United States Department of the Interior National Park Sewice For W P S wm only 7 ational Register of Historic Places nventory-Nomination Form recuived date entered See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms Type all entries--complete applicabte sections .- Name J o h n s o n , G o v e r n o r J o s e p h , House histork' and or common "Oakdalef' 2. Location -- street & number 424 O a k d a l e Avenue city, town Sridge9oert West V i r g i n i a state -not for publication E,& c 54 a vicinity of Harrison county 033 C* 3. Classification Category Ownership -district -public -& building(s) private -structure-both -ate - - . Public ~ E q u i s # i o n l M , k In process -object being considered - -- - - Present Use P - S tus occupied -unoccupied -work in progress - -~cc&ibb --J yes; restricted -- yes: unrestricted -no - -agriculture -commercial -museum educational -entertainment -government -industrial -military 1Lprivate residence -~ r k -religious -sclenfitic ' -transportation ' -other: 4. Owner of Promertv name J o h n F . XcCuskey street & number 4 2 4 O a k d a l e Avenue city, town Bridgeport vicinity of state West V i r n u state West V i r a i n i q 5. Location of Legal Descrintion cou~house,registryofdeeds,etc. H a r r i s o n C o u n t y C o u r t h o u s e streetanumber city, town N e s t Hain gi Third S t r e e t s Clarksburg 6. Representation in Existing Surveys titk N/A has this property been determined eligible? t -federal date depository tor survey records CRY, town -yes X-no -state -countv state -local 7. Description Cdtlocr _X_ excellent O o o d )_ fair Chock on. -deteriorated -unaltered -ruins 2altered -unexposed Chock one original site -moved date - N/A Doscribo tho pnsont and original (if known) physical appearance The G o v e r n o r J o s e p h J o h n s o n H o u s e , a l s o known a s " ~ a k d a l e " i s l o c a t e d on a h a l f - a c r e l o t t h a t i s b o r d e r e d o n t h e n o r t h b y J o h n s o n Avenue ( n a n e d f o r t h e g o v e r n o r ) , on t h e w e s t by O a k d a l e Avenue (named f o r t h e h o u s e ) , a n d on t h e s o u t h b y t4aple S t r e e t , i n t h e town o f a r i d g e p o r t , H a r r i s o n C o u n t y , West V i r g i n i s . Several l a r g e , s t a t e l y t r e e s grace t h e grounds. C o n s t r u c t e d i n 1 8 1 8 f o r t h e n Assemblyman J o s e g h J o h n s o n , " o a k d a l e " w a s o r i g i n a l l y a two s t o r y frame r e s i d e n c e . I t was r e - m o d e l e d a b o u t 1840 i n t h e form o f an I t a l i a n a t e r e s i d e n c e . S t i l l two s t o r i e s , it i s b a s i c a l l y a r e c t a n g u l a r , wood r e s i d e n c e , w i t h c l a p b o a r d s i d i n g . The h o u s e i s t h r e e b a y s w i d e on t h e f r o n t ( o a k d a l e venue) e l e v a t i o n , and f o u r bays l o n g , A t t h e n o r t h s i d e e l e v a t i o n t h e r e i s a t h r e e - s i d e d p r o j e c t i n g bay. The h o u s e i s s u r m o u n t e d by a m e t a l s t a n d i n g seam h i p p e d roof. T h e r e i s a c e n t r a l c o r b e l l e d chimney d a t i n g f r o m t h e 1818 p e r i o d , a s w e l l as a n e n d c h i m n e y t h a t o c c u p i e s t h e m i d d l e b a y o f t h e r e a r The h o u s e i t s e l f r e s t s e l e v a t i o n and i s p a r t o f t h e c.1840 re-modeling. o n a c u t - s t o n e f o u n d a t i o n , i n e x c e l l e n t