When Elizabeth Hess took her three-year-old granddaughter to see the Little House in Shepherdstown in 2000, her granddaughter went crazy for the place. The Little House is a wonderful place for a child’s imagination to run wild.

As the old advert goes, it was so good she bought the company. Or at least, she became the chairperson for the Shepherd University committee that is responsible for managing the house.

Since that time, Elizabeth and her colleagues have been cleaning, scrubbing, and painting this historic property as volunteers. “The kitchen was the worst,” said Hess, laughing. “It took six days to take off the wall-paper. It was so tight in there. I couldn’t turn around. I could only do two hours at a time. Each time I needed a new piece of wall-paper, I would have to go outside, cut it, and bring it back in.”

The Little House was built in the summer of 1929 on North Princess Street as part of a class project under the direction of Miss Florence. The objective was to teach the students through a creative activity.

An article from the Shepherd College Picket in 1929 described the house as follows:

The whole thing is exceedingly catchy and pleasing to the eye—the tiny perfect house of blue grey native limestone, with dol- size dormer windows upstairs, exactly proportioned doors and woodwork, a fireplace which actually burns, and, a little distance away, a barn, equally solid and cute. It was not started with the idea of being attractive. It was projected as something which would attract children of 12 and 13 years in summertime, so that the teacher-students attending summer school at Shepherd College might have some “raw-material” with which to accomplish their training.

The house was built by local fifth and sixth graders under the supervision of 19 young teachers. Materials for the house were donated by local companies. Local stonemason Charles “Big Moustache” Jones built the framework for the house.

The Little House is ten feet tall and comprises approximately 240 square feet of space. It includes a kitchen with a miniature pine hutch; a dining room with tiny china tea set and cabinet; a living room with a stone fireplace, sofa and piano; and two second floor bedrooms with beds, drapes, and chairs.

Many of the items in the home came from Hess’s family. The doll in the bedroom was her granddaughter’s. The flowers on the landing came from her daughter’s bridal bouquet. Many of the books on the shelves were handed down after many years of family reading. Elizabeth made the afghan quilt in the bedroom and all the curtains in the house.

Asked why she volunteers her time to take care of the house, Hess says, “Because the kids find it so marvelous! They don’t want to leave the Little House. It’s so much fun for them.”
Hess’ granddaughter is now ten years old. She has to bend over to get through the front door. But the Little House still thrills and amazes her. The Little House certainly is one of Jefferson County’s unique homes.

The Little House is open 11 am to 1 pm prior to home football games for the Shepherd Rams. It will also be open after the Christmas Parade on December 1 between 11 am and 2 pm. Donations can be sent to Little House Restoration Committee, Shepherd Foundation, PO Box 3210, Shepherdstown WV 25443.