Institution

The Historic Fayette Theater was built in 1937 and is still in use as a stage for local performances. In 1992, the owner of the building, Tom Louisos, and the Fayette County History Society began renovations on the theater. In 2011, the Fayette County History Society purchased the building from Mr. Louisos and continued renovations and operation of the theater. Renovations to date include a new ceiling, a new heating and cooling system, new plumbing, a new electrical system, the addition of a dressing room in the back, renovation of the lobby, new seats, the addition of a technical booth to include advanced equipment, lighting, and more.

The theater is open to the public for free tours 10:00 am - 2:00 pm on Fridays starting in May and ending in October.&nbsp;Visitors are able to view the original movie projectors that remained in use until the 1960’s and other original equipment. Inside, the theater displays paintings that are representative of the 1930’s. Additionally, volunteers are available to answer questions about the theater’s history, owners, operations, and its role as a modern theater in the 1930’s and early 1940’s. The theater continues to hold ten live performances a year as well as private events.

View of the theater from across the street.

Flyer for the grand re-opening of the theater in 1993.

Black and white photogragh from the 40's.

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Historic Fayette Theater Official Website

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Book about Fayette County, West Virginia and its history

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The Fayette Theatre was originally built as a movie house in 1937 and is one of the few Depression-era movie theaters still in use in southern West Virginia. Visitors to the theatre can view the original movie projectors that remained in use until the 1960’s. The Fayette County Historical Society began renovating the theatre in 1992 by installing paintings and pieces of art that depict life and entertainment from the 1930’s. The theater stages ten performances a year, along with special nights by request. The theater is part of the Historic Theatre Trail and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. 

Historic Fayette Theater

This tour winds its way towards the city's historic district with stops at historic buildings and markers as well as landmarks and a few places where you can enjoy some refreshments and get to know some of the local people of "America's Coolest Small Town." Fayetteville was founded by Revolutionary War hero Marquis de Lafayette and was the site of several battles in the Civil War. The town's main industry is tourism owing to the history of the community and outdoor recreation of the New River Gorge.

The town of Fayetteville was originally named Vandalia when Fayette County was organized by the state of Virginia in 1838. The first county
courthouse was built in Vandalia in 1838, and was&nbsp;completed seven years
after the county's organization, but the building was destroyed in the Civil War.
The next courthouse was a small frame building, but eventually proved
insufficient and was replaced by a courthouse made of brick and stone by
architect Frank Davis in 1887. This building burned down in April of 1893, which led&nbsp;to the construction of the current courthouse in May of 1894, and
was completed on November 22, 1895. The architects hired to design the new courthouse were&nbsp;Edward
Fransheim and Millard Giesey of Wheeling. This courthouse was listed on National
Register of Historic Places on September 6, 1978.The County Commissioners contracted with Samuel Bryan, Jr. of Harrisburg on April 12, 1846 for construction of a new courthouse. It was built in graceful Greek revival style with Ionic columnns across the front. The building measured 85 by 58 feet, with County Offices on the first floor and Court and Jury Rooms on the second. It was surmounted by an octagonal belfry which contained a large four-faced town clock. Atop its spire sat an 8-foot 2-inch statue of Lafayette carved out of poplar wood by Uniontown artist David Blythe. The new Courthouse opened in March 1847.Disaster struck on February 4, 1845, when fire broke out in the Courthouse apparently starting in one of the stovepipes or chimneys. Two fire companies from Uniontown fought the flames but the fire was not contained and the roof and entire second story were destroyed. The records, however, were saved through the heroic efforts of townspeople and county employees. Court sessions were moved to the upper room of the John Dawson Law Building. This building still exists at the corner of Main and Court Streets.

Some
Fayette County records, including marriages, dating from its formation in 1831
survive, while others, such as births and deaths, do not exist prior to 1866.
Fayette County has many significant gaps in its records, but for the most part, the dates of the missing records do not correspond to the war years or to the
courthouse fires. Some of the most extensive gaps in records are well after
1893.

Some alterations have been made to the
interior of the building, but still retains most of its original
design. Extensions have been added on to the rear of the building, each constructed
of brick to match the original work. Renovations and restorations have been set
in place to work on&nbsp;sections of&nbsp;the original brick, the front stone steps, and additional sealing throughout the building.

The Fayette County Courthouse is a late 19th century Romanesque Revival-Style courthouse that features intricate carvings along the building's exterior along with stone arches and porches. The courthouses was built between 1894 and 1895 under the vision of Wheeling architects Edward Bates Franzheim and Millard Giesey. Three additions were made to the building in 1948, 1958, and 1976. The bell tower features cast-iron stairs that lead up the historic bell, cast in 1895, and continues to operate on days when court is in session.

