Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-05-10
Bunker Hill.

Howdy, friends a stranger knocks asking
room IN the columns of your newsy paper.
1t Is only Old Nick and wants to say few
things about our little village, comparing the
past with the present. Let US return to the
time when the rayages Of war closed we find
q little village 10 miles south of Martinsburg
containing few houses some of them were
torn almost to pieces, the churches were left
In an unsightly condition, the fences around
the farms were torn away and in fact but very
few things were left in such a condition fit for
the eye of stranger to look at one store was
all 1t could boast. but then 1t did good busi-
ness. Well do some OF us remember that the
question was often asked then, Will the place
ever improve. Time passed by and the spirit
of Improvement took hold OF a few of our peo-
pie and things began to take different form
unil 1t has brought us TO the present time
finds this little village containing two hotels,
two stores with the third in readiness to open,
three blacKsmiths, physician and dentist.
Yet time has rolled by and with 1t Its many
changes. New hands are at the wheels and
as they turn let us note few of those who
have taken the places OF others: Mr.. W. b.
Clendenning, who took the place of our friend,
Geo. North In the mercantile Geld, is young
man, a native of this place, entering into the
business on small scale has by energy and
strict attention to business added to his
store and built himselfa trade that is hard to
beat, He believes in home improvement and
is always ready to give word of encourage
ment to those who wish to locate in our VIII
lage. Our farmers have greatly improved
their places and added to their possessions and
In fact all who have energy to work are busy.
We want more men with energy and persever-
ance to locate in our village although we
have some such here, we welcome all TO come
who have the spirit of improvement within
them those who will take no notice of men
who lounge about for nothing less under the
sun but to kick and growl at those who want
TO do something for the good of the people and
village. You Will find such men in all villages
and 1t would be wise thing if the spirit OF
immigration would take hold of them and
land them In country where the sun never
sh ines or where work is unknown. We have
plenty men with energy and perseverance
right here In our midst, and all that is wanted
is for some one to start them up. Boom up
the village don't wait for some one else to
start or something to turn up, put your should
er to the wheel, help one another along if no
other way give them words of encouragement
snd by little energy and perseverance this
village Will soon build up. Oh think hear
some of you say this will do well to talk about
but it won't work my dear friends. II has
worked in the past right In our little village
and in order to show what it will do let me
for an example refer you to few instances.
tavern in days gone by or when it was pur-
chased by the present owner Mr.. Geo, /. Pit
ger, look at 1t to-day greatly improved beau
tiful home and a credit to any community.
Again look at what used 10 be used as 4 store
house before the war purchased by c. #. Laise
OF J. K. Boyd about the year 1865 or G6 many OF
us remember when it was almost impossible
to ride close to 1t so thick were the rocks ia
look at 1t now, what then was one of the
most unsightly places that one would care to
look at is now the most beautiful hotel, con-
verting IL at the date OF purchase, and for the
past twenty-four years kept first class house
and his efforts in that line have been appreci-
ated by the travelling public, few fought
against him yet the tidal wave backed by en-
ergy and perseverance was always in his fav-
or. In our conversation with him the other
day although in his elghtieth year. he express
ed desire to see factory of some kind in
full blast in this place. We would name 9TH
ers of the kindhere but space will not permit
but this Will show what energy and persever-
ance will do, the young as well as the old
| should endow themselves with this spirit and
again we say put your shoulder to the wheel
and get out of the old rut you have been run
ming In for years, grasp the new things of the
day, then strong pull and in the end you will
find it will pay. The c. V. r, X. passing
through our village gives US a great conven-
ience, but outside of this it has not benefited
our place, but we live in hopes thai at some
future time 1t Will assist in adding to our lit
tie town. We can not close this until we tell
you how THE HERALD is welcome in our burg
and the eagerness to look at it as soon as il
arrives is evidence sufficient to justify us In
saying it has hosts of friends in this neighbol-
hood and the verdict of the people is that il
has no equal IN the town of MartinsbuTg
Wishing We Editor long, happy and prosper
GUS life and THE HERALD large increase in
its subscription list, we are only OLD NICK.