Altona
A historic farm near Charles Town, West Virginia, known for its Federal-era plantation house, Civil War associations, and extensive collection of subsidiary buildings.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Altona is a historic farm near Charles Town in Jefferson County, West Virginia. It is not a commercial consumer brand but a historic agricultural estate and architectural ensemble associated with the Davenport family. The property originated in 1793, when Revolutionary War officer Major Abraham Davenport, Sr. built a wood-frame Federal-style house on land purchased from Charles Washington, the brother of George Washington and founder of Charles Town. The farm occupied a historically prominent setting near several other Washington-family and related estates, including Blakeley, Claymont Court, and Harewood. The property was substantially enlarged during the ownership of Abraham Davenport's son, Colonel Braxton Davenport. After taking over the farm in 1830, Braxton added the present brick front to the earlier frame dwelling and constructed the long stone fence that remains a defining feature along the road between Charles Town and Middleway. The estate received the name Altona during this period, reportedly in reference to the Davenport family's German ancestral home. Braxton was active in Jefferson County public life: he served as a magistrate, represented Virginia in the state legislature for four terms, and presided as a local official during the 1859 proceedings against abolitionist John Brown. Altona acquired additional historical importance during the American Civil War. Its location and substantial buildings made it a preferred headquarters and meeting place for military forces. Union General Philip Sheridan and General Ulysses S. Grant both used the main house for headquarters-related activities and conferences. The estate also accommodated Confederate forces at different points. Its buildings and location helped it survive the destruction that affected other nearby properties. When fighting destroyed Locust Hill, Altona reportedly served as a refuge for displaced occupants. Sheridan also made use of the farm's horses and carriage. The Davenport connection continued through the next generation. Henry Bedinger Davenport, Braxton's son, had served in a militia company involved in the capture of John Brown and later served in a comparable Confederate unit. He continued operating the farm after his father's death and extended the property's stone boundary wall. Henry died in 1901, and the family sold Altona in 1906. During the period outside Davenport ownership, the barn was enlarged and a Sears, Roebuck house was added beside the main residence. The property was repurchased in 1936 by Henry Davenport, Jr., returning it to the Davenport family. The principal house combines several building periods. Its rear portion retains the original 1793 frame structure, while the exterior presents a two-story, five-bay brick façade on a local limestone foundation. A 1936 renovation raised the roof, added dormers, covered the earlier frame portion with brick, and introduced formal entry porches. Other contributing resources include a roughly 198-foot bank barn, the catalog-model Sears 'Dream House' constructed around 1920, a 1936 garage and guest house later enlarged in 1967, an early nineteenth-century frame structure identified as slave quarters, a late nineteenth-century limestone outhouse, a brick smokehouse, and two mid-nineteenth-century corncribs. Together these buildings form an unusually extensive surviving agricultural and domestic landscape.
History
Altona began as a Davenport family farm in 1793, when Major Abraham Davenport, Sr. erected a Federal-style wood-frame residence on land acquired from Charles Washington. The site was part of a cluster of prominent estates surrounding Charles Town and stood near properties connected with the Washington family and other established local families. Abraham later held public offices in Jefferson County, including magistrate and sheriff. In 1830, Abraham's son, Colonel Braxton Davenport, assumed control of the farm. He expanded the original house by adding a brick front and developed the stone fence that still marks the road frontage. The estate was named Altona during his tenure, apparently after a German family home. Braxton combined agricultural management with a substantial public career. He served as a Jefferson County magistrate, represented Virginia in the legislature for four terms, and handled the local arraignment of John Brown in 1859. His military background included service in the War of 1812. The Civil War made Altona more than a local farm. Because of its location and substantial residence, the estate was used by both Union and Confederate forces as a headquarters and gathering place. The front drawing rooms hosted military conferences, while Union General Philip Sheridan used the property's horses and carriage. General Ulysses S. Grant also used the house as a headquarters and meeting place. The estate's role as a military refuge helped protect it from the destruction that struck other nearby properties, including Locust Hill. After Braxton's death, his son Henry Bedinger Davenport continued to run the farm. Henry had participated in the militia company that captured John Brown and later served in a similar Confederate organization. He extended the stone fence and maintained the agricultural property until his death in 1901. The Davenport family sold Altona in 1906. During the following period, the barn was enlarged and a Sears, Roebuck catalog house was constructed beside the principal residence. The property returned to Davenport ownership in 1936 through Henry Davenport, Jr. The 1936 restoration and alteration campaign significantly shaped the appearance of the main house. The roof was raised, dormers and formal porches were added, and the earlier frame section was covered in brick. The resulting house retains the original plan and many historic elements, including the central hall, symmetrical front rooms, fireplaces, and a leaded-glass fanlight over the south entrance. The broader farmstead preserves a large bank barn, the Sears American Foursquare known as the 'Dream House,' a garage and guest-house complex, slave quarters, a smokehouse, an outhouse, corncribs, and other contributing structures. Altona's significance therefore rests on the continuity of its agricultural landscape and on its connections to regional political history, the John Brown episode, and Civil War military operations.