c o n d i t i o n ; o b v i o u s l y t h e work o f m a s t e r s t o n e masons o f t h e p e r i o d . The G o v e r n o r J o s e p h J o h n s o n House h a s t w o e n t r a n c e d o o r s . The-.principal - _ e n t r a n c e - i s a t t h e l e f t b a y o f t h e - f r a n t f a c a a e = a n d h a s a one- st-6fSr, o n e b a y p o r c h o f I t a l i a n a t e design,-being u p h e l d - b y t w o D o r i c - s q u a r e d columns. The r o o f o f t h e p o r c h i s s u r m o u n t e d b y a d e l i c a t e , s p i n d l e - l i k e balustrade. The wood f l o o r a n d s t e p s o f t h i s p o r c h w e r e r e p l a c e d i n r e c e n t t i m e s by c o n c r e t e . There i s a s i m i l a r , though u n e l e v a t e d , p o r c h a t t h e end bay o f t h e Maple S t r e e t ( s o u t h ) s i d e e l e v a t i o n . A l l w i n d o w s , a t b o t h f i r s t a n d s e c o n d f l o o r s , h a v e wooden p e d i m e n t e d window h o o d s a n d d e l i c a t e s u r r o u n d s . The windows h a v e s i x o v e r s i x l i g h t s o n t h e s e c o n d f l o o r a n d n i n e o v e r s i x l i g h t s on t h e f i r s t f l o o r . The c o r n i c e o f t h e r o o f l i n e c o n t a i n s e v e n l y s p a c e d c u r v e d b r a c k e t s t h a t are t y p i c a l l y I t a l i a n a t e . A t t h e r e a r e l e v a t i o n o f t h e p r o p e r t y t h e r e i s a h i g h hedge t h a t A small, one s t o r y , g a b l e d r o o f e n c l o s e s a small b r i c k - p a v e d c o u r t y a r d . c l a p b o a r d s i d e d b u i l d i n g , a t t a c h e d p h y s i c a l l y t o t h e r e s i d e n c e , opens onto t h e courtyard. T h i s b u i l d i n g a p p e a r s t o d a t e from t h e V i c t o r i a n p e r i o d . The i n t e r i o r o f t h e G o v e r n o r J o s e p h J o h n s o n House i s t y p i c a l o f t h e rectangular residences of the period. C e n t r a l h a l l s on b o t h t h e f i r s t a n d s e c o n d l e v e l r u n a l o n g t h e n o r t h s i d e o f t h e i n t e r i o r , as d o e s t h e main s t a i r c a s e w i t h i t s g e n t l y t u r n e d s p i n d l e - l i k e b a l u s t r a d e . Rooms w i t h hardwood f l o o r s a r e h i g h - c e i l i n g e d and r e c t a n g u l a r i n c o n f i g u r a t i o n . OIB N O . 1 0 2 4 - 0 0 1 8 Expires 10-11-87 United States Department of the Interior Natlonal Park Service National Register of Historic Places )inventory-s om in at ion Form G o v e r n o r J o h n s o n , J o s e p h , House Continuation sheet During t h e l a t e 1 9 t h p o r c h e s d e s c r i b e d above wrap-around veranda, o f period. This Victorien of t h e o r i g i n a l porches 7 Item number I Paw c e n t u r y t h e o r i g i n a l one s t o r y , s i n g l e bay were renoved and r e p l a c e d w i t h a one s t o r y , t h e kind so popular i n t h e l a t e Victorian a d d i t i o n was removed c . 