Public Acquisit ion:

0 Being Considered

Pr ivate Residence

U N I T E D S T A T E S D E P A R T M E N T O F T H E I N T E R I O R Form 10-300 (Rev. 6-72) N A T I O N A L ? A R K S E R V I C E

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC P L A C E S INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM

D A T E O F S U R V E Y : Federa l 0 State County L o c a l D E P O S I T O R Y F O R S U R V E Y E E C O R D S :

S T A T E

West V i rg in i a I C O U N T Y .

Greenbrier F O R N P S USE ONLY

ENTRY D A T E

S T R E E T A N D N U M B E R :

C I T Y OR TOWN: S T A T E :

(Type all entries - complete applicable sections)

[I. NAME C OMMON:

John Wesley Methodist Church A N D / O R H I S T O R I C .

F i r s t Methodist Church

2. LOCAffON S T R E E T A N @ N U M B E R :

(- East Fos t e r (o ld German) S t r e e t - C O N G R E S S I O N A L D I S T R I C T

Second C O U N T Y . C O D E

Greenbrier - 025 .

C I T Y OR TOWN:

Lewisburg

13. CLASSfFICATION C A T E G O R Y A C C E S S I B L E OWNERSHIP (Check One)

S T A T U S 1 1 - T O T H E P U B L I C

S T A T E

West V i r g i n i a C O D E

54

7. DESCRtPTION -- 1 I (Check One)

-

-

G Excellent 3 Good a Foir Dererloroted 0 Ruins u Unexposed

CONDITION -- (Check One)

Altered

(Check One) B D E S C R I B E T H E P R E S E N T A N D O R I G I N A L ( i f known) 0 Unaltered P H V S I C A L A P P E A R A N C E Moved a Original Site

The John Wesley Church, e a r l i e r c a l l e d the F i r s t Methodist Church, was cons t ruc ted i n 1820 of b r i c k burned on the s i t e . A r a t h e r " p l a i n meeting- house1'-type s t r u c t u r e , i t s o r i g i n a l dimensions were f i f t y - e i g h t f e e t long by for ty-seven f e e t wide. It i s most probable t h a t t he b u i l d e r was John Weir, a r c h i t e c t and brickmason, who constructed most of t h e p r i n c i p a l bu i ld ings i n Lewisburg b e f o r e 1830.

The b u i l d i n g i s two s t o r i e s high t o allow f o r a balcony. Windows a r e i n two rows on t h e s i d e s and f r o n t , but i n t h e back two windows were placed about midway up t h e w a l l behind the p u l p i t t o d i r e c t l i g h t from behind. A chimney was b u i l t i n t o each wal l i n s ide the s t r u c t u r e f o r t h e use of s toves , two i n t h e balcony and two on t h e main f l o o r , bu t a furnace system has been added wi th in t h e p a s t t h i r t y years and these chimneys a r e no longer used.

A l a rge , double-doored entrance a t t he f r o n t led d i r e c t l y i n t o the sanctuary be fo re 1835. To the l e f t of these doors , on t h e e x t e r i o r of t h e bu i ld ing , was a s t a i rway t o t h e "s lave ga l le ry ." This balcony i s very deep and extends around both s i d e s and the f r o n t . The o r i g i n a l twelve and four- t een inch wide f l o o r boards and low, bu t s u b s t a n t i a l , r a i l i n g s t i l l se rve t h e balcony, and a few o f t h e e a r l y benches a r e y e t t h e r e . Ten very l a r g e boxed pos t s support t h i s g a l l e r y .

The sanc tuary i s i n very good r e p a i r , we l l l i g h t e d and comfortable . The o ld wide-boarded f l o o r i n the main s e c t i o n was, of neces s i ty , covered by new oak f l o o r i n g i n more recent t imes. Window t imbers , which a r e hand hewn, a r e d e t e r i o r a t i n g , and some ou t s ide s i l l s a r e covered wi th metal f o r p ro t ec t ion .

About t h e yea r 1835 an add i t i on was made which extended the length of t he church about t e n f e e t toward the s t r e e t t o provide a v e s t i b u l e f o r both the sanctuary and balcony. This addi t ion made i t poss ib l e t o p l ace t h e g a l l e r y s t a i r s i n s i d e . Ind ica t ions a r e t h a t t h i s new s e c t i o n was t h e work of John W. Dunn, ~ e w i s b u r g ' s second noted a r c h i t e c t and brickmason.

I n o u t l i n e t h e new f r o n t i s i n complete harmony wi th t h e o lde r cons t ruc- t i o n a s t o foundat ion, w a l l and roof , bu t beyond t h i s p o i n t M r . Dunn's work shows the in f luence of t h e " c l a s s i c revival-Neo-Greek' per iod i n i t s t r i p l e window, t h e "dogtoothed" eave corn ices , t h e "eye brow" window and the door t r i m . The deco ra t ive gable escutcheon and t h e c l a s s i c cupola a r e marks of t h e Greek r e v i v a l which produced t h i s unusual and love ly bui ld ing .

