Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-09-10
SsIEPiEEisDSTOWN.


SHEPIEEIDSTOWN.
At the head OF the beautiful Valley OF
the Shenandoah, on the bank of the
River of Swans, lies = small town OF
about 200 inhabitants. TO the casual
observer it possesses no object of espec-
ial interest save that of the picturesque
scenery surrounding it. But further
acquaintance will develop the fact that
its people are as kind-heartcd and con-
tented as any to be found in the two
Virginias, and that there are associa-
tions connected with its history OF an
interesting character. In the spring Of
1874 aHumber of German emigrants,
moving southwark through Pennsylya
ia and by way Of the Upper Hundred of
Frederick county, Maryland, crossed the
Potomac at what was then called the
former homes in "Fatherland," they
named their infant colony Meck,en-
"Pack-hOrse ford" and forme1 settle
ment on the right bank of the river, n
mile above the ford. Mindful of their
burg, which it continued to be called
until l7G0, when Thomas Shepherd, one
of its citizens, who owned the land inn
mediately adjoining. had a portion Of
his property laid of in town lots, and
obtaining a charter Of incorporation
from the Virginia House Of Burgesses
had the name of the village changed to
ShepherdstOwn.
Notwithstanding the fact that in l7lI
Sir Alexander Spotswood led his
knights Of the Golden Horseshoe to the
summit of the Blue Ridge Mountains
and brought back glowing descriptions
of the fertile region beyond, this was
only the second settlement In that wild,
picturesque aud remote valley. Win
chester, long the frontier outpost Of the
colony, was established but two years
before. Shepherdstown, therefore, is
the oldest town in West Virginia.
Many traditions have come down TO us
from those early pioneers. On the
turnpike not far from the town is hol-
low Just below what is known as the
"Big Hill" There, it Is said, the In
dians long years ago bound a white wo'
man TO an oak tree ard cruelty tortured
her to death. And now the belated
traveller as he passes by is sure to feel
her warm breath fan his check, " he
has a vivid Imagination added 10 Tom
O'Shanter's failings. In tie woods just
beyond clanking chains are heard and
healless hOrsemen ride, and tile super
stitious who pass that way in "the still
small hours ayont the twal" may meet
the fate of the unfortunate Ichabod
Crane. Between the hollow aud the
woods, in ante Revolutionary days,
stood an inn known as Sojourners' Inn,
and the story runs that Washington,
when OH his way to survey Lord Fair
fax's vast territory, stopped there over
night and joined In dance that was
going on. The house, with its old-fash-
ioned ireplaces set across the corners,
was afterwards altered and added 10 as
private residence, but during the civil
war it was burned TO the ground.
Across the railroad TO the left is the fa-
nous Morgan's Spring, whence, in the
early summer Of l775, one Of the three
companies Shepherdstown sent out to
fight Gin defence Of American Liberty"
the first in all the South 10 cross the
Potomac, made It's celebrated "Bee- line
march for Boston," about which 50
much has been said and sung. When
Washington saw the familiar hunting
skirts, aud heard them report from
the south bank OF the Potomac, IL is
said he shed tears Of Joy, and, disinount-
lug, walked down the line AID grasped
each hardy minute-man by the hand.
In every war that has occurred since
tben-the Indian wars Of the West, the
war Of 1912, the Mexican war, the Flor
ida war and the late civil war Shep.
herdstown has always borne her part
and has been honorabIy represented By
many Of her gallant cons. A quarter
OF mile walk down the railroad track
brings us to the lower end Of the main
street OF the town, mile Of neatly
painted churches. dwelling houses and
stores. On the hill two brick chnrche'
face each other--the German Reformed
and the Lutheran. In the German Re
formed churchyard are many old sand.
stone tombstones, roughly bewn ant
lettered in German. The Oldest arr
doubtless sunk in the ground or crum
bIed away, as the remaining ones ar
half in thar condition now.
The chime Of bells up in the bclfr,
has reached ga green old age" and ih'
solid masonry OF the stone tower whAci
was built for 1t Is the only part NOV
left OF the original church where TIT
Lutheran and German Reformed con
gregations formerly worsbipped togeth