3114 Frenches Station Road · Levels, West Virginia
Where the mountain meets the river.
A salvaged depot, a reclaimed barn, a one-room schoolhouse still standing in the woods — three buildings, one heirloom estate, gathered at the end of a road that doesn't go anywhere else.
Where the Potomac begins.
These are the headwaters of the Potomac River in West Virginia's beautiful Potomac Highlands, one-half mile downstream of the confluence of the north and south branches. Designated on maps as South Branch, this particular area is known as Frenches Station, named after the rail depot originally established on the B & O railroad in the 1840's and for which the eponymous Frenches Station Road is named.
When the railroad came, commerce and communication followed and before long, a combined general store and post office arose to serve the communities of Frenches Station, Levels, and the surrounding area.
A whistle stop with a rich, contested past.
Previously known as Forks of the Potomac and South Branch Depot, its rich history is documented to 1851 as listed in the National Post Office Archive. As a whistle stop on a major transit route from the Chesapeake Bay to Ohio and the west, it served as a point of business and transportation for people in this part of Hampshire County. Here, they received their mail and various goods of all kinds and from here they traveled out of the area before the advent of more convenient forms of mobility.
During the civil war, this site was fiercely contested as a logistics depot; whichever side controlled the railroad controlled the flow of troops and supplies. During one battle, Union forces from the Maryland side of the river attacked the station. The store and post office burned. Its proprietor, James French, was arrested and jailed upstream in Cumberland, Maryland, under suspicion of Confederate sympathies. The building was partially damaged by the fire and later repaired. Until railroad transit and trade declined, it continued operating under different ownership into the 1940's when the remaining occupants of the area departed forever.
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1840
The schoolhouse is built
The one-room schoolhouse that still stands in the woods today.
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1840s
The railroad arrives
The B & O railroad reaches this bend in the Potomac; a combined general store and post office rise to serve Frenches Station, Levels, and the surrounding area.
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1851
Earliest documented history
The depot's history is documented to this year, as listed in the National Post Office Archive.
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1861–65
The Civil War
The depot becomes a fiercely contested logistics point. Union forces burn the store and post office; proprietor James French is arrested and jailed in Cumberland, Maryland. The building is later repaired.
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1936
The Potomac floods
The post office is completely submerged beneath the raging waters of the Potomac — and stands through it.
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1940s
The community departs
As railroad transit and trade decline, the remaining occupants of the area depart forever.
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1970s
The depot is lost
The rail depot is demolished, and the Victor Smith homestead burns to ash in a squatter's fire. Only a hand-painted sign survives, in a private collection.
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1985
The Potomac floods again
The post office is submerged a second time — and still it stands.
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1997
The last of the Longs
Robert Long, the last occupant of the neighboring Long Farm, holds on until this year; his estate remains in trust until 2097.
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2001
Dismantled to be saved
Still standing after everything, the old post office and general store is carefully dismantled to salvage its 175 year-old lumber, hauled up the mountain by hand.
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2002
The residence is rebuilt
The salvaged lumber is rebuilt into the riverfront residence that stands here now.
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2004
The cattle barn moves
The old cattle barn is deconstructed and moved to the property.
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2005
The barn is rebuilt
The deconstructed cattle barn is rebuilt into a new building, enlarged seven-fold.
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2006
A working studio
The rebuilt barn is put to use as a professional art studio.
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2023–25
Finishing touches
New water heater and pressure tank, and new major appliances and kitchen, as the house nears completion.
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2097
The Long estate trust ends
The neighboring, undeveloped Long Farm remains in trust until this year — a quiet future neighbor for whoever comes next.
Almost nothing was left standing.
The community of Frenches Station included the rail depot, the general store and post office, a one-room schoolhouse (circa 1840), a plantation house, a guest, a metalsmith's, and a carriage house, a cattle barn, and various smaller utility buildings. The estate to the west and the Long Farm to the east also included numerous structures from houses to barns to workshops.
The last occupant to the west left after everyone else; a direct descendant privately owns this beautiful property. The last Long, Robert, held on until 1997, his estate now in trust until 2097. Both uninhabited properties are likely to remain undeveloped. Neighbors are few and mostly distant. Across the river stands Maryland's protected Green Ridge State Forest, an undeveloped wilderness preserve.
Little remains to tell the many stories.