1 3 7 0 a n d f s c s m i l i e s replaced. Most o f t h e e x t e r i o r d e t a i l i n e d e s c r i b e d a b o v e , e s p e c i a l l y t h e e v e n l y s p a c e d b r a c k e t s i n t h e c o r n i c e , t h e window h o o d s a n d s u r r o u n d s , a n d e v e n t h e window l i g h t a r r a n g e m e n t , were t h e r e s u l t o f t h e m a j o r 11 ~ t a l i a n i z a t i o n "o f t h e h o u s e a b o u t 1 6 4 0 , J o h n s o n b u i l t t h e h o u s e i n 1818 a s a young man w i t h a new a n d g r o w i n g f a m i l y ; by 1840 h e h a d become a n e s t a b l i s h e d a t t o r n y , s t a t e l e g i s l a t o r , a n d U . S . R e p r e s e n a t i v e a n d was on h i s way t o t h e s t a t e ' s g o v e r n o r s h i p . He a l t e r e d t h e h o u s e t o r e f l e c t h i s changed c i r c u m s t a n c e s . - + The G o v e r n o r J o s e p h J o h n s o n H o u s e , o r " O a k d a l e l ' i s ridgep port's f i n e s t example of I t a l i a n a t e r e s i d e n t i a l a r c h i t e c t u r e and i s one o f t h e c o u n t y ' s n o s t h i s t o r i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t hones. A bronze plaque was p l a c e d on t h e s o u t h v e s t c o r n e r o f t h e b u i l d i n g i n -th_e- l a t e 1970's. - -. . . - - -- --- -- - - -? 8. Significance Period prehistoric -1400-1499 1500-1 599 11600-1699 -1700-1799 -. -- 1800-1 899 1900- Specific dates and justify b l o w Areas of Signiticanc.--Check --.-. archeology-prehistoric - - community planning - -- landscape architecture.--. religion - -- law -- science - -- archeology-historic - - conservation -- sculpture -- agriculture --- economics --.- literature A. architecture education .-- military -- humanitarian sociait -- art engineering --music explorationlsettlement -- philosophy -theater .- commerce .-. industry X politicslgovernrnent transportation -communications --- invention ry -& g t E (W% 3.8 18 , c - 1 8 4 0 BuilderlArchitect 30t Known Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) The G o v e r n o r J o s e p h J o h n s o n H o u s e , o r " ~ a k d a l e " , l o c a t e d a t O a k d a l e Avenue a n d Maple S t r e e t , i n B r i d g e p o r t , H a r r i s o n C o u n t y , West V i r g i n i a , i s s i g n i f i c a n t f o r h a v i n g b e e n t h e home o f J o s e p h J o h n s o n , t h e o n l y g o v e r n o r o f V i r g i n i a from t h e Trans-Alleghany r e g i o n and one o f a n t e b e l l u m W e s t e r n (now W e s t ) V i r g i n i a ' s m o s t s i g n i f i c a n t p u b l i c f i g u r e s . l e It i s a l s o 2. l o c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t a s a good example o f I t a l i a n a t e r e s i d e n t i a l a r c h i t e c t u r e , E x p l a n a t o r y Notes ''!phis I t s l i a n a t e r e s i d e n c e was c o n s t r u c t e d f o r Joseph Johnson (1785-187~)~ o n e o f t h e most i m p o r t a n t s t a t e s m e n o f w e s t e r n V i r g i n i a d u r i n g t h e y e a r s b e f o r e West V i r g i n i a s t a t e h o o d , a n d t h e o n l y p e r s o n f r o m what i s now West V i r g i n i a t o serve a s governor of Virginia during t h a t period. J o s e p h j o h n s o n was b o r p i n New York i n - 1 7 8 5 b u t came, w i t h ust o w h a t i s now H a r r i s a L C o u n t y , w e s t - ~ i r & - r t : i a -in 1801. A s e ~ f - e d u ~ ~-wn,t ~ d he b&cao& K z l e % d i n g b u s i n e s s m a n i n E a r r i s o n C o u n t y , a s w e l l as d a b l i n g t h e law. Ee f i r s t came t o p u b l i c a t t e n t i o n i n 1 8 1 1 when h e was e l e c t e d a c o n s t a b l e f o r t h e county. I n t h e War o f 1 8 1 2 J o h n s o n was C a p t a i n o f t h e 11 H a r r i s o n R i f l e m e n " , a local m i l i t i a unit. I n 1 8 1 5 h e was e l e c t e d t o t h e V i r g i n i a A s s e m b l y t o r e p r e s e n t H a r r i s o n C o u n t y , and s u b s e q u e n t l y was r e - e l e c t e d i n 1818, 1 8 2 0 , a n d 1 8 2 2 . W h i l e s e r v i n g a s a member o f t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y , h e s p o n s o r e d a b i l l t h a t a u t h o r i z e d t h e c r e a t i o n of t h e town o f B r i d g e p o r t ( 1 8 1 6 ) . I n 1 8 2 3 J o h n s o n r a n f o r t h e U . 6 . House o f R e p r e s e n a t i v e s a g a i n s t t h e i n c u m b a n t , famed o r a t o r P h i l i p D o d d r i d g e , a man whose r e p u t a t i o n a s a s p e a k e r was s u c h t h a t D a n i e l W e b s t e r o n c e s a i d t h a t h e co odd ridge) was t h e o a l y n a n h e e v e r f e a r e d i n d e b a t e . After a spirited c o n t e s t , J o h n s o n d e f e a t e d D o d d r i d g e a n d e n t e r e d t h e House o f R e p r e s e n a t i v e s . Be w a s r e - e l e c t e d t o C o n g r e s s i n 1 8 2 5 , b u t d i d n o t s e e k r e - e l e c t i o n i n 1 8 2 7 . E i g h t y e a r s l a t e r (18351, h o w e v e r , h e a g a i n s o u g h t t h e c o n g r e s s i o n a l s e a t s ~ c c e s s f u l l ya n d was r e - e l e c t e d i n 1837 a n d 1 8 3 9 , r e t i r i n g f r o m C o n g r e s s i n 1841- A d e l e g a t e t o t h e Democratic N a t i o n a l Convention i n 1944, J o h n s o n Was p e r s u a d e d by w e s t e r n V i r g i n i a d e m o c r a t s t o make y e t a n o t h e r r u n f o r t h e U.S. C o n g r e s s , a n d d i d s o s u c c e s s f u l l y . I n 1846, r a t h e r t h a n s e e k C o n g r e s s i o n a l t e r m , J o h n s o n r a n f o r t h e V i r g i n i a ~ s a e m b l ya g a i n s t i n c u m b a n t Whig John D u n c a n , l o c a l power i n t h e Whig ? a r t y . J o h n s o n won t h e race. in - A d e l e g a t e t o t h e V i r g i n i a C o n s t i t u t i o n a l Convention o f 1850, J o s e p h J o h n s o n c h a i r e d t h e a l l - i m p o r t a n t c o m m i t t e e on s u f f e r a g e , w h i c h recommended s i g n i f i c a n t changes i n v v 'I p r e s e n t a t i o n ; changes h g t - f a v o r e d w e s t e r n ~ i r ~- ~ ~ Y ~ . OMB No. 1 0 2 4 - 0 0 1 8 Expires 10-31-87 United Stater Department of the Interior Nattonat Park Sewice National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form G o v e r n o r J o h n s o n , J o s e p- h ,- House Continuation sheet Item number 8 Governor o f V i r g i n i a by t h e V i r g i n i a G e n e r a l Assembly u n d e r t h e o l d ( 1 8 2 9 ) c o n s t i t u t i o n , t h e l a s t V i r g i n i a g o v e r n o r t o be s o e l e c t e d . In S e p t e m b e r o f 1 8 5 1 , d u e t o t h e p o p u l a r e l e c t i o n c l a u s e o f t h e new c o n s i t u t i o n , G o v e r n o r J o h n s o n was n o n i n a t e d f o r g o v e r n o r b y t h e d e m o c r a t i c party, H i s Whig o p p o n e n t was G e o r g e W . S u n n e r s o f Kanawha C o u n t y , t h u s p i t t i n g two w e s t e r n V i r g i n i a n s a g a i n s t e a c h o t h e r i n V i r g i n i a ' s f i r s t popular gubanatorial election. As with every other contest i n h i s l i f e , J o h n s o n won a n d t h u s became t h e l a s t l e g i s l a t i v e l y e l e c t e d a n d t h e f i r s t popularly elected governor of Virginia. A s governor, Johnson f a v o r e d i n t e r n a l improvements, f r e e s c h o o l s , and a g r i c u l t u r a l and i n d u s t r i a l d e v e l o p m e n t . S i g n i f i c a n t l y , he a l s o urged t h e s t a t e a s s e m b l y t o p u r c h a s e Mount V e r n o n , home o f t h e n a t i o n ' s f i r s t p r e s i d e n t , and can t h u s be s a i d t o be one o f America's f i r s t h i s t o r i c preservationists. The a s s e m b l y d i d n o t h e e d G o v e r n o r J o h n s o n ' s p l e a , a n d Mount V e r n o n became t h e p r o p e r t y o f t h e Mount V e r n o n L a d i e s A s s o c i a t i o n i n 1859. -3,oBnson . L e f t . t h e go%erno-r!