7. 318 Market Street
Turning back into Town, the first house the visitor comes upon on the right hand side of Market Street is one of the oldest in the community Valley House. One of the four remaining late 18th century buildings in Brookeville, Valley House is a handsome 2 1/2 story structure of local stone. It may have been built by the founders of the Town prior to Brookeville's founding in 1794. With its simple symmetrical form, gable roof, and center entrance with wood panelled door surmounted by a fourlight transom, it is a fine example of the vernacular Georgian style of the period. The house is noted for its interesting architectural features such as the unusual framing of the dining room windows, the six pane windows, and the original ceiling beams and fireplaces inside. A new kitchen addition of matching stone was added in 1993.
The house is nestled in the shade of a state champion sycamore and other magnificent trees overlooking the Reddy Branch Creek. Not surprisingly there was a milling operation on the site in the 19th century: the large millstone in the backyard is reminiscent of that era. Also on the property, and probably of an age similar to the house, are the stone springhouse and a log smokehouse.
How you think of Valley House depends on how long you have been in Brookeville! In the 1800s, it was the home of the Vestry of St. John's Church in Olney. Many remember it as the (Doctor) Iddings House where teeth were pulled and other treatments offered, and Dr. Iddings delivered babies, too! Older neighbors remember going to the old spring house for water or fresh milk. Ambassador and Mrs. Butterworth owned the house in the 1940s1960s and rented it out to many people, including Olney Theater actors and the Dr. John Weske family. You may have seen Dr. Weske's wonderful sketches of Brookeville. In the 1960s, some of us remember one of the Graham family sons riding the lawn mower wearing a top hat! |
