Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1900-10-16
farmer to obtain a loan when the ezigen.
cies of business require it
CHARLES rowv. THE COUNTY SEAT.

2 I
town, is the county seat, and IS situate
almost in the center of the county. It
!. surrounded by some of the richest far
lands in the county and enjoys the p;
tronageof a large and thrifty agricultur:
community. 1t has beautiful locatio
and commands a fine view of the Blu
Ridge Mountains. Thetown was found
ed in 1886 by Col. Charles Washington.
brother of General Washing and bear
his Christian name. He laid off so acre
of his land into town lots and dedicate,
two acres for public buildings. on par
of which now stand the courthouse, jai
and town hall, called Washington Hall il
honor of his name. He and his tw,
brothers, Samuel and John Augustn,
/ Washington, owned most of the land sur
rounding Charles Town at the time itwas
founded, and their descendants still owr
large tracts. The present Mayor of the
town. Mr.. George Washington, is a de
scendant of John Augustine Washington
and owns handsome residence in the
eastern part. He is the last Washington
born at Mount Vernon. Col. Charles
Washington is buried in the southern
suburbs of the town. The first house
erected in the town was Cherry Tavern.
and was owned by Captain Cherry, who
served in the Revolutionary War, twas
the resort of travellers and the prominent
people ofthe surrounding country. Long
after it ceased to be tavern it was used
as dwelling, and was not removed until
1881. Thet town has considerable historic
interest. 1t is on the line of General
Braddock's march to Fort Duquesne,
and near it his soldiers dug well. which
is still in use and furnishes water for a
large farm. It is also the place of the
trial, conviction and execution of John
Brown and six of his followers, the re-
cords of whose trials are in the court
house. In the Civil Warit was the scene
of frequent conflicts between the Con-
federate and Union soldiers, and suffered
greatly by the devastation of the latter
GROWTH IN POPULATION.
The population of Charles Town has
been steadily increasing for several years
and at present is alittleover 2. 500 within
the corporate limits, with about 500 in
the new addition to the town erected by
the Charles Town Mining. Manufacture
ing and Improvement Company and the
Charles Town Construction Company.
This addition lies just outside the north
ern corporate line, and here residence
lots and sites for factories and plants may
be had at moderate prices. A few years
ago these two companies developed this
section and erected large hotel, a fine
school building, number of factories
and dwellings.
The town is GOO feet above the sea level
and has an abundant supply of soft lime
stone water A system of waterworks
owned by