Fayette County Courthouse

Confederate General Robert E. Lee recognized the tactical potential of the Kanawha Valley area between Fayetteville and Charleston in western Virginia (modern-day West Virginia).&nbsp; This area was occupied by Union soldiers, with their main force encamped at Fort Scammon in Fayetteville. In response, Lee planned a coordinated attack on the fort.&nbsp;&nbsp;Confederate forces simultaneously attacked the front and rear areas of the fort. &nbsp;Union leaders made a counter-attack to the rear of the fort but this action was unsuccessful in forcing the Confederates to withdraw. Recognizing that they could not surround and capture the Union soldiers, who were now on the defensive, Confederate forces pulled back to allow their withdrawal. &nbsp;As they left, the Union troops set fire to the supplies within the fort.Once on the road to Gauley, Confederates ambushed the Union troops and continued their fight with small skirmishes all the way to Charleston. The Union troops pulled all the way back to Point Pleasant, leaving a Confederate force of approximately 4,000 troops in control of the Kanawha Valley region. However, the Confederate leaders would not control this area for long. &nbsp; &nbsp;

A Civil War marker outlining the events of the battle at Fayetteville is located on the lawn of the Fayette County Court House. The marker is close to the area where Fort Scammon was located. The inscription on the Battle of Fayetteville Civil War Marker reads as follows:

<blockquote>“During the Civil War, Fort Scammon stood in front of you on the hill behind the Courthouse.&nbsp; There, on September 10, 1862, Union Col. Edward Siber and the 1500 men of his 37th Ohio Infantry defended Fayetteville against Confederate Gen. William Loring’s 5000-man army.&nbsp; Loring planned to occupy this area after learning in August that Federal troops were being transferred to eastern Virginia.&nbsp; The Kanawha River Valley was strategically important to each side for defending southern West Virginia, and as a staging area for attacks into the Ohio River Valley and northern West Virginia. The action began at dawn two miles south on the Raleigh Road (present-day Nickelville Road) when Union pickets fired on Loring’s vanguard, then fell back fighting to Fort Beauford, half a mile south of here.&nbsp; Loring sent two regiments on a 13-mile flanking march to attack Fort Scammon from the west, then continued the advance toward Fayetteville.&nbsp; Just short of Fort Beauford, and under a scathing artillery fire, he sent two regiments against the eastern side of the fort. In mid-afternoon, Siber charged Loring’s left flank three times with half his force but failed to dislodge the Confederates.&nbsp; Ten miles northwest at Gauley Bridge, meanwhile, Union Col. Joseph A.J. Lightburn heard the cannons and sent three regiments as reinforcements, but they arrived as Siber retreated to the Kanawha Valley.&nbsp; By September 16, the Federals had retreated all the way to Ohio.&nbsp; Confederate forces remained here until mid-October, then marched to Virginia and never again occupied this area.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</blockquote>



Fayetteville was founded by Abraham Vandal, a Revolutionary War veteran, and local farmer.&nbsp; The town was originally named Vandalia; but was later changed to Fayetteville (before 1837) after Revolutionary War hero, Marquis de Lafayette.&nbsp; Fayetteville is the county seat of Fayette County.&nbsp; Fayetteville has a population of approximately 3,000 and has been featured as a “Top 10 Coolest Small Towns in America” (2006) by Budget Travel Magazine, and “Best River Town” (2013) by Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine.&nbsp; Fayetteville is also the home of the New River Gorge Bridge; the third longest single arch bridge in the world.&nbsp;

On September 10, 1862, a small battle between Union and Confederate forces occurred in Fayetteville. Confederate forces attacked the Union’s troops at Fort Scammon in hopes of gaining control of the Kanawha River Valley. The battle included what is believed to be the “first use of indirect fire” in military battle. Confederate forces gained control of Fort Scammon and Fayetteville, while Union forces retreated into the Kanawha Valley. Confederate Forces remained in control of Fayetteville for approximately one month. Recognizing that the Confederacy needed all available manpower to defend Virginia, most of the Confederate soldiers went east, and the Union was able to retake control of the area. 

Battle of Fayetteville Historical Marker

Lafayette’s first real taste of colonial combat came in 1777 during the Battle of Brandywine. This was certainly not his most successful battle since he was shot in the leg upon trying to organize a retreat. However, General George Washington urged doctors to take special care of Lafayette during his recovery, which began a special bond between the two Generals. Once recovered, Lafayette was eventually given command over Virginia Troops. Lafayette then fought in the Battle of Monmouth in 1778 after spending the winter with General George Washington in Valley Forge. He then returned to France and returned in 1779 with word that the French would be sending troops to America to help. Lafayette’s shining moment with the Continental Army came in the Battle of Yorktown in 1781, where he commanded a third of the army. Here he “helped keep British Lieutenant-General Lord Cornwallis' army pinned at Yorktown, Virginia, while divisions led by Washington and France's Comte de Rochambeau surrounded the British and forced surrender in the last major battle of the Revolutionary War” (Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roche Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette).  In 1789, Lafayette had a leading role in the French Revolution. He also became a member of the National Assembly and contributed to the creation of the Declaration of the Rights of Man, which was based upon the Virginia Declaration of Rights. The Declaration of the Rights of Man served as a source for the American Declaration of Independence. He went on to command the French National Guard and join the Feuillants, a political party that advocated for a constitutional monarchy. Lafayette gained leadership of the French division in 1792 in the war with Austria. The radical Jacobins in his unit made him flee to Flanders where he was imprisoned by the Austrian government for five years. After he returned to France, he avoided Napoleon Bonaparte politics. However, after Napoleon's defeat in Waterloo, Lafayette restarted his political career and became a member of the Chamber of Deputies in 1815 and again from 1818 to 1824. The statue's origins come from a countrywide tour he embarked on from July 1824 to September 1825, the last surviving French general of the Revolutionary War, the Marquis de Lafayette, made a tour of the 24 states in the United States. At many stops on this tour, he was received by the populace with a hero's welcome, and many honors and monuments were presented to commemorate and memorialize the Marquis de Lafayette's visit. The town of Fayetteville, West Virginia was named after the Marquis de Lafayette, and Lafayette's statue looks upon the town from the Fayette County Courthouse lawn.

The statue created by sculptor Joel Randell that stands on the Fayette County Courthouse ground depicts Marquis de Lafayette gazing off into the world. Born on September 6, 1757, in Chavaniac, France, Marquis de Lafayette grew to be a successful military officer during the Revolutionary War serving the Continental Army.  Lafayette made his way to the United States in 1777 after being inspired by the colonists’ fight against the British through stories and signing an agreement to become a Major General in the Continental Army after being appointed by General George Washington. Lafayette was also a member of the Royal Army in France, serving as a Sous-lieutenant with the Kimp Musketeers. By serving in armies in two different countries, Marquis de Lafayette became known as the “Hero of Two Worlds.”

Statue of Marquis de Lafayette

Morris Harvey was born in 1821 and made his fortune by purchasing land along the New River in present-day Fayette County, West Virginia. The land became extremely valuable as railroad barons began looking for a route to connect West Virginia's coalfields with the leading cities of the east. Given the mountainous terrain of the region, Harvey's land along the New River provided the only economical path for railroad construction. Harvey invested his earnings in banks and established the Continental Divide Gold and Silver Company, but he is most famous for his work as a philanthropist. When the Barboursville Seminary was in danger of closing, Harvey donated enough funds to retire its debts and keep the school solvent. In recognition of his generosity, the trustees of the school renamed their institution as Morris Harvey College.  The Harvey's donated an additional $100,000 to move the school to Charleston, West Virginia. This move did not occur until 1947; thirty nine years after the schools' namesake had passed away. The school's trustees decided to expand the institution beyond its original theological mission, building programs in science and technology while expanding programs in liberal arts. With the transition came another name change announced by the trustees of the college in December, 1978. Although the School of Arts and Sciences is named after Morris Harvey, the institution is now known as the University of Charleston.  After Morris Harvey passed away in 1908, the house stayed in the Harvey family until 1931. From 1931 to 1953 the home served as the parsonage for Methodist ministers, and had various owners over the next 40 years. The home was purchased by George Soros and his wife Elizabeth Bush in 1993 and was transformed into the current bed and breakfast. The couple did extensive renovations to the house, including restoring the seven original oak fireplaces with Italian tile. The inn is currently owned by Bernie J. Kania Jr. and his family, and has five guest areas, seven fireplaces and two antique bathrooms with claw foot tubs and water closets. The Morris Harvey House has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The historic home of real estate investor and philanthropist Morris Harvey has been preserved, completely restored and operates today as an upscale bed and breakfast located in the heart of the Fayetteville Historic District. The three story, 14-room Victorian Queen Anne-style home was built in 1902 by Robert H. Dickerson. Dickerson was a contractor for Morris Harvey. The Morris Harvey House became one of the first homes in the region to be equipped with indoor plumbing, a system that provided running water from an 800-gallon copper tank located on the third floor that collected rain then dispersed it throughout the home.

The Morris Harvey House

<blockquote> </blockquote>In August 1945, the Fayette County Commission was presented with
a petition of more than 20 percent of the voting population asking for the construction
of a memorial building to honor the men and women of the armed forces. When the
building was established, it was determined the building would be two stories
with an auditorium and stage area for various performances and sporting events.
The basement would be used for armory drills, farm fairs, physical education
and for the National Guard. Further, they decided, the memorial would be
constructed at or near Fayetteville, the county seat. The structure was
designed by&nbsp;Ludwig Theodore Bengtson, known for the&nbsp;Young-Noyes House
and St. George&nbsp;Orthodox Church in Charleston and the&nbsp;Raleigh County
Courthouse in Beckley.

A “Wall of Honor” plaque is displayed at the north end wall of
the Soldiers and Sailors lobby. Erected in the 1990s, it provides citizens a
place to honor loved ones who served in the armed services by inscribing their
name, rank and years of service. The Fayetteville branch of the Fayette County
Public Libraries is also located in the building. The basement originally
included an open dining hall, meeting rooms, extra locker rooms and a kitchen.
It was later converted into a dispatch room for Fayette County Emergency
Operations Center, but has been vacant since the center moved in 2013.&nbsp;Fayette
County plans to use this vacant area as records management and preservation
storage space. Since 1952, and still to this day, the memorial's gymnasium has
been used by the Fayette County Board of Education for indoor athletics.

&nbsp;

The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building was established in 1949 to honor the armed forces of the Army and Navy. During World War II, Fayette County lost more than 200 soldiers who were either killed in action, declared dead while missing in action, or died while a prisoner of war. With 5,830 killed in action, West Virginia had the fifth-highest percentage of servicemen during World War II. In the few years after World War II, the citizens of Fayette County came together and erected an outstanding facility, which honors those soldiers who paid the ultimate price.

Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building 

The Historic Fayette Theater was built in 1937 and is still in use as a stage for local performances. In 1992, the owner of the building, Tom Louisos, and the Fayette County History Society began renovations on the theater. In 2011, the Fayette County History Society purchased the building from Mr. Louisos and continued renovations and operation of the theater. Renovations to date include a new ceiling, a new heating and cooling system, new plumbing, a new electrical system, the addition of a dressing room in the back, renovation of the lobby, new seats, the addition of a technical booth to include advanced equipment, lighting, and more.

The theater is open to the public for free tours 10:00 am - 2:00 pm on Fridays starting in May and ending in October.&nbsp;Visitors are able to view the original movie projectors that remained in use until the 1960’s and other original equipment. Inside, the theater displays paintings that are representative of the 1930’s. Additionally, volunteers are available to answer questions about the theater’s history, owners, operations, and its role as a modern theater in the 1930’s and early 1940’s. The theater continues to hold ten live performances a year as well as private events.

The building that houses the café was originally an Irish church built in 1905 that continued to operate until circa 1985. The building was then used as a storage facility for about 10 years until the café opened in April of 1997. The cafe is now owned and ran by the Bayes family who are native to the area.The Café also referred to as the “Jewel of Fayette County,” serves as the local favorite gathering spot in the center of Fayetteville’s National Historic District. This quaint, turn-of-the-century church, complete with cathedral ceilings, original stained glass windows, and modern wireless access, has been renovated into one of the region’s most popular casual dining restaurants. &nbsp;Visitors are reminded of another era while enjoying the unique atmosphere with food and friends. The Café serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a complete coffee and espresso bar. Sample their homemade desserts or cool off with one of their old-fashioned hand-dipped milkshakes. In the last few years, they have also opened a smoothie shop called RAW smoothies in the upper part of the cafe. They bring in approximately&nbsp;200 visitors every day and are especially busy during Gauley season. Gauley season is a popular tourist attraction in the area where rock climbers and rafters come to the area to white-water raft or climb or hike Fayetteville's unique trails. &nbsp; From the moment you walk in, you are struck with its unique atmosphere, including hand-painted tables and tiled countertops. Referred to as the Jewel of Fayette County, it also serves as the favorite local hangout and gathering spot. Stop by before or after your New River Gorge adventure.

The Café also referred to as the “Jewel of Fayette County,” serves as the local favorite gathering spot in the center of Fayetteville’s National Historic District. This quaint, turn-of-the-century church, complete with cathedral ceilings, towering stained glass windows, and modern wireless access, has been renovated into one of the region’s most popular casual dining restaurants. 

Cathedral Café

The Altamont Hotel was built in 1897 by a general contractor Robert H. Dickerson for attorney Henry Wilfred Brazie and his wife Mildred Walker Brazie. The hotel had replaced a similar hotel that had burned in the same location. Robert Brazie did not live to see the Altamont Hotel open in 1898, leaving Mrs. Brazie to become the sole owner. Upon her death in 1915, the hotel was passed to her daughter Mrs. Maude Brazie Haptonstall Coldwell, who managed the hotel from 1900-1936. In 1936, the hotel was passed to Mrs. Coldwell’s daughter, Frances Haptonstall Phillips and her husband, Erskine Phillips. They rented out space in the building to local tenants. Their daughter, Ms. Maude Phillips Brunstetter, was the fourth woman to own the hotel.  The hotel was known to be a popular place of the juries from the courthouse across the street when they were unable to deliver a verdict, sequestered on the third floor in a space nicknamed the “hung jury” room. For many years the basement was used as a tavern. The hotel is a T-shaped, 2½ story building with a raised basement, and sits on a 1⅓ acre site in the center of town. Outside the building offers the largest wooden veranda, Victorian style, found in Fayette County. Inside, the floors are of thick layered oak and still houses many of the original furnishings, including a large loom. The absence of many structural changes leaves the hotel largely unaltered, including high ceilings with Victorian era trim throughout. Four of the original ribbed chimneys with corbel capping have been removed. A partition wall of beaver board was built in the late 1930’s between the lobby and dining room to convert this area over to apartment use. The original bricks were fired from local “Frogtown” clay and laid in a stretcher bonding. The hotel also features a Victorian wrap-around veranda, the largest veranda in the county.

The Altamont Hotel was built in 1897, in Fayetteville, West Virginia. Four generations of women owned the hotel. It hosted many officials and businessmen who frequented the nearby county courthouse, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 29, 1979.

Altamont Hotel

The Hawkins House holds local significance because it has survived as one of the county’s primary architectural landmarks and because E.B. Hawkins was elected to important local offices. Hawkins was the mayor of Fayetteville in 1883, and Hawkins was the Clerk of Fayette County from 1885 to 1897. Hawkins was Sheriff of Fayette County from 1905 to 1909 and built the home while he was serving his term as sheriff. The home remained under his ownership until 1919. In 1920, Dr. J.E. Coleman, founder of the Fayette Hospital, chose the Hawkins House as a location to fulfill a government contract to provide hospitalization for soldiers who had contracted tuberculosis during World War I. However, Dr. Coleman ran into unexpected opposition from the citizens of Fayetteville when they learned of his plans. Their fear of the spread of tuberculosis from the hospital forced Dr. Coleman to agree to resell the property if a buyer could be found. In July 1920, a concerned group of citizens from Fayetteville purchased the property from Dr. Coleman and later sold it to coal operator V.S. Veasey, who used the home as a summer residence. During the late 1920s, the Veasey’s sold the property to a local judge, C.W. Dillion. In the late 1930s, Judge Dillon’s death caused the house to be put on the market again. The house stood empty for 7 years until it was purchased by William Ballard in 1941. The wife of William Ballard was voted West Virginia’s Mother of the Year during the 1970s. During this same decade, both Mr. and Mrs. Ballard passed way. The house was then transferred to one of their heirs who lived in the house until 1983. The house stood empty from 1983 until 1988 when the Voslers purchased the property. The E.B. Hawkins home was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 18, 1990. Today, the home serves as a local bed and breakfast called the Historic White Horse Inn Bed &amp; Breakfast.

The E.B. Hawkins home in Fayetteville, West Virginia was established in 1905 and includes large porches, gambrel roofs, extensive shingle-work, and grand interior stairway added in 1925. Among the interior details, its dining room walls feature a continuous hand-painted wallpaper. The property includes a guest house, garage, barn and second home, on a large grassy lot. Hawkins was an influential politician who served as mayor, county clerk, and sheriff of Fayette County. The residence operated as the Historic White Horse Inn Bed & Breakfast in the early 2000s. Of local significance, the house was built by a wealthy politician and occupied through the years by socially prominent citizens of the community.

Fayetteville WV Tour of "America's Coolest Small Town"

Historic Fayette Theater

Introduction

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Backstory and Context

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Additional Information