- 1967
Garage and guest-house addition
[1]An addition expanded the guest quarters and altered the interiors of the 1936 garage building.
- 1936
Return to Davenport ownership and major renovation
[1]Henry Davenport, Jr. repurchased the farm. The main house was renovated with a raised roof, dormers, brick cladding over the earlier frame section, and formal porches.
- 1920
Sears 'Dream House' added
[1]The Sears catalog American Foursquare house on the property dates to approximately 1920, according to its identifying plaque.
- 1906
Farm sold outside the Davenport family
[1]The Davenport family sold Altona; subsequent owners enlarged the barn and added a Sears, Roebuck house.
- 1901
Death of Henry Bedinger Davenport
[1]Henry Bedinger Davenport, who had continued operating the farm and extended its stone fence, died.
- 1861
Civil War headquarters and refuge
[1]During the Civil War, Altona was used by Union and Confederate forces, including as a headquarters and conference location for Generals Philip Sheridan and Ulysses S. Grant.
- 1859
John Brown arraigned locally
[1]As a Jefferson County magistrate, Braxton Davenport arraigned John Brown during the proceedings following Brown's raid.
- 1830
Braxton Davenport assumes control
[1]Colonel Braxton Davenport took over the farm and began the expansion that produced the present brick-front appearance and major stone boundary wall.
- 1793
Original house constructed
[1]Major Abraham Davenport, Sr. built the original Federal-style wood-frame house on land purchased from Charles Washington.
Products and positioning
A private historic farm and architectural ensemble representing the agricultural, political, military, and domestic history of the eastern panhandle of West Virginia.
Historic residence · 1793
Main house
The principal residence is a two-story, five-bay brick house on a local limestone foundation. Its rear section incorporates the original 1793 frame dwelling. The interior follows a central-hall plan with symmetrical front rooms, reception and dining rooms, fireplaces, and a stair continuing to the attic. The present exterior reflects the 1936 renovation, including raised rooflines, dormers, and formal entry porches.
Agricultural building
Bank barn
The bank barn extends approximately 198 feet and rests on a cut local-limestone foundation. Its older section contains stalls, while the newer section functions as a large loafing shed. Two square cupolas distinguish the old and expanded portions, and the original brick gable remains visible inside where they meet.
Catalog house · 1920
Sears 'Dream House'
This two-story American Foursquare stands west of the main house on a limestone foundation. It was marketed through the Sears, Roebuck catalog as a 'Dream House' and is identified by a plaque dated 1920. Its presence records the incorporation of a mass-marketed early twentieth-century house into the historic farmstead.
Accessory building · 1936
Garage and guest house
The two-story garage was built in 1936 and includes a basement. A 1967 addition expanded its guest quarters and modified the interior arrangement, making it part of the property's later domestic infrastructure.
Brand decisions
1936
Restoration and modernization of the main houseOtherBackground
After Altona returned to Davenport ownership, the property underwent a substantial renovation while retaining the earlier house within the expanded structure.
Action taken
The roof was raised, dormers and formal porches were added, and the original frame portion was covered with brick.
Aftermath
The work produced the principal house's current combined eighteenth- and twentieth-century appearance.
Sources1 sources
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