William Tompkins House
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Cedar Grove (William Tompkins House)
1844. East side of U.S. 60 at intersection with Kanawha County 81
This solidly built, double-pile mansion has a cut stone foundation, brick walls, and stone windowsills. Basically Greek Revival in form, proportions, and style, it shows the beginnings of Italianate influence in its bracketed cornice. An impressive undertaking for its time and place, Cedar Grove stands as a testament to the wealth that salt industry entrepreneurs could amass in the mid-nineteenth century. Mrs. Tompkins, an aunt of General Ulysses S. Grant, displayed a letter from him whenever Union troops passed by during the Civil War. Inasmuch as her late husband had been a Confederate sympathizer, both sides respected the house, which remained unscathed throughout the conflict. The family's church (next entry) was not so fortunate.
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