The Victor Smith homestead, destroyed by a squatter's fire in the 1970's.
Frenches Station, abandoned.
Most buildings have been overcome by nature, faded like memories though footprints may be found. The old stone farmhouse on Long's estate stands where it has for the last 200+ years. Two of the barns are still there but the rest are gone to the wilds and the elements. The rail depot was demolished in the 1970's; only the “French” sign naming its location survives in a private collection. The Victor Smith homestead burned to ash. Amazingly, the schoolhouse remains standing. The cattle barn was deconstructed and moved in 2004. Despite being partially destroyed during the civil war and completely submerged beneath the raging waters of the Potomac during the 1936 and 1985 floods, the South Branch Post Office stood until 2001 when its owner dismantled it to salvage its valuable antique lumber. The siding with the hand-painted name of the post office survives today, also in a private collection.
Almost none of this wood is new.
The building's original location along the roadside remains visible. Its vintage lumber was hauled up the mountain… and rebuilt into this exceptional riverfront residence on a ridge overlooking the river valley. The design closely echoes the original structure with changes made reflecting modern standards.
The foundation footprint mirrors the original and the contemporary framing is clad inside and out almost entirely with original lumber. The exterior siding, the interior wainscot, the ceiling planks, exposed loft floor joists, paneling below the chair rail, loft stair treads and even the floor boards are mostly original, 175 year-old wood, all grown, harvested, and milled locally. Painstakingly restored and refinished, its beauty is unequaled.
1,515 square feet, built for light.
This home features 1515 square feet of finished, usable space on two and a half levels. The open-air design is enhanced by 8 skylights, three large picture windows gazing over the valley, and few interior walls. The 200 square foot loft with twin closets easily serves as a bedroom in addition to the bedroom with remote entrance attached to the east side of the house.
The ground floor boasts a well-lit, comfortable kitchen with a semi-recessed wall pantry, a lit breakfast bar, custom designed, built, and lacquered new cabinets, new appliances, and a luxurious cork floor in violet and mint green checkerboard. The bright bathroom is adorned with astonishing Italian luxury porcelain tiles and a custom designed and built modern floating vanity. There remains sufficient space for both living and dining areas and indeed, more than enough. Downstairs, the space is divided into a great room, a utility area, and a ½ bath. Ample storage space is included with room for more as necessary.
The cork floor, in violet and mint green checkerboard.
Picture windows over the valley.
By its very nature, this home is unique. It is a rebuilt, early American general store and post office artfully reimagined as a residence. And the singularities don't end there. Other striking details include copper-lined skylight wells, round copper crown, corner, and accent moldings, and a suspended round copper track light bar. The 4-inch crown molding anchors are capped with the heads of railroad spikes. At certain times of day during certain times of year, the interior glows with an ethereal, pinkish-orange light, stunning to behold. The original heart-pine floor was excavated from under 6 inches of dried mud and is unlike any you've ever seen. All of the antique lumber was restored with hand-held tools.
The loft stair is a semi-sweep of steel and wood. The loft closet doors are custom-made solid, painted cherry flanked by bare cherry molding. The loft baseboard trim is alternating bare cherry and painted wood. The loft floor is made with the original rafters. The main bedroom floor is finished with 10 species, random-width hardwood, all locally sourced.
The main bathroom approach is a gentle blue curve cut through an old brick hearth, a river through red rock. The bricks are from the chimney of the old building. The bathroom entrance features an original interior door. Creative ambient, accent, and functional lighting are scattered throughout like the loft beam copper lights, the bedroom copper evening light, and a handful of retro mid-century modern fixtures. Eclectic elegance comes to mind and dozens of lighting configurations are possible.
This house is about bringing the outside, in. It's about healthy light, healthy views, and healthy living. It's about making a meaningful connection with your environment.
This house has a tree in it, and a tree door. In the loft stands a nearly 8-foot tall silver steel arc behind the bannister and weathered tree trunks, reminiscent of the crescent moon behind a fence and standing timber. It is rustic and refined, vintage and visionary, antique and contemporary, historical and timeless.
Some homes are made for art. Others are made with it. Initially designed and rebuilt as an artist's studio and gallery by an artist now known for the technique he invented here, this home is an original work of art, embellished with singular creative accents. The alternating color, deliberately misplaced upper kitchen cabinet door pulls are another delightful example.