SlGNlFtCANCE

P E R I O D ( c h e c k One or .More as Appropriate)

n Pre-Columbion l 42 16th Century 0 18th Century iJ 20th Century

15th Century 12 17th Century 3 19th Century

S P E C I F I C O A T E ~ S ) (If Appl icable andKnown) 1820, 1835 O F S I ~ N ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ N ~ ~ (Check One or More as Appropriate)

Abor ig ina l Education 0 P o l i ~ i c a l Urban Planning

0 Prehistoric Engineering K'J Rel ig ion/Phi . Other (Specify)

H is tor ic Industry losophy

Agriculture 0 Invention Science

;S Architecture Landscape 0 Sculpture

0 Art Architecture Soc~al /Human-

a Commerce L i terature i torian

Communications 3 Mil i tary 0 Theoler

a Conservation C Music Tronsportotion

S T A T E M E N T O F S I G N I F I C A N C E B u i l t i n a "meetinghouse" s t y l e with Greek r e v i v a l overtones, t h e John

Wesley Methodist Church a t Lewisburg, West V i rg in i a , i s one of t h e o l d e s t b r i c k churches i n t h e s t a t e . Constructed under t h e superv is ion of t h e a r eas two best-known e a r l y a r c h i t e c t s and brickmasons--John Weir and John W. DUM- and s tanding a s t r i b u t e t o f r o n t i e r s o p h i s t i c a t i o n and growth, t h e s t r u c t u r e has served t h e r e l i g i o u s needs of many a r e a r e s i d e n t s s i n c e 1820. I t s con t inua t ion a s a c e n t e r of worship has not been i n t e r r u p t e d , b u t t h e bui ld- ing had t o wi ths tand d i v i s i o n occasioned by t h e s l ave ry ques t ion and s u f f e r e damage during a C i v i l War engagement.

Methodism came e a r l y t o t h e Lewisburg a rea , f o r a s o c i e t y was organized t h e r e i n 1788. Served by " c i r c u i t preachers ," t he group usua l ly met i n p r i v a t e homes. Sometime before 1800, t h i s s o c i e t y was a b l e t o e r e c t a s tone church which i t probably used u n t i l t he p re sen t bu i ld ing was cons t ruc ted i n 1820 on two l o t s marked out by the o r i g i n a l town survey of Lewisburg done i n 1782 by Thomas Edgar.

It i s an accepted p r o b a b i l i t y t h a t John Weir, e a r l y stone-and b r i ck - mason and a r c h i t e c t , b u i l t t h i s "meetinghouse"-type church. He i s c r e d i t e d wi th t h e p lanning and e r e c t i o n of t h e Old Brick Academy (1812), t h e McElhenney House (1813), t h e Withrow House (1818) and many o the r e a r l y homes i n Greenbrier County.

I n 1835 t h e s t r u c t u r e was enlarged i n o rde r t o provide a v e s t i b u l e , an i n s i d e s ta i rway and a s tudy-o f f i ce . This a d d i t i o n was t h e work of John W. Dunn, a r c h i t e c t and brickmason, who was long t h e town's most noted house b u i l d e r . In t h i s bu i ld ing he brought Greek r e v i v a l a r c h i t e c t u r e t o t h e "western waters" of V i rg in i a . Even t o t h i s day the John Wesley Methodist Church remains one of the c o u n t y ' s most s t a t e l y s t r u c t u r e s .

When Methodism was r e n t i n twain i n t h e United S t a t e s p r i o r t o t h e C i v i l War, t h e Lewisburg congregat ion which used t h i s s t r u c t u r e s p l i t . The Methodist Episcopal Church group continued t o u se t h e John Wesley bu i ld ing whi le t h e Methodist Episcopal Church South group moved t o another p l ace i n town. Af t e r t h e C i v i l War, t h e two f a c t i o n s u n i t e d aga in and cons t ruc ted a new church, e i t h e r s e l l i n g o r g iv ing t h e o l d e r bu i ld ing t o t he f r e e d Negroes who had previous ly worshipped i n i t s g a l l e r y . The present membershi has w i t h i n i t s body grandchi ldren and grea t -grandchi ldren of former s l aves who had been brought t o t h e balcony f o r t h e i r s o u l s ' sake.

