Washington Co. > Homes and Buildings > First Brook Hall

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The first Brook Hall c1937; courtesy of The Library of Virginia
photo courtesy of B. & D. Ford - note the Old Stage Rd.

The first home in Washington County to bear the name "Brook Hall" was built about 1775-1776 by James Dysart, following his marriage to Nancy Beattie. The land was owned at the time by Nancy's father, John Beattie. John owned an extensive tract of land in Washington County lying in the vicinity of present day Meadowview and Glade Spring. In 1784 he deeded parcels to his various children. James Dysart, as Nancy's husband, received 248 acres off of the southwest end of the larger tract.

James Dysart reportedly named his home Brook Hall after his childhood home in Ireland. This first structure to bear the name was a large, 2 story log structure with rock chimneys at either end. It consisted of 7 rooms; 4 downstairs and 3 upstairs. Two of the downstairs rooms were quite large. There was also a small cellar. The flooring was constructed from large planks. The house sat near the southern boundary of the parcel, fronting the Great Wagon (or Old Wilderness) Road.

Brook Hall ad circa 1812; courtesy Dr. James Hagy

In 1791 James purchased an additional 297 acres from his neighbor to the south so that his holdings spanned both sides of the road. He and Nancy raised their family at Brook Hall, but later in life moved to Kentucky. In November 1807 James and Nancy sold the house and the entire 615 acres to William Byars for $5,000.

William Byars married Elizabeth Beattie, daughter of William Beattie (and the niece of Nancy Beattie Dysart), on November 26, 1807, the same day he purchased Brook Hall. The couple lived in the house for the bulk of their married life. At least 7 of their 8 children were born there. Washington County tax records indicate that William used part of the structure as a store. In 1811 or 1812 John Phaup ran a House of Public Entertainment (tavern with food and lodging) at Brook Hall; Zachariah Shugart held a similar license in 1816.

Later William began construction of a larger, more imposing home on a hill on the south side of the Great Wagon Rd., opposite his existing home. The new home, also called "Brook Hall", was completed about 1826. However, William continued to utilize his old home fronting the Great Rd. for various commercial endeavors.

Elizabeth Beattie Byars died less than 10 years after the second Brook Hall was finished. But William Byars resided there until his death in 1866. During his lifetime he built or purchased homes for several of his children, including his sons John, William and James. These homes were known as Cave Springs, Woodburn and Ft. Kilmachronan, respectively. The original Brook Hall burned in 1949. A cement block building was later constructed at the approximate location of the old home.

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Related Maps

Glade Spring area - 1821 and 1890 (homes identified by owner/family)

Washington Co. Homes (location identified on current map)

General Sources Used on this Page

  1. [S1199] Victoria Gilliam, "Brook Hall", 1937, digital image, Works Progress Administration of Virginia Historical Inventory, Library of Virginia Online, <<http://www.lva.virginia.gov>>: viewed 2009.
  2. [S952] "Historical Houses of Washington County, Virginia", Historical Society of Washington County, Virginia Bulletin Series II, #6 (Spring, 1968): 25. Brook Hall article authored by Mr. Jerry Simpson and originally published in the Washington County News in May, 1965.
  3. [S1209] Virginia Division of Historic Landmarks, Washington County Survey forms, copies held by the Historical Society of Washington County, Abingdon, Virginia. Survey 95-4, dated Aug. 20, 1992 by Vivian Coletti.
  4. Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists, Vol. 1-7 (New Papyrus Publishing, 2005-6)