Washington Burch House Washington Burch was an African American man that went from slave to emancipated citizen. He became a registered voter at the age of 35 in 1870. He purchased his home in 1874, just 9 years after the Emancipation Proclamation. In 1868, Burch became a Delegate of the State for the District of Republicans Convention and founded a school for African American children. His home now open for public touring, is a look into what life was like in Port Tobacco post-Civil War. Residents refer to the home as the Catslide House (in reference to the sloped roof construction) or Burch House. The structure was original built in the mid to late 18^th century and is one of the last remaining colonial buildings of the area.