J.E. Martin House

04/20/2025

Happy Easter from the J.E. Martin House in Bluefield, West Virginia!

This Easter, I’m sharing Martin House Memories — reflections from a place full of legacy, love, and resilience.

The J.E. Martin House still stands today, a quiet witness to more than a century of history. Built by one of Bluefield’s early mayors, J.E. Martin, this home has been a meaningful part of West Virginia’s story. It was a beloved place for Nobel Laureate John Nash, who spent time here as a child. The house belonged to his grandparents — and it was also his mother’s childhood home.

It’s my grandparents’ house too, and my mother’s childhood home. After it was nearly lost to demolition in the late 1950s, it was my grandmother who saved it — and my family has carried on her dedication ever since. The Nash and Martin families were some of our only supporters through the years, helping us hold onto this piece of the past.

The J.E. Martin House deserves recognition as a historic site, not only for its architecture and age, but for the lives and minds it shaped within its walls.

Wishing everyone a joyful and peaceful Easter, from our historic home to yours.

01/01/2025

Happy New Year! Today we thought we would share a detail of the cast iron fireplace surround in Dr. & Mrs. Martin’s bedroom. It looks as though a cherub is guarding the hearth. The Martins had seven children, two sons and five daughters. Their eldest daughter, Margaret Virginia Martin was John Forbes Nash Jr.’s mother.

12/24/2024

Wishing you and yours a joyous Christmas, Happy Holidays and all the warmth and magic of the season!

Did you know this house holds inspiring stories spanning generations? From its original 1890s charm to the countless memories made within its walls, The Martin House is more than just a home—it’s a symbol of resilience and a part of Bluefield’s rich history.

Imagine future Nobel Laureate, John Nash ringing the doorbell on a cold Christmas Eve, and answering the door, his grandmother Emma Martin. Mrs. Martin, greeting him with a smile, quickly welcomes him into the front parlor to warm his cold little hands by the glow of the coal burning in the fireplace.

We’ve been working to preserve its legacy over the years and we’re deeply grateful for your support along the way. Whether you’ve visited, shared your memories, or cheered us on, you’ve played a vital role in keeping its story alive.

Stay tuned for updates, photos, and maybe even a few ghostly tales (after all, it is a house with history)!

We believe that honoring the past can build a brighter future.

📸 Photography by: John Velke (One Thin Dime Museum)

11/12/2024

Happy Veterans Day to those who have served and those who continue to serve our country. Thank you for your service!

Special thanks to R.M. and Dennie for all their hard work and dedication in restoring the Martin house!

09/07/2024

100 Years Ago Today:

Today, we celebrate a beautiful union that took place 100 years ago, on September 6, 1924, when Virginia Martin and John Forbes Nash, Sr. exchanged vows in the Martin house parlor, surrounded by love and memories.

Four years later, their son John Forbes Nash, Jr. was born, and his earliest memories were of his grandmother playing the piano in the same room where his parents said 'I do.'

Virginia's wedding day must have been a radiant celebration, with the bride wearing a stunning brown velvet dress she sewed herself, surrounded by vibrant flowers and a heart full of joy. The ceremony, led by two ministers, was a testament to the power of love and family. Though tinged with sadness, as Virginia and her family remembered her father and sister, the wedding was a beacon of hope and new beginnings.

08/29/2023

08/26/2023

You may have seen us this past weekend and also throughout the month of July working to clean, restore and paint the Martin house railing, walls and gingerbread trim.

Tim worked hard on cleaning and scraping the most delicate parts of the lovely gingerbread trim around the length of the porch before he began painting.

Raymond has been working on the walls inside the porch and Brie cleaned and restored 16 feet of the railing at the corner of the porch before painting.

Thank you all for cheering us on! Your positive comments keep us going. Thanks to a member of First Presbyterian Church for stopping by to make sure Tim had a nice cool bottle of water.