Establishing a Home

Establishing a Home. Fort Harrison Story Walk. , A 1749 Augusta County Deed Book document refers to "Harrison's stonehouse" and is the longstanding basis for dating the original limestone portion of the house as 1749. Dendrochronology studies in 2019 examined oak attic beams, and results indicated the timbers were felled in the dormant period (winter) from November 1748 through March 1749. House construction would have begun soon after., Pine support timbers under the floorboards of the brick addition indicate the newer section of the house was likely constructed 1840-1845. By the 1860s, the stone front portion of the house underwent further changes, as larger windows and doors and door sidelights were added., (Sidebar):, Owners 1748 to Present Day, Harrison Family until 1821 . John Allebaugh 1821 . J. N. Liggett 1856 . William/Solomon Burtner 1862 . Solomon Burtner 1870 . Koogler Family 1917 . Fort Harrison, Inc. 1978, (Captions):, In 2018, archaeology students led by Dr. Dennis Blanton of James Madison University uncovered evidence that the front of the house may have been on the opposite side before the brick addition. Now an interior doorway (right), the photo above shows the arched door prior to restoration., Before restoration began in 1978, the front limestone section dating to 1749 had been stuccoed. The brick section dates to about 1840-1845. Tree-ring dating studies (below) assisted with confirming dates related to construction of the house., (Above) A core sample is drilled from an attic log. The sample (left) was included with others to be used in conducting a dendrochronology study (tree-ring dating) on the stone house., This interpretive sign is made possible through a gift from the Margaret Grattan Weaver Center, Bridgewater College.