Xn i n t e r r u p t i o n i n r o u t i n e aga in lsccurred i n May o f 1862, dur ing the B a t t l e of Lewisburg. The Confederate l i n e of defense , during the engagement was on the h igh ground on the e a s t e r n o u t s k i r t s of the town, and the Union t roops made t h e i r a t t a c k from the h i l l s west of town. The church was i n t h e l i n e of f i r e from both d i r e c t i o n s and was s t r u c k by a cannon b a l l h igh on t h e southicest wa l l . This b a l l passed through t h e wa l l above t h e g a l l e r y ,

Form 10-300. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR S T A T E

( J u l y 1969) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

N A T I O N A L R E G I S T E R O F HISTORIC P L A C E S

I E N T R Y NUMBER D A T E (Continuation Sheet) 1

INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM

I I (Number all sntrlsa)

Greenbrier FOR NPS USE ONLY

8. SIGNIFICANCE (Continued)

crossed t o and went through the e a s t wa l l under t h e balcony. Repairs t o t h e w a l l a r e s t i l l ev iden t . The o l d e s t persons among the present membership have

crawl space under t h e f l o o r , and t h i s g ives some substance t o t h e t r a d i t i o n . Af t e r t he f i g h t i n g ended, t h e s t r u c t u r e was used t o s h e l t e r t h e wounded from both s ides .

The John Wesley Methodist Church, bes ides having i n t e r e s t i n g des ign and cons t ruc t ion f e a t u r e s , has witnessed the d i r e c t and i n d i r e c t e f f e c t s of war. The r e l i g i o u s atmosphere b o i l e d p r i o r t o t h e c i v i l u p r i s i n g of t he mid-nine- t een th century i n t h e United S t a t e s , and t h e congregat ion h e r e f e l t i t s b runt i n d i v i s i o n among t h e church m e ~ b e r s h i p . To add t o t h e complicat ions of t h e day, b a t t l e f i e l d a c t i o n reached t h e s t r u c t u r e i n a r i n g i n g shot which pene- t r a t e d i t s wa l l s .

t h e i r g randparents ' assurance t h a t t h e shot was no acc ident . They b e l i e v e t h a t the church was be ing used e i t h e r a s an observa t ion pos t o r a s p a r t of t h e Confederate out -pos t . Old ammunition and s h e l l ca ses have been found i n t h e

G P O 9 2 1 - 7 2 4

19 . MAJOR B IBL iOGRAPHlCAt Z E F E R E N C E S

Dayton, Ruth Woods. Greenbrier Pioneers and Their Homes. Charleston, W.Va.: West Virginia Publishing Co., 1942. (pp. 64-65) . Lewisburg Landmarks. Charleston. W.Va.: Education Foundation Inc., 1957. (p. 38)

Tuckwiller, Mrs. E.A. "Greenbrier Valley Centennial Churches," Journal of th -- Greenbrier Historical Society, I1 (No. 4, 1972), 22-24.

I

D E F I N I N G A R E C T A N G L E L O C A T I N G T H E P R O O E R T

C C f i N E R L A T I T U D E L O N G I T U D E L O N G I T U D E

Degrees M ~ n u t e s Seconds

NW O

N E 0 - .> S E 0 , C sw Q 0 -

A P P R O X I M A T E A C R E A G E O F N O M I N A T E D P R O P E R T Y : acre I L I S T A L L S T A T E S A N D C O U N T 1 € 5 F O R P R O P E R T I E S O V E R L A P P I N G S T A T E O R C O U N T Y B O U N D A R I E S

S T A T E : 1 C O D E 1 C O U N T Y I C O D E

S T A T E : C O D E C O U N T Y : C O D E

S T A T E : C O D E C O U N T Y : C O D E

S T A T E :

N A M E A N D T I T L E :

2.E. Turley, Field Agent and James,E. Harding, Research Analvst J R G A N I Z A T I O N D A T E

Jest Virginia Antiquities Commission ( May 7, 1974 S T R E E T A N D N U M B E R :

lld Mountainlair, West Virginia University C I T Y O R TOWN:

{organtown STATE LlAtSON OfFfCER ~ k ~ f l F l C A 3 ION

As the des igna ted S l a t e L i a i s o n Officer for t h e Na-

t iona l Historic Preserva t ion Act of 1966 ( P u b l i c L a w

89-665). I hereby nominate t h i s property for i n c l u s i o n

i n t h e National R e g i s t e r and cer t i fy that i t h a s b e e n

eva lua ted accordine. t o t h e c-i ter ia and p r o c e d u r e s s e t

forth by the National P a r k Serv ice . T h e recommended

leve l f s ign i f icance of th i s nomlnati

( t i 0 4 0 Sta* &::af

T i t l e State Historic ?reservztion Officer

T A T E I C O D E -

West Virginia 1 54 NATIONAL REGtST ER VERIFICATION

I hereby cer t i fy that t h i s property is included in t h e

Nat iona l Regis te r .

Director, Off ice 01 Archeology and Histor ic Preservat ion

Keeper of The iVaficma1 Register

* U.S. G O V E R N M E N T P R I N T I N G O F F I C E : 1973-729-147, '1442 3-1

APPROX HATE M E A N 5 0 1 OECL N A T O N 1935 - - - + , -

C O N T O U R lh 1 DATUK IS 0

THIS MAP IS AVAILABLE WITH OR

FOR SALE BY U S GEOLOGICAL A F O L D E R D E S C R I B I N G T O P O G R A P H I C M A

> n i c L & t 2 ; - ~