Return to Index

1. SUBJECT:

Morrison Building.

2. LOCATION:

#9 North Court Square, opposite the Court House, Harrisonburg, Virginia.

3. DATE:

Original brick house built by Isaac Hardesty about 1820-21, added to later by Hugh Morrison about 1880, torn down and rebuilt by Morrison, (brick) 1929-30.

4. OWNERS:

• Thomas Harrison inclusive survey of 1773----not known, no records.
• Richard Ragan from Reuben Harrison, B.R.D.B. 000, page 93.
• John Gray presumably from Richard Ragan, March 20, 1810.
• Emily Cootes from father, John Graham and from William Herron, Commissioner, February 9, B.R. D.B. 4, page 211. Record burnt.
• John Morris from Samuel Cootes and wife Emily, January 15, 1824, B.R.D.B. 6, page 146.
• Isaac Hardesty from Richard Ragan, June 26, 1820, Record Burnt.
• Robert Gray from Isaac Hardesty, March 23, 1829, $2,500, this includes other property, B.R.D.B. 8, page 503.
• Charles A. Burnett from Robert Gray, March 5, 1852, $1,000, B.R.D.B. 25, page 100.
• Allen W. Brown from Charles A. Burnett, April 27, 18554, 1,200, B.R.D.B. 27, page 484.
• E.T.H. Warren from Allen W. Brown, January 31, 1856, $1,450, B.R.D.B. 28, page 486 & D.B. 1, page 3.
• A.B. Irick from E.T.H. Warren, D.B. 1, page 4, no record.
• Andrew Lewis from A.B. Irick, August 29, 1864, D.B. 1, page 4.
• Hugh Morrison from Andrew Lewis, April 1880, $3,850, B.B. 17, page 414.

1. DESCRIPTION:

None.

2. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

One of the early houses built on the public square east of the Main Street, only an alley separating it from the Shacklett house which is located on the corner at present Main Street, which at that time was known as Irish Street.

Isaac Hardesty purchased the location in 1820, and is said to have built the first brick house upon it. Whether there was a house on the lot before this is not definitely known. It is possible that there was. Mr. Hardesty must have been a pharmacist or druggist. According to Mrs. Carr in her My Recollections of Rocktown Now Known as Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg, Virginia. He built at least a part of this house as an apothecary shop as the name of Druggist was not then in use. The place has been used for residence and business purposes until completely torn down and the present building erected in 1929-1930, since which time it has been used for business purposes only.

The old brick house, built about 1820-21, was later enlarged about 1880-81, by a frame addition by Mr. Hugh Morrison, using it as his photograph gallery.

 

 

 

 

 

Morrison Building

Page 2

 

3. ART:

Photograph.

4. SOURCES OF INFORMATION: