Oyster House - Fort Loudoun Barracks?
- JIM MOYER
- Feb 13, 2021
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 6
That Western most Barrack in Fort Loudoun might still be around.
After existing until 1820 it was an Oyster House.
It was described as a tall logged yellow painted building.
Then it got moved. To Fairfax Lane.
Is it hiding in plain sight?
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This blog authored and compiled by Jim Moyer 2/13/2021, 2/28/202 updated 4/6/2025
How do we know the western barrack became the Oyster House?
THE 3 SOURCES:
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1st Source:
From William Greenway Russell (1800-1891)
in his book, "What I know about Winchester,"
on page 79, writes:
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. "On the west side of Loudoun Street
and north of Peyton,
stood a tall log building
painted yellow,
many years ago.
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About 1820 it was occupied
by Thomas Brown,
whose wife was a Miss Fawsett.
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They kept an Oyster house. . Many years ago it was occupied by a Jesse Curry,
a tailor.
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This house was taken down
and moved near Fairfax Lane by William L Clark,
and fitted up for a dwelling.
Rediford Conrad occupied it for many years."
William Greenway Russell did not associate that Oyster House to possibly being the old western barracks of For Loudoun.
Sources:
What I know about Winchester Recollections of William Greenway Russell 1800-1891, Editors Garland R Quarles, Lewis N Barton, Copyright 1953, Winchester-Frederick Co Historical Society, the McClure Publishing Co in Staunton Va, 2nd printing Winchester Printers Inc, Winchester VA, Page 79
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William Greenway Russell's home
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William Greenway Russell's grave
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Picture on file in Handley Archives
2nd Source: From Norman Baker (1926-2019) in his book,
Fort Loudoun., Washington's Fort in Virginia, page 64 writes: .
"At least one of the hewn log buildings of Fort Loudoun
probably would have survived
into the early years of the 19th century.
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The east and north barracks and the commandant's office would have been sacrificed earlier, or at least at the time the main street of Winchester, Loudoun Street, was extended north through the site of the fort. . About 1820, "a tall log building painted yellow, " reportedly was standing on the Fort site and was occupied by Thomas Brown who operated an oyster house. . The log building,
which may have been the West Barracks of the Fort,
was later the residence of Jesse Curry,
before it was dismantled
and moved by William L Clark to near Fairfax Lane
and converted into a dwelling.
It was occupied for many years by Rediford Conrad."
Was this yellow log Oyster House the western most Barrack in Fort Loudoun?
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That is the question Norman Baker asked when he read William Greenway Russell's description of the tall log yellow building.
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It is a great question Norman Baker asked.
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William Greenway Russell did not associate that Oyster House to possibly being the old western barracks of For Loudoun.
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It was Norman Baker who saw the possible connection.
This aerial photograph and the white footprint is by Norman Baker.
Source:
Fort Loudoun., Washington's Fort in Virginia, copyright 2006, printed by Impressions Plus, 111 Featherbed Lane, Winchester VA, published by the French and Indian War Foundation, Page 64
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3rd Source:
From Lois M Newman, City Engineer's Office.
This is taken from a Garland Quarles posthumous reprinted publication.
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Since Garland Redd Quarles (1901-1986) wrote Historic Winchester VA in 1952 and lived until 1986, he might not have seen this picture below printed in 1989 of the fort's footprint.
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It was included in a reprint of his work in 1996.
Source: Page 13, of Winchester Virginia Streets, Churches, Schools published by Winchester-Frederick Co Historical Society 1996. This book reprints and joins in this one book these separate publications by Garland Quarles such as Historic Winchester Virginia 1952, The Streets of Winchester Virginia 1958, The Churches of Winchester 1960, The Schools of Winchester Virginia 1964.
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The replica of the fort was thought at first to represent the fort in the French and Indian War. But the actual fort was built of hewn logs roughly a foot in length that ran sideways, And it was double wall filled in with rock and dirt.
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This model comes closer to Fort Loudoun's 2nd Act as a prison for Revolutionary War 29 years later. The stockade that might have been in place would have been looser than the sturdy construction this model shows.
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This model sat in George Washington Office and Museum for decades based off of a 1930s drawing.
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Postscript:
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The Oyster House, formerly Fort Loudoun's western barrack, might have gotten moved and dismembered even after it's location on Fairfax Lane too. Research on deeds and lots needs to be done. It's a cold case for the file. :)
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More on Norman Baker 1926-2019
Fort Loudoun., Washington's Fort in Virginia,
copyright 2006,
printed by Impressions Plus,
111 Featherbed Lane, Winchester VA,
published by the French and Indian War Foundation.
Page 64
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Washington Post bio of Norman Baker
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More on Norman Baker
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Winchester Star on Norman Baker
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See two books by Norman Baker being read by our Go Dogs Go Book Club
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