In 1907, Charleston real estate developer E.C. Bauer and his wife Clara purchased a lot on the outskirts of town on the far eastern end of Virginia Street. Although they owned quite a bit of property in Kanawha County, this particular lot was to eventually be their home. As he traveled between Charleston and Europe for business, E.C. imported the stained glass windows, the beveled leaded entryway glass, and the leaded glass still in the windows today. By 1910, the house was completed with the finest material of the day – matched oak paneling, Italian tile on the fireplaces, porch and in the original bathroom, and an abundance of stained and leaded glass – an eclectic blend of Art Nouveau and Victorian styles.
In 1921, the state capitol, located at that time “downtown” one mile to the west, burned to the ground. Cass Gilbert, renowned architect and designer of the United States Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C., was commissioned to design the new state capitol. The site eventually selected was one-fourth mile to the east of the Bauer home, and there stands today one of the most beautiful of all state capitol buildings.
E.C., Clara and their children lived in the home several years and sold it to the McJunkin family who raised their family in the home. The third owner turned the house into two apartments and it remained as such until the home was purchased in 1988 to be restored and turned into a B&B. Over the years, all of the wood and fireplaces had been painted with several coats of paint. The lovingly and careful restoration began in 1987, took two years and the Brass Pineapple opened in 1989. All of the electric and plumbing was replaced and the wood paneling was restored as well as the floors, stairway, doors and fireplaces.
The home is listed on the National Historical Register and basks prominently in the shadows of the Capitol’s gold dome. Just one-half block from the Capitol Complex, it is a convenient accommodation for tourists, government officials, and business travelers. Only one mile from the heart of Charleston’s downtown restaurants, shops and attractions allows leisure travelers a convenient, peaceful location.
History
Brass Pineapple Inn • 1611 Virginia St East, Charleston, WV 25311, USA
304.344.0748 • info@brasspineapple.com