Drinker, John, House
Sam Mason Rd., Bunker Hill, WVThe house and other ruins on the property are very significant for their architecture and association with John Drinker, an early Quaker portrait artist. The house had outstanding features such as the beautiful arched main entrance of gauged stone. The quality of workmanship displayed in the stonework ranks as one of Berkeley County's finer. The house in general was one of Berkeley County's finest. John Drinker was a Philadelphia portrait artist. He purchased land in Berkeley County in 1797. He married Elizabeth Peppers of Berkeley County the same year. He purchased a 213-acre tract of land where the house is located in 1808. Then he built the beautiful stone mansion in ca. 1815. It is known that he was an artist from 1787 to 1802. Among known porträts of the Berkeley County area are Mrs. John Briscoe, Dr. John Briscoe, Jr., Sarah Darke Rutherford, and John Drinker died in the 1820s. His widow remained a resident of the house until 1858. Both are buried at the Morgan Chapel cemetery. He was a member of the Society of Friends. The Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, owns some of his work.
Local significance of the site:Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
West Virginia is the leading producer of coal in the United States. The state's coal mining industry has a long history, dating back to the early 1800s, and has played a significant role in the state's economy. However, the industry has faced challenges in recent years due to environmental concerns and competition from other energy sources.