National Register Listing

Baldwin-Grantham House

a.k.a. Locust Grove;Shanghai House

Co. Rd. 18 E of Shanghai, Shanghai, WV

Locust Grove is significant for its association with the early settlement of the Back Creek area through its association with Frances and William Baldwin and Moses S. Grantham. It is also significant for its association with Moses S. Grantham, a prominent businessman, and politician. Locust Grove is also significant under as a good representation of three different construction periods and styles. The period of significance for Locust Grove, 1749 to 1890, is due to the construction of the original structure in 1749 and Moses Grantham's death in 1890.

Locust Grove is significant for its association with the settlement of the Back Creek area and the Baldwin family. Frances Baldwin had 262 acres surveyed in April of 1750 in his name where he had already built a log cabin. The cabin was located on the west side of Back Creek near the present Shanghai Bridge over Back Creek. This is the extant log portion of the house. A 1750 survey map locates John Anderson (who had also built a log cabin) just south of the Baldwin cabin near a stream called Dry Branch. Robert Heaton had also entered a warrant for an adjoining survey. The Baldwin land grant was the first land grant Lord Fairfax made in the Back Creek Valley. Fairfax was active in promoting the settlement of western Virginia and was granted land at this time to settlers. The first in Berkeley County was in 1748. Early surveyor, John Mauzy located many of these cabins on his survey plats.

Frances's brother, William Baldwin, Sr. was also acquiring land adjoining Frances along the banks of Back Creek including 188 acres in June of 1760; 50 acres in July of 1760; 364 acres in December 1778; 411 acres in August 1768; and 278 acres in June of 1762 near Gerrardstown where he had previously purchased 408 acres from John Mills, Jr. in February of 1752. The Baldwins were instrumental in settling and farming this section of the county.

William Baldwin, Sr., and his wife sold 411 acres located on Back Creek to his brother, Frances, for 3,500 pounds. William, Sr. also sold part of his land to John Baldwin. William, Sr., and his wife had eight children; one of whom was named after him. William, Sr. died in 1786 and at that time his son, William, J, his wife, Anna, and his mother sold the estate.

Frances Baldwin was one of the earliest settlers in the Back Creek Valley-Shanghai area. In 1790, he and his wife, Sarah, decided to move on to Washington County, Pennsylvania. They sold the cabin and 159 acres to Joseph Grantham on March 5, 1790. The Granthams and their neighbor, Jacob Fry, who had purchased part of Frances Baldwin's tract of 291 acres in 1788, lived on Turkey Run in what is known as Smithfield, or Middleway, in Jefferson County. The tax records for Berkeley County from 1774 to 1781 list John Grantham with 527 acres, Joseph Grantham with 304 acres, and Ludowick Fry with 442 acres.

The land book for Berkeley County in 1796 shows Joseph Grantham paid taxes on 903 acres. Joseph was amassing large amounts of land and allotted his six children various acreage. Joseph died in 1814. He left the Frances Baldwin tract with 226 acres to his son, William Grantham.

William Grantham was born in 1772 and married Susannah Fry who was born in 1775. He worked the land with his father from 1792 until his father's death in 1814. The 1823 land books list William as having 815 acres on both sides of Back Creek which encompassed much of the earlier Baldwin land. William prospered and built a brick kitchen addition to the cabin, ca. 1820. This is the current middle section of the house. The porch roof connecting the log section to this contains a dated shingle listing "DAHL-1823". This is presumed to have been added at a later date.

William served as a Captain in the local militia in 1829 and served as a judge in 1830. He died on July 10, 1838, at home on Back Creek. He and his wife, Susannah, had had eight children. His sons, Moses and Lewis, advertised the public sale of his personal property in October of 1838. Livestock, crops, farm equipment, and "his valuable negro-boys who will be disposed of to some resident of the County" were sold. The extensive list of livestock is a testament to the significance and success of his farm.

Locust Grove is significant under Criterion B for its association with Moses S. Grantham. Moses was born in 1819. Moses was not married at the time of his parent's death. His father, William, had left a will leaving 1/8 of his property, real and personal, to each of his eight children, including the children of his deceased daughter, Jemima Starry. Moses purchased the interest of his brothers and sisters in the 682 1/2 acre home plantation and a nearby 235 acres. He also purchased other sibling interests and additional acreage in the Back Creek area. He quickly began to consolidate his holdings and became a very successful landlord and gentleman farmer.