-s ~ f f i c eii1-1856 a n d r e t u r n e . d t o h i s home i n - - B r t a g s p o r t . A p r e s i d e n t i a l E l e c t o r - - f o r t h e ' C o n s t i T u t i o n a l Union P a r t y i n 1 8 6 0 , J o h n s o n was o p p o s e d t o s e c e s s i o n b u t s u p p o r t e d V i r g i n i a a f t e r s h e l e f t t h e Union. He w a s f o r c e d t o l e a v e h i s h o n e i n E r i d g e p o r t a n d l i v e T h e r e was a n b e h i n d C o n f e d e r a t e l i n e s f o r t h e d u r a t i o n o f t h e C i v i l War. a t t e m p t b y Union a u t h o r i t i e s t o a r r e s t him a t h i s home i n 1 8 6 1 , a n d h i s Johnson r e t u r n e d t o B r i d g e p o r t i n 1865 h o u s e was l o o t e d by F e d e r a l t r o o p s . and l i v e d q u i e t l y t h e r e , a r e s p e c t e d e l d e r s t a t e s m a n ( h e had c h a i r e d t h e 1 8 6 1 c o m n i t t e e t h a t v o t e d t o t a k e E a r r i s o n County i n t o s e c e s s i o n w i t h ~ i r g i n i a )u n t i l h i s d e a t h i n 1 8 7 7 a t t h e a g e o f 9 2 . The h o u s e p a s s e d t o h i s d a u g h t e r C a t h e r i n e i n 1877. It s t a y e d i n t h e J o h n s o n f a n i l y f o r many y e a r s , t h e n p a s s e d o u t o f f a n i l y h a n d s i n t h e P a s s i n g t h r o u g h a s u c c e s s i o n of owners, it i s c u r r e n t l y nid-20th century. M r . McCuskey s e r v e s a s F i n a n c e t h e p r o p e r t y o f t h e XcCuskey F a m i l y . C o m m i s s i o n e r o f West V i r g i n i a a t t h i s w r i t i n g . he -- G o v e r n o r J o s e p h J o h n s o n House i s , w i t h o u t p u e s t o n , t h e f i n e s t exanple o f I t a l i a n a t e r e s i d e n t i a l a r c h i t e c t u r e i n Bridgeport, one of t h e l e a d i n g c i t i e s o f H a r r i s o n C o u n t y , West V i r g i n i a . C o n s t r u c t e d i n 1818 a n d r e - m o d e l e d i n c.1840 a s a n I t a l i a n a t e v i l l a f o r t h e n U . S . C o n g r e s s m a n J o s e p h 3 ? h n s o n , the h o u s e h a s u n d e r g o n e c h a n g e s , i n p a r t i c u l a r t h e r e m o v a l o f a l a t e V i c t o r i a n p e r i o d o n e s t o r y v e r a n d a t h a t was i t s e l f a l a t t e r a d d i t i o n t o t h e house and h a s had i t s I t a l i a n a t e p o r t i c o r e s t o r e d . Several r e c o n n a i s s a n c e l e v e l ( o r " w i n d s h i e l d " ) s u r v e y s o f B r i d g e p o r t by t h e S t a t e +ii_tarFc-ErecerUc!r: O f f i c e e f West V i & - r a C L e d that the G o v e r n o r J o s e p h J o h n s o n House i s o n e o f t h e c i t y ' s n o s t a r c h i t e c t u r a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t r e s i d e n c e s , and i s w i t h o u t queston i t s f i n e s t e x a n p l e of t h e I t a l i a n a t e period. For a nore d e t a i l e d d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e I t a l