News & Announcements

The latest news and announcements from Friends of Happy Retreat.

July 2020 Restoration Update

July 2020 Restoration Update

Restoration of the smokehouse and stone kitchen is nearing completion. Over the winter, master carpenter Dave Kardok prepared the framing for the new roof. Many of the original rafters were simply split logs with the tree bark still on read more

Another History at its Best

Another History at its Best

A little trivia about Happy Retreat. Hello from inside Happy Retreat on Her 240th Birthday My favorite thing to do as the historian of Happy Retreat is look behind Happy Retreat’s walls, under her floorboards, in closets, read long ... read more

December 2019 Rising Sun Newsletter

December 2019 Rising Sun Newsletter

The year 2019 has seen us make continued important progress at Happy Retreat as we build on the success of the past. The most important progress has been the restoration of the smokehouse and stone kitchen, which nears completion as ... read more

Save America’s Treasures grant awarded to Happy Retreat by the National Park Service

Save America’s Treasures grant awarded to Happy Retreat by the National Park Service

Date: October 12, 2019

PLEASE JOIN US FOR AN AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT On Saturday, October 12, at 11 a.m., Randall Reid-Smith, Curator of the West Virginia Division of Arts, Culture and History, will hold a press conference at Happy Retreat to formally announce ... read more

September 2019 Rising Sun Newsletter

September 2019 Rising Sun Newsletter

We are excited to report that the restoration of the smokehouse and stone kitchen is happening as this is being written. When the team from the National Trust for Historic Preservation first visited Happy Retreat in 2015, they ... read more

Charles Washington Day

Charles Washington Day

Governor’s Proclamation of Charles Washington Day – September 15th read more

April 2019 Rising Sun Newsletter

April 2019 Rising Sun Newsletter

The snow drops have already bloomed at Happy Retreat and the daffodils and forsythia are breaking forth.Several years ago, a cousin of mine named Sarah Brown, who lives in Austin, Texas, began researching the history of the people ... read more

December 2018 Rising Sun Newsletter

December 2018 Rising Sun Newsletter

We have had another successful year thanks to the support of so many people. Generous donors have helped us move forward with major restoration projects, both inside and outside the house. New roofs, gutters and downspouts and major ... read more

Event Cancellation Announcement – Happy Retreat Book Series

Event Cancellation Announcement – Happy Retreat Book Series

We regret to announce that our Book Series scheduled for Wednesday, October 24th has been canceled. To all those who had initiated correspondence or made inquiries, you will soon be receiving information about our upcoming Book Series. read more

September 2018 Rising Sun Newsletter

September 2018 Rising Sun Newsletter

On Saturday, September 15, 2018, the Bee Line Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution will dedicate a plaque to honor the military service of Charles Washington (1738- 1799), founder of Charles Town and builder of Happy Retreat. ... read more