Annaburg Manor (1894) (Manassas, Virginia)

USA / Virginia / Manassas / Manassas, Virginia
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Built by millionaire brewer Robert Portner in the late 19th Century, Annaburg was a central feature and a pride point of Manassas. Most of the "Manaport" area was part of the Annaburg grounds. The estate originally featured many unique attractions including a reconstructed castle imported from Europe.

The Annaburg property was subdivided after Portner's death, the castle and outbuildings disappeared over time. In the 1960's the manor house itself was extensively renovated and incorporated as the central feature of a new nursing and rehabilitation complex named after the estate. Various exterior features were removed from the sides and rear of the house to allow for additions, including two three-story hospital wings.

The attached structures were demolished in the summer of 2007, leaving the manor house freestanding once again. Annaburg is currently awaiting potential restoration.
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"Annaburg was built from 1892-1894 at a cost of $150,000. Most of the materials used in its construction came from abroad, including several trees that were shipped in from the Black Forest of Germany... By the time Robert died in 1906, in twenty-three years the estate had grown from 181 to nearly 2,000 acres of land, including 40 acres of orchards, a dairy farm, and three homes. At the time, his entire estate, personal and real, was valued at approximately $1.9 to 3 million dollars." --From "The Shortest Dynasty: Story of Robert Portner" members.tripod.com/shortest_dynasty/id13.html
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"Portner, a prominent businessman in Alexandria, owned 2,000 acres of what is now Manassas and Manassas Park, two quarries and the Prince William Hotel, among other local businesses. He financed the building of Main Street between Portner Avenue and Center Street and other city projects.

Annaburg's 35 rooms were primarily used as a summer residence, complete with electricity and a mechanical air-conditioning system invented by Portner -- thought to be one of the first of its kind in the country.

The property featured a goldfish pond, swan pond, swimming pool and many gardens, according to a 1980 Virginia Department of Historic Resources survey. However, it is not listed on historic registers or included within a historic district, leaving it subject to standard zoning regulations." www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/2...
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"The construction of Liberia House in 1825, at the northern end of the study area, marks the beginning of documented history in this area. In the late 1800’s Robert Portner constructed Annaburg Manor at the southernmost end of the study area. Shortly thereafter, he purchased Liberia as well. The area remained predominantly farmland into the 1950’s. I. J. Breeden then bought the Portner property from Annaburg Manor (about 50 to 60 years ago) when the town of Manassas was experiencing growth." www.manassascity.org/documents/Land%20Use%20&%20Plannin...
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"Portner and his family lived at an estate in Manassas coined “Annaburg.” Its grounds included a dairy, deer park and a man-made lake, complete with swans. When he died in 1906, Portner’s estate was worth $1.9 million." www.washingtonhistory.com/ScenesPast/images/SP_0805.pdf
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Robert Portner Brewery: members.cox.net/chosi/bottles/portner/portner.htm
members.cox.net/chosi/bottles/portner/postcard3.jpg
secure.cartsvr.net/catalogs/catalog.asp?prodid=3200967
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Coordinates:   38°45'19"N   77°28'9"W

Comments

  • The manor was named for Pornter's wife, Anna. There are still linden and other european trees growing in the neighborhoods that were originally part of the Annaburg land.
  • Manassas Transplant-worked at Annaburg Manor for three years and it is haunted!! Say what you like, but I worked the night shift and there were things that happened that could not be debunked.
  • Even though Robert's wife's name was Anna, it was actually named after his military school in Prussia. His father was a general in Frederick the Great's army.
  • Please tell me what happened there!
  • Very interesting about the trees...Rather sad to see the grounds being used as a trailer parking and or storage by whoever.It certainly degrades the beauty of the estate.
This article was last modified 8 years ago