My guess is that windows were in window wells for light and ventilation origionally,then porch over crawl space was a later addition. How you like that idea?

Could be klem1! My husband thinks that is probably right, but I think the porch was original.

If the interior window step over height is less than 44" they would serve as emergency escape and rescue openings but not if under a porch.

I would not assume the porch is original unless you can find an old photo or a plot plan in the building department file.

I am guessing the porch is original based on the roof lines and the bay windows -- though the bays may have been added later, I guess, though we were told the hardwood floors are original. The bay windows are directly above the underground windows. And I think the windows are at least 48" above the basement floor level. Like almost every home in WV, it sits on a hill -- the back side of the basement is ground level, so they would not have needed exits on that side.

Brick appears very different which would lead me to to think it was added on. Patterned concrete and composite appearing round columns are also a giveaway on my mind (although they could have been added), especially with locust posts in the basement.

Looking at the pics again, I realize one of the windows is right under the front door.

If it helps, I've lived in two 1910s-20s houses here in St. Paul MN with basement windows that open to the unfinished underside of an original 4 season porch--just like yours only the windows aren't quite so dramatically large but regular "basement" size. I know for sure that both porch and windows were original. In both situations there was a screen on the window--not glass--to keep critters out. I always assumed it was for access to the underside of the porch if needed (eg. radiator pipes also ran from the basement out to them) and for ventilation purposes.

Someone could have regraded the area to deal with a flooding problem...or dumped garden soil to create a raised bed.

This is obviously more likely if the porch is an addition. However, even if there was a porch from the beginning, there could have originally been more space beneath it, and someone could have filled that in as part of renovations.

I'd worry about a leaky basement...would water come through those windows? If the dirt level was originally lower, is the higher part of the basement wall constructed of materials designed to deal with touching moist dirt?