Blakeley
Blakeley is a historic Federal-style house near Charles Town, West Virginia, also known as the Washington–Chew–Funkhouser House.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Blakeley is a historic residence near Charles Town, West Virginia, rather than a commercial consumer brand. Also known as the Washington–Chew–Funkhouser House, it was built in 1820 by John Augustine Washington II, a great-nephew of George Washington and grandson of John Augustine Washington. The house belongs to the same period as nearby Claymont Court, which was built across Bullskin Run by Washington’s brother, Bushrod Corbin Washington. Its original construction reflected a comparatively restrained Federal architectural program: a two-story brick house three bays wide, with a western wing and a one-story portico. The property’s scale and design were influenced by John Augustine Washington II’s expected inheritance of Mount Vernon, which he received in 1829, and it was not intended to rival the grandeur of Claymont Court. After Washington’s death at Mount Vernon in 1832, Blakeley passed to his son, Richard Blackburn Washington. Richard married his cousin Christian Washington of Harewood in 1844 and subsequently maintained the property as a family residence. The house became associated with a large and complex Washington family household during the Civil War era. In 1859, Richard participated in the posse that pursued John Brown’s raiders. After Richard’s brother, John Augustine Washington III, died while fighting for the Confederacy in 1861, his eight orphaned children came to live at Blakeley alongside Richard and Christian’s seven children. A major fire extensively damaged the house in 1864, but Richard rebuilt it. Financial pressure eventually led Richard to sell Blakeley in 1875, after which he and his family moved to Harewood. Ownership then passed to Louise Fontaine Washington Chew, Richard B. Washington’s niece. Her husband, Colonel R. Preston Chew, was a local businessman and president of the Charles Town Mining, Manufacturing and Improvement Company. The Chews later sold the house to John Burns, a local farmer and community leader, in 1892. The property entered another important phase in 1943, when industrialist Raymond J. Funkhouser acquired it and undertook a restoration. Funkhouser also owned Claymont Court, which he used as his residence. His changes to Blakeley were intended both to restore the house and to give it a grandeur that he believed appropriate for a Washington-associated property while complementing Claymont Court. The restoration altered the exterior from its earlier three-bay appearance to a five-bay structure and added a two-story Doric portico. An elliptical transom was also added above the front entrance. The interior of the principal house contains eight rooms arranged around a central hallway, and the restoration was carried out with attention to the historical character of the building. Blakeley is therefore best understood as a historic architectural property and locally significant Washington-family residence, not as an operating brand with products, retail channels, executives, or commercial markets.
History
Blakeley was constructed in 1820 near Charles Town, West Virginia, by John Augustine Washington II. Washington was a great-nephew of George Washington and a grandson of John Augustine Washington. The house was built during the same period as Claymont Court, located across Bullskin Run and constructed for Washington’s brother, Bushrod Corbin Washington. Blakeley was a more modest Federal-style building than Claymont Court, reflecting its owner’s expectation that he would inherit Mount Vernon. That inheritance occurred in 1829. The original residence was a two-story brick structure three bays wide, with a western wing and a one-story portico. Following John Augustine Washington II’s death at Mount Vernon in 1832, his son Richard Blackburn Washington inherited the property. Richard married Christian Washington of Harewood in 1844. His activities later connected the house to the region’s Civil War history: in 1859 he joined the posse that pursued John Brown’s Raiders. When Richard’s brother John Augustine Washington III died fighting for the Confederacy in 1861, the deceased man’s eight orphaned children moved to Blakeley. They joined Richard and Christian’s seven children, creating an unusually large household. Fire seriously damaged Blakeley in 1864, and Richard rebuilt the structure. In 1875, he was compelled to sell the property and relocated with his family to Harewood. Louise Fontaine Washington Chew, Richard B. Washington’s niece, became a subsequent owner. Her husband, Colonel R. Preston Chew, was a local businessman who served as president of the Charles Town Mining, Manufacturing and Improvement Company. The house was sold again in 1892 to John Burns, described as a local farmer and community leader. Raymond J. Funkhouser, an industrialist who also acquired Claymont Court, purchased Blakeley in 1943. Funkhouser restored the house and reshaped parts of its appearance. He added a two-story Doric portico because he believed a Washington house should have greater grandeur and because he wanted the property to complement Claymont Court. The restoration also produced a five-bay façade and an elliptical transom over the front door, while the interior was renovated in a manner intended to remain consistent with the historical record. The principal house contains eight rooms organized around a central hallway. Blakeley’s historical importance consequently derives from its Federal architecture, its successive Washington-family associations, its Civil War-era household history, and its later preservation and alteration by Funkhouser. Available material does not identify a contemporary commercial operator, product portfolio, corporate parent, or formal brand organization.
- 1943
Raymond J. Funkhouser acquires and restores Blakeley
[1]Industrialist Raymond J. Funkhouser purchased Blakeley and began a restoration that included a larger portico and other architectural changes.
- 1892
Property sold to John Burns
[1]John Burns, a local farmer and community leader, purchased Blakeley from the Chew family.
- 1875
Richard Washington sells Blakeley
[1]Richard was forced to sell the property and moved with his family to Harewood.
- 1864
Fire damages the house
[1]A major fire extensively damaged Blakeley; Richard Blackburn Washington rebuilt the residence.
- 1861
Washington family expands at Blakeley
[1]After John Augustine Washington III died fighting for the Confederacy, his eight orphaned children moved to Blakeley.
- 1859
Richard Washington joins pursuit of John Brown’s Raiders
[1]Richard participated in the posse that pursued John Brown’s Raiders.
- 1844
Richard Washington marries Christian Washington
[1]Richard married his cousin Christian Washington of Harewood while Blakeley was his family residence.
- 1832
Richard Blackburn Washington inherits Blakeley
[1]After John Augustine Washington II died at Mount Vernon, ownership passed to his son Richard Blackburn Washington.
- 1829
John Augustine Washington II inherits Mount Vernon
[1]Washington received Mount Vernon, helping explain why Blakeley was designed with less grandeur than nearby Claymont Court.
- 1820
Construction of Blakeley
[1]John Augustine Washington II built the Federal-style brick house near Charles Town, West Virginia.
Products and positioning
Historic Federal-style residence and architectural heritage property associated with the Washington family and later owners near Charles Town, West Virginia.
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