The first settlers here were the Files (Foyles) and Tygart (Taggart) families in 1753. The Files homestead was attacked and burned by Indians the following year. All of the family were killed except one boy, who fled with the Tygarts.

Union camp at Beverly after the Battle of Rich Mountain - Summer 1861 (period drawing)

In 1772, permanent settlers were returning to the valley. Randolph County was formed in 1787, and a town was laid out on the lands of James Westfall. At first known as Edmundton, the town was chartered as Beverly in 1790, and established as the county seat.

Beverly was the commercial and trading center of the county. With the completion of the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike in 1847, and the Beverly - Fairmont Pike in 1852, it became a major crossroads as well.

The Civil War brought many changes to the town. At first a Confederate supply post, the Battle of Rich Mountain, fought five miles to the west, established Union control over the area. Many of the towns residents held southern sympathies, and some left town when the Union troops arrived. Beverly was occupied by Federal troops through most of the war. It was raided by Confederates four times, twice successfully, but they were not able to maintain control for long.

Confederate Prisoners after the Battle of Rich Mountain - July 1861 (period drawing)

2. Calvin Collett House -- ca. 1869. West side of main street north of cemetery.

3. Dreppard House -- ca 1895. West side of north Main street.

4. Curry House -- ca 1897. West side north Main street.

5. The Pines -- Tradition claims this house was moved to this site by a team of oxen. It was the home of the Lorenzo Dow Strader family. East side of Main just north of school.

6. Willa Hill House -- ca. 1910. West side north Main, just north of Presbyterian Church

7. Beverly Methodist Church -- Congregation began meeting from earliest days of town. This church built 1890.

8. Beverly Presbyterian Church -- Congregation formally organized in 1820. This church built 1869, renovated and enlarged 1894.

9. Montgomery Hart / Andrew Collett House -- the two story northeast corner of this house is log, traditionally considered to have been built as a log fort by James Westfall, and may be the oldest standing structure in Beverly. By 1840 it belonged to Montgomery Hart, and from 1871 belonged to Andrew Collett and his family. The house was used at times as a tavern, hotel, and Civil War hospital. On the southwest corner of North Main and Collett Streets.

10. Peter Buckey Home and Hotel -- Reputedly built before 1791 when Peter Buckey purchased it as a hotel and tavern. Belonged to George Buckey during the Civil War, and in later years was a hotel run by the Pence family. East side of North Main.

11. Enterprise Building -- ca. Early 1800's, used as grocery store or store room. From 1874, was the office of the Randolph Enterprise published by George P. Sargent. After the newspaper moved to Elkins in 1899, this became the Morrison Hotel. East side of North Main.

12. Bosworth Property -- Home and office of Dr. Squire Bosworth, early county physician. From 1880 to 1887 this was the location of the Randolph Female Seminary, and after 1895 was the Russell House hotel. Northeast corner Main & Bridge Streets.

13. Jonathan Arnold House -- Built ca 1820's, this was the home of Jonathan Arnold, and his wife Laura Jackson Arnold, who was the sister of Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. Laura became known for her care of wounded soldiers during the war, but her Unionist sympathies led to a breakup of her marriage. The home later belonged to A. D. Barlow and his family.

14. Lemuel Chenoweth House -- A well-known carpenter and builder of covered bridges, Lemuel Chenoweth built this house overlooking his Beverly Covered Bridge ca. 1850. Corner Bridge and Water Streets.

15. Rowan House -- An early log house still exists as the back part of this home, with the two-story front section dating from after the Civil War. William Rowan was a hat maker, and his son Adam took the family south during the Civil War. West side of Water Street.

16. Louisa Gilmore House -- ca 1890. Corner Court and Water Streets.

17. Masonic Lodge Hall -- Built ca 1907, Henry Gassaway Davis attended the dedication ceremony in 1912. Southeast corner Main and Bridge Streets.

18. Channel Store -- ca 1915. East side Main Street.

19. Adam Crawford Home -- Built early 1800's or before, this house was bought by Adam Crawford in 1846. Tradition claims that Federal troops set up their telegraph here when they first arrived after the Battle of Rich Mountain. The Crawfords were strong Southern sympathizers, but their home was occupied by Union troops throughout the war. Southwest corner of Bridge and Main Streets.

20. Beverly Market -- This building was built ca 1900 on the earlier location of the Buckey House hotel. West side of Main Street.

21. I.O.O.F. Lodge Hall -- Tygarts Valley Lodge #66 was founded in 1873, and built this hall in 1914. West side of Main Street.

22. Blackman - Bosworth Store -- Built 1827-28 by David Blackman, this store building was also used as a commissary during the Civil War, and for the court house, post office, and print shop. Squire Newton Bosworth bought it in 1881, and built the addition on the north side. Now the Randolph County Museum. Northwest corner of Court and Main Streets.

