Progress Report
For more than four years, the Friends of Happy Retreat have been advocating the importance of acquiring Charles Washington’s Happy Retreat and developing it into a center for arts, culture, and heritage and the keystone for area economic development through heritage tourism.

We are pleased to report that we now see that goal as achievable before the close of 2010.

In May 2010, we obtained a new appraisal of the estate and in June reached agreement with the Gavin Family. In the same period, we performed all due diligence with an environmental assessment, obtained a new survey, and secured legal and accounting services. We are now preparing a financial feasibility study for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Community Facilities’ Program to secure the funding needed for acquisition. But before those funds can be released, we must clear one final hurdle: establishment of an operating funds reserve. For that we are turning to the community with a challenge for 2010 pre-purchase and closing support and an annual commitment for years two and three.

Participation in the capital reserve program comes with substantial benefits to contributing jurisdictions, corporations, and individuals who will become Founders of Charles Washington’s Happy Retreat. The majority of their contribution will be tax deductible, with the balance covering the value of their privileges for use of the property. That use extends to the special events in the garden, receptions in the twin parlors, conferences and meetings in the upper conference rooms, office space, and even use of the George Washington Room, where the former president met with colleagues to plan the C&O Canal. This historic room will be available for small breakfasts and dinners for eight.

Founders may further support their favorite nonprofit organizations by transferring to them any or all of their property use benefits.

With local government and business support, together we can finally achieve:

• Year-round community access to a unique historical facility with grounds that will incorporate open fields, formal gardens, wetlands, and a walking trail linked to Charles Town’s, Ranson’s, and Jefferson County’s public trails and parks system

• Development and diversification of the local economy through increased heritage tourism focused on the Washington Family and its roots in rural Jefferson County, as well as African-American and Civil War history

• Employment opportunities for area businesses in renovation, architecture, construction, landscaping, events management, and food services

• Establishment of a venue that, in addition to fulfilling Founders’ benefits, will generate operating income from weddings, anniversaries, school and family reunions, and more

• Creation of heritage learning programs and summer camps for Jefferson County schools

• Increased quality of life and sense of place for area residents

We welcome your questions and look forward to meeting with you to discuss this program and its benefits for you.

J. Randolph Hilton,
President

The ca 1933 photographs of Happy Retreat used on this site are public access images from The Historic American Buildings Survey collection of the Library of Congress' American Memory project.

Three Phases of Construction

A recent historical architectural analysis of Charles Washington’s Happy Retreat completed by Matt Webster, former architectural historian at Kenmore, the Fredericksburg estate of Betty Washington, sister of George and Charles, indicates that the home’s development proceeded in three phases, as shown in the accompanying figure.
Phase 1 construction (in red) consisted of the old stone kitchen and a portion of the west wing. Phase 2, show in blue, consisted of the brick portion of the kitchen and the one-story east wing. Phase 3, which was undertaken in 1837 after the purchase of Happy Retreat by Judge Isaac Douglass, resulted in the addition of the second stories to the two wings and completion of a large 2-1/2 story central portion connecting them.

Today, an assessment of the house and outbuildings by an expert in historic preservation finds the mansion structurally sound and, except for a few minor repairs, the needed improvements to the house are cosmetic in nature. The separate kitchen, smokehouse and octagonal schoolhouse will require more substantial restoration in order to support future activities. An archaeological survey also will be used to plan the restoration of the house and grounds.