was to be the home of Dr. Andrew Jackson Harness and his wife and two daughters.
Harness was a doctor who was completely devoted to his patients. No plan for the home was ever drawn up but it's surmised that the home would have been both a residence to the Harness family and a live-in clinic for patients once completed. However, we will never really know.
In 1925, construction on the stately home ceased when Dr. Harness was arrested. His crime? Illegally selling narcotics cocaine and morphine to a couple of patients. These patients claimed to be in dire straits and could not afford to obtain these narcotics legally so Harness helped them out, not realizing that his good deed would not go unpunished. In fact, the patients who sought his help were actually undercover narcotics agents set on enforcing the Harrison Narcotics Act of 1915.
With the subsequent imprisonment of Dr. Harness, the Mt. Wood estate was left to the elements. Today, you can visit its crumbling remains, much of which has been vandalized and covered with graffiti over the years. Layer after layer of spray paint has adorned the walls, the stairs, and the floors of a home that was never meant to be finished in the first place. However, efforts are in place to preserve the history of both Mt. Wood Castle and the neighboring cemetery.
Mount Wood Castle is a compelling piece of history in Wheeler, West Virginia, and its crumbling facade is what remains of a home that had so much potential if its construction had been completed. If you plan to take a getaway to Wheeler, WV, consider staying at the Luxe Centre Market 3-Bedroom Rowhouse.
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Special thanks to Cleveland-based photographer Johnny Joo of Odd World Studio for the photos used in this article. To discover more creepy and abandoned places, check out his website, Architectural Afterlife.
West Virginia has a lot of fascinating history, dating back to its statehood and before. Hold old is West Virginia? Not as old as you might think - the state was created as part of a political compromise in 1863. Even so, that means that there are West Virginia historical photos that date back to a time even before statehood. It's fun to think about what life may have been like if we'd lived in another era, and follow clues from the past. We have the remarkable fortune to be able to see well-preserved, historic West Virginia photos depicting life in the 1800s. Life in West Virginia was very different in the past, but looking at these old WV pictures, it's easy to feel the common thread of humanity that binds together generations across time. These are some of the earliest photographs we have that were created in our state.
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1. Wheeling Suspension Bridge and flooding Ohio River, circa 1852
Looking back at these old WV pictures really instills a sense of pride in our deep West Virginia roots. Does your family have any old photographs from the 1800s? We'd love to see them!
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For more historic West Virginia photos, check out these pictures from West Virginia's mining history in the 1930s.