Moses controlled his holdings from his farm, which he now called Locust Grove. He was also acquiring land in other portions of the county, as is illustrated by a letter researched that instructed Captain R.D. Seaman to construct a barn on the Thunder Hill Farm. This was just one of his many properties. In 1849 Moses constructed the front portion of the Locust Grove mansion, a residence more fitting his stature than the original settler's cab and farmer's house. The imposing two-story structure contained all of the appropriate details and ornamentation befitting a house of this period.

Moses continued to enlarge his holdings. He purchased a large, three-story, brick building standing in the square in Martinsburg. It was known locally as Grantham Hall and was located on the southwest corner of the west side of King Street. He purchased the lot through a Chancery Court case in 1855 for $900.00 and the brick building the following year for $1,654.00. Grantham Hall shows up on Sanborn Fire Insurance maps essentially unchanged from the earliest made maps up to the present. Grantham Hall is still standing today with only minor changes. It is also illustrated in the James E. Taylor Sketchbook of Civil War illustrations, showing sentinels on the root.

Moses was one of the founders of the first bank in the county, helped to establish the People's National Bank, and was on its Board of Directors. He served as a school commissioner in the 1840s. When he was only 25 years old he served as a representative in the Virginia Senate for two terms. He served in the West Virginia Senate for one term in 1875. He was a judge in the county court and held many other offices.

Moses's sister, Ellen Seibert, also resided with him at Locust Grove. She had been married in 1824 but her husband died early. They had no children.

Moses finally married at age 50 to Melvina Kitchen (born in 1836) in September of 1869. Melvina was a next-door neighbor and the daughter of the Honorable B.M. Kitchen. B.M. Kitchen was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1861 and 1862; in the West Virginia State Senate in 1864 and 1865; and presented credentials as a member elected to the 38th Congress but was disqualified due to the fact that Berkeley County was still considered part of Virginia.

Moses Grantham died at the age of 76 on July 20, 1890, and was buried in Greenhill Cemetery with his parents. In the Chancery Court trial his widow, Melvina, asked for and received the mansion house and 197 1/2 acres.

The remainder of Moses Grantham's 21 tracts were sold. Melvina Kitchen Grantham resided at Locust Grove until her death on June 8, 1918. A case was brought in Chancery Court which established that the property should be sold and the money goes to the descendants of Moses Granthams' brothers and sisters. Moses had five sisters and three brothers, all of whom were dead but the money was disbursed to the living children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Locust Grove is significant under Criterion C as a good example of three different types of construction techniques and architectural styles. The house combines the three well and is a good representation of the architectural changes that additions impose on a structure. The original segment of the house is the settler's log house and reflects the settlement architecture and construction of the period. It is a one-pen log house with "y" notching and an exterior chimney. This is typical of the log houses constructed during this period in the wilderness portions of Virginia.

The second phase of the development of the house reflects the development of the family and the farm. This is the brick, two-story, kitchen addition. This addition again reflects the construction techniques and architecture of the period. It was constructed in 1820 and is a simple Federal building in design. It contains some of the details and trims, etc. common to that style of house in the region. The brick walls, large fireplace opening, and decorative second-floor mantel are all part of the characteristics. The rear, two-story porch with the brick end wall has also been observed in regional houses.

The third phase of construction again reflects the family's position at the time. Moses Grantham had become a wealthy land owner and was controlling his interests from the farm. It was now time to construct a house fitting his position. He also had his sister living with him and they each needed additional space and privacy. The 1849 section reflects these needs. It is more spacious, has more formal and socially functional areas, and contains decorative architectural elements. In style, the addition is a cross between the older Federal Style kitchen and Greek Revival architecture. The Greek Revival elements added the formality and air that was necessary for the house at this time. The decorative entrance door, spacious stair hall with decorative stairs, and formal parlor were all part of this facade.

In all, the three segments of the house reflect the construction techniques of their respective time periods as well as the architectural characteristics of these eras. The total package is a good example of the progression of the development of the family and the farm.
In summary, Locust Grove is significant under Criterion A for its association with the settlement period of the region, through its association with the Baldwin family and Frances Baldwin. It is significant for its association with Moses Grantham, who was a prominent and wealthy land owner and landlord. It is also significant under Criterion C as a good example of the way that farmhouses developed and grew from their simple beginnings to later, more affluent constructions.

Local significance of the building:
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1994.