i a n a t e f e a t u r e s o f t h e p r o p e r t y , See P a r t 7. - O. Major Bibliographical References B l y t h e , N e l l i s , " s h e Walked Over t h e M o u n t a i n s " West V i r g i n i a H i l l b i l l y , 3Richwood, W,Va., F e b r u a r y 14, 1976 D a v i s , D o r o t h y , History of ~ a r r i s o nCounty, W e s t V i r g i n i a , C1arksburg.W .Va., American A s s o c i a t i o n o e n i v e r s i t y Women, 1970 - k 0. Geographical Data Quadrangle scale 1 Zone Easting ' u11111111 H Zone W " ;?@ nI I Easting kirtn!ni L L l d L d L t L l -- Verbal boundary description and justification B e g i n n i n g a t t h e s o u t h e a s t i n t e r s e c t i o n o f J o h n s o n Avenue a n d O a k d a l e A v e n u e ; t h e n c e i n a l i n e due s o u t h 1 0 0 f e e t along t h e e a s t s i d e o f Oak. and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries Ust all 8trt.8 atate N /A state ru&itk organization citv or town code county coda code county code M i c h a e l J. Pauley, H i s t o r i a n - H a r t & Pauley date Charleston state - -- -- S e p t e m b e r 1, 1986 -- Vest V i r g i n i a -- 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance ot this property within the state is: -national -local I(state As tha d e s i g ~ t e dState Historic Preservation Officer tor the National Historic PreservationAct of 1966 (Public Law 89ionai Register and certify that it has been evaluated 665). 1 hereby nominate this property for inclusion in ional P p k S.nke, according to the criterla a d procedures set forth by State Hi+terk Pmwrv.tion OtUcetr dgfmtura / / / For~useonly / I hemby ceMy that this property is incluckd In the Natlonal Register / O M B No. 1 0 2 4 - 0 0 1 8 Expires 1 0 - 3 2 - 8 7 United States Department of the Irtterior National Park Senrlce National Register of Historic Places hventory- omi in at ion Form J o h n s o n , G o v e r n o r J o s e p h , House Continuation sheet Part 9 9 Item number 2 m e I4aJor B i b l i o g r a p h i c a l R e f e r e n c e s . . . 2 E a g n o n d , H e n r y , H i s t o r y o f X a r r i s o n C o u n t y , F r o n t h e E a r l i e s t Days % P r e s e n t , I l l o r g a n t o w n , W.Va., Acne of i$orthvestern v i r g i n K P u b l i s h i n g Co., 1910 K e s t e r , B e r t E . , J o s e p h J o h n s o n , Governor o f V i r g i n i a , Xorgantown,W.Va., 1 9 3 9 ( ~ h e s i s ,31 . A , , West V i r g i n i a U n i v e r s i t y , 1933). G o v e r n m e n t o f V e s t V i r g i n i a , New Y o r k , Lewis, V i r g i l A . , H i s t o r y New C e n t u r y e d . , A m e r i c a n Book C o . , 1 9 1 2 West - V i r g i n i a H e r i t a g e Encyclopedia, R i c h w o o d , W.Va., Part 10 . d e < c e r i p t i o n . . ..2. ; Geographical Data.. - V e r b a l Bouqdary - .2 _- -"-- - 1 - - - . - Cornstock Pub.,1975 - . --. -- - d a l e A v e n u e t o t h e n o r t h v e s t i n t e r s e c t i o n of' O a k d a l e A v e n u e a n d M a p l e S t r e e t ; t h e n c e i n a l i n e 75 f e e t d u e e a s t a l o n g t h e n o r t h s i d e o f Haple S t r e e t t o t h e e a s t boundary o f a b r i c k c o u r t y a r d ; t h e n c e i n a l i n e 1 0 0 f e e t due n o r t h t o t h e s o u t h s i C e o f Johnson Avenue; t h e n c e i n a l i n e 7 5 f e e t d u e w e s t a l o n g t h e s o u t h s i d e o f J o h n s o n Avenue t o t h e point ofbeginning. -
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