Following a long, comprehensive renovation, the house nears completion. Only details remain to be addressed. Some photos taken during this process may not reflect final outcomes; if anything, they under-represent them. While a picture is worth a wealth of words, to truly appreciate this astonishing creation, picture yourself here.
Nature's theater.
An awe-inspiring kaleidoscope of nature's theater, the view will often actually steal your breath. It will distract you. Practice now to welcome “wow!” back into your vernacular; you'll use or muse it frequently here. In time, you will see thousands of pictures like these and every one will be yours.
A blank canvas, seven-fold.
The deconstructed cattle barn was also rebuilt into a fabulous new building. Used as a professional art studio from 2006, it, too, reflects the original structure but was enlarged seven-fold to accommodate a large imagination and even greater creative energy. Consisting of 4,640 square feet on two levels, this building boasts sufficient space to accommodate five complete, fully independent living quarters replete with eat-in kitchen, full bath, sitting area, and bedroom as shown in an available floor plan.
With 36 articulated, tilt-in windows, the interior is luminous. The great room was designed as a gallery space with walls towering to 14 feet, allowing for a catwalk around its perimeter, and would hold the entire house in its cavernous embrace. The structure is hard-wired with heavy-gauge speaker cable from a central location to power 28 stereo speakers and electricity is on site. This is a blank canvas awaiting completion to your tastes and specifications. When it is finished, the property value will increase dramatically.
Antique barn siding, enlarged seven-fold.
Inside, a blank canvas.
It still stands.
Built in 1840, this one room building served to educate youngsters from the area. During the winter of 2001/2002, the art builder burrowed into it with his dog while dismantling and rebuilding the old store. With glass missing from the windows, holes in the floor, roof missing from around the chimney, and a wood stove that glowed dangerously red right to its feet and never really warmed the space, that winter presented unprecedented challenges.
But it still stands, set up on old bricks at its corners and along its length to keep it off the ground. Worn, weathered, almost indiscernible initials are scratched into the siding out back, their ghosts now long down the tracks. This building might be saved, too, and hopes remain that eventually it will be.
In all, this heirloom estate proudly reveres the past, boldly embraces the present, and warmly welcomes your future, beautifully placed in a setting that celebrates life itself. If you're ready for the country home you've always dreamt of but could never imagine, this is the place you've been seeking. Don't buy a copy of a mundane design. Own an original, a one-of-a-kind.
When you need to flee the city or suburbs, don't get locked down. Roam around, in one of the most beautiful places you can be. That place is here. Shouldn't you be, too? There is no reason to retreat to anywhere else.
The last mile in.
The numbers.
3114 Frenches Station Road, Levels, WV 25431
The Land
- Total acreage38.112 acres
- River frontage1,200 ft (¼ mi)
- Mineral & resource rightsConvey
- RestrictionsNone
Getting Here
- Washington, DC2½ hrs
- Philadelphia, PA4 hrs
- New York, NY5½ hrs
- Pittsburgh, PA3 hrs
- Richmond, VA3½ hrs
- Romney, WV (county seat)25 min
The Residence
- Built2002
- Finished space1,515 sq ft
- Great room400 sq ft
- Kitchen101 sq ft
- Loft200 sq ft
- Bedroom107 sq ft
- Covered porch / deck116 / 456 sq ft
- Electric service200 amp
The Studio Barn
- Built2005
- Total space4,640 sq ft, two levels
- Wall heights7–14 ft
- Windows36, double-pane tilt-in
- Electric service200 amp
- Garage2 insulated bays
Utilities
- WaterOnsite, 3-stage filtration
- WasteSeptic, sized for 3 bedrooms
- HeatDirect-vent propane
- ConnectivityInternet on site
Still running.
Nearly 200 years after its inception, the B & O railroad remains active. Mostly sporadic, freight is the main traveler while travelers on Amtrak run the tracks between east and west twice a day. The trains often serve as rolling graffiti galleries featuring extraordinary artworks and the railroad as a whole offers unique photo opportunities and experiences unavailable to most people. They are an economic barometer. They remind us that the wheels keep turning and connect us to the outside world that you completely forget about when you're here.
You want to see more, don't you?
Own the original.
For a private showing or the complete floor plans, reach out below.
hello@example.com3114 Frenches Station Road, Levels, WV 25431
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