The Massoud Home
292 West Queen Street
The original structure of this home was built as a one room shanty sometime around 1810. Current owner John Massoud
describes how, sometime between 1855-1863, the current house (called an I-house) was built. He explains that
"they are called I-houses for several reasons: They are long and narrow; and this architecture is very prominent in
the states of Illinois, Indiana and Iowa."
The house appears in town records for the first time shortly after the Civil War, owned by Audrey Timberlake. She died in 1900 and willed that the house be sold and the proceeds given to her children. The approximate sale price was $1,500.
The interior has been designed to represent what a house of the Valley would have looked like during the latter part of the Civil War and the environment that Audrey Timberlake and her family would have lived in. Ninety-eight percent of the current furnishings date from 1690 to 1855. The majority came from Virginia, with many pieces having been built in the Shenandoah Valley.
John said he had a wonderful day sharing his home.