23. Randolph County Jail - 1813 -- This early jail, actually the second one used in the county, was built in 1813. The cells, two downstairs and two upstairs, were in the front portion of the building. After a new jail was built in 1841, this became a residence. East side of Main Street just north of square.

24. Beverly Public Square -- Established as public open space when the jail was built in 1813. Originally used as a horseshoe pitching ground and "playground," no building is allowed to be built here.

25. Rohrbaugh's Store -- Originally the site of the Valley House hotel, the Rohrbaugh Store was built here ca 1915. The building was also used at times to house the post office, and as the school gymnasium. East side of square.

26. Beverly Bank -- Built in 1900, Dr. Humbolt Yokum was the president of this bank, the only one in the community. It closed during the Banking Holiday of March 1933. Southeast corner Court and Main Streets.

27. Randolph County Court House -- Work began on this court house building in 1808, and was completed in 1815. It originally had a west facade facing Main Street similar to the side on the north, and wings for offices on the south and east. In 1894, with Elkins agitating to become the county seat, a large new court house was built in Beverly. The new building burned in 1897, and the records were moved back here until Elkins won the county seat designation in 1899. Court Street.

28. The Hill Building -- Aries Hill store building, ca 1907. Court Street.

29. Bushrod Crawford House -- Built ca. 1850, this house and store building of Bushrod Crawford was used by General McClellan as his headquarters while in Beverly in July of 1861. Southwest corner Court and Walnut Streets.

30. Scott House -- Princess Anne style house ca 1893. Southeast corner Court and Walnut Streets.

31. 1841 Jail -- This brick and stone jail built in 1841 had two large cells in the downstairs rear of the building which originally had bars on the windows. Upstairs had one cell without bars for women, and another with an iron cage for dangerous prisoners. The jailer's residence was in the front of the building. This remained in use until the Elkins jail was built in 1913. East side of Walnut Street.

32. Blackmun - Strader Home -- Begun in 1861 but completed after the war, this brick home was built by Judson Blackmun. It was added to by his son-in-law Lorenzo Dow Strader and has remained in the same family. The small brick building on the corner was Strader's law office. Southwest corner Court and Main Street.

33. David Goff House -- Built in 1835 by David Goff, who was prosecuting attorney and Superintendent of Schools. As an officer in the Virginia militia, he was instrumental in the Confederate build-up in Beverly at the beginning of the war, then took his family south when Union troops arrived. The vacated house was used as a hospital during the war and suffered much damage. The original house was a symmetrical with five windows across the front, it has had wings and porches added to it. East side of South Main Street.

34. Eli Baker House -- Built 1873. East side of South Main Street.

35. Birkett House -- This early log house, where Isaac Baker, Sr. once ran a hotel known as "The Rising Sun," was destroyed during the Civil War. Rev. John Birkett built the existing house here after the war. In 1871, he sold the house to Charles J. P. ("Pin") Cresap, who was a member of the state legislature in 1881. West side of South Main.

36. Baker House -- Originally the site of the log home of John Earle, the house and adjoining mill were sold to the Bakers in 1879. This ca. 1900 house was the home of Isaac Baker, Jr., and his son Stark Baker who served as state senator from 18898 to 1906. West side of South Main at the curve.

37. Logan House -- Reputed to date from 1910, this house was purchased by James H. Logan in 1856. It was the site of the first amputation behind Confederate lines following the battle of Philippi in June 1861. East side of South Main at the curve in the road.

38. Edward Hart House -- This is traditionally considered to be the site of the log home of one of Beverly's earliest settlers Edward Hart, who was a son of John Hart, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. During the Civil War the home was occupied by Dr. George W. Yokum, a noted doctor and local historian. The room on the north end of the house was Dr. Yokum's office. West side of South Main Street.

39. Yokum House -- This Princess Anne style house was built about 1890 by Dr. Humboldt Yokum, son of Dr. George Yokum. West side of South Main Street.

40. Henry Suiter House -- Home of Henry Suiter, a blacksmith and wheelwright, who operated the toll gate on the turnpike. His grandchild was reputedly born in this house while it was under bombardment during the raid on Beverly on July 2, 1863. East side of South Main just south of Files Creek Bridge.

41. Cunningham House -- built ca 1894 by Mr. & Mrs. E. A. Cunningham, later owned by photographer S. Alfred Cavalier. Files Creek Road.

42. Eli Butcher House -- Originally two log rooms built about 1778. Purchased in 1832 by Eli Butcher who added front addition to house. Files Creek Road.

43. Ward House -- Also known as "Edgewood," this Queen Anne house was designed by a Wheeling architect named Bumgardner. It was the home of lawyer John Baylis Ward and his wife Angelia Scott Ward. Located on Butcher hill, trenches of the Union fortifications can still be seen in the yard.

The information here was adapted from:

HISTORIC BEVERLY: A GUIDEBOOK
by Donald L. Rice & Phyllis Baxter
Randolph County Historical Society, 1993.

Available at the Randolph County Museum for $4.00.