Hugh Caperton built Elmwood in the 1830’s from bricks burned on the grounds and timbers pit sawn from his trees. The pits from which the clay was dug are still visible in the field near the house.
Elmwood is a classic three story Roman revival double pile dwelling with a tetrastyle portico modeled after a similar house built by William Garth in Charlottesville in the 1820’s. It is likely that master builder, William B. Phillips, one of Thomas Jefferson’s principal brickmasons for his University of Va. Project, built Elmwood in circa 1839 during which time he was contemporaneously building the nearby Old Sweet Springs Hotel, also known as the Jefferson Hotel.
The house is nearly square with chimneys built into 22 inch thick walls. Ceilings on the main floor are twelve feet high while those on the upper floor are 12 ½ feet and ceilings on the first floor are nine feet. The hip roof is inconspicuous, and set off by a captain’s walk. Huge windows with six over six panes balance each other and the formal entrance is framed by sidelights and a magnificent and delicate fanlight. At the right rear of each center hall a stairway leads to the next level. The wainscoted stairwell reaches from the ground level to the attic. The stringers and landing edges are carved in a pleasant design. The heavy round cherry handrail and the broad clear pine treads were left unpainted to match the fine pine floors. Wooden pegs were used in all the work. In the attic are additional stairs to the captain’s walk. The roof structure is a remarkable structure of great 7 by 10 inch whip sawn timbers, mortised and pegged. The brickwork pattern of the house exterior is Flemish bond.
Much Greek revival influence is evident throughout the structure, including the intricately carved cornice under the wide eaves, the classic pediment with fanlight over the veranda, and by beautifully carved woodwork throughout the house. The wide limestone steps and stately veranda, second story balcony, Chinese Chippendale railings at both levels, and four Doric order columns give Elmwood its southern colonial appearance, and under the veranda there is a brick paved porte-cochere. The broad eight panel two cross door has sidelights between pairs of reeded and fluted pilasters and an overdoor fan of ornate mullions and glass. This framing has the pointed dentil molding of the eave cornice which was carried also into the interior of the house.
The formal entrance and halls are a special feature of Elmwood. An arch at the center which divides the halls has pilasters with Doric cornice. The arch is carved with the design of the entrance fanlight, and its underside is entirely reeded. At the height of ten feet around the hall is a molded gesso strip with the fleur-de-lis, and the wainscot is paneled to chair rail height. On the right of the entrance are two formal parlors separated by an arch across their width, and, until, the early 1900’s two sets of folding doors shaped to fill the arch were used to separate them. In each room is a beautiful black Italian marble mantel and hearth with iron fire frame and back.
The upper floor has its wide hall with a door with side and over lighting leading to the veranda balcony. The four rooms on this level are bedrooms, each one with its own built in closet with paneled doors. The closets were placed in the outside corner of the room and blocked out a dummy window apparent from the exterior. The exterior shutters at these locations are permanently closed
The first house called Elmwood was used by Hugh Caperton until the present house was built, and afterwards it was used as a kitchen, servants’ quarters and law office. Around 1906 the earlier house was torn down and, along with another brick structure that stood nearby, was used to build a large solid brick barn. This barn and other wooden outbuildings, some originals, are still in use and are in reasonable condition.
Elmwood has always been a private residence and is therefore not available for visits. The property is located immediately north of the tiny and very pleasant town of Union (now West) Virginia and is clearly visible from WV highway 219. Although visitors are prohibited from entering the grounds, a wonderful view of Elmwood and its surrounding estate is available from the public monument to the Monroe County, Virginia, soldiers of the Confederate States of America, erected in 1901 in the pasture directly across the highway. Visitors will also find pastoral Monroe County to be one of the most beautiful and serene locations to be found, and the town of Union itself has several welcoming restaurants and other businesses.