News & Announcements
The latest news and announcements from Friends of Happy Retreat.
December 2017 Rising Sun Newsletter
As you read through this issue of The Rising Sun, you will get a sense of how many things are going on at Happy Retreat at different levels. We continue to make steady progress on the restoration of the house and outbuildings. We have ... read more
December 2017 Restoration Update
Roof. Restoration of the roof on the central portion of the house is complete. The standing seam metal roof was scraped, repaired where necessary, then primed and painted. The soffit molding along the eaves on both sides of the house ... read more
September 2017 Rising Sun Newsletter
June marked the one year anniversary of working with the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of their National Treasures. We are indebted to Nancy Tinker, who led our project team, Rob Nieweg, Susan Berning and Stephen ... read more
Newly Renovated Charles Washington Hall, Fall, 2017
Bushel & Peck farmers’ market is Located in Charles Washington Hall Charles Town Art & Revitalization read more
September 2017 Restoration Update – Smokehouse/Kitchen
In June, workmen from Belfor, an international property restoration company, came to Shrink Wrap the roof of the smokehouse/stone kitchen, replacing the deteriorating blue tarp which had been covering the roofs of these buildings. ... read more
April 2017 Rising Sun Newsletter
“If only these walls could talk,” is something we often hear people say at Happy Retreat, as I’m sure they do at most historic homes. It turns out that, in a way, walls can talk, as we learned from the paint analysis done as part of ... read more
April 2017 Updates
HISTORIC STRUCTURES REPORT Phase I of the Historic Structures Report (HSR) has been completed. The 81 page report was prepared by Maral S. Kalbian and Dennis J. Pogue. A copy can be downloaded from our webpage. The report established ... read more
Archeology at Happy Retreat’s Summer Kitchen/Smokehouse
This is an archaeological dig supervised by Dr. C. Hulse to find artifacts for determining construction dates and for learning about daily life at Happy Retreat and the building’s foundation restoration needs, among other goals. ... read more
December 2016 Rising Sun Newsletter
Two momentous events marked the year that draws to a close. First, in June the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Happy Retreat a National Treasure. We cannot begin to express our gratitude to the National Trust for this ... read more
December 2016 Restoration Update
We are moving forward with restoration of the house on all fronts. We are fortunate to be guided by so many knowledgeable people East Wing. During the 1940s, The East Wing was completely gutted due to termite damage and then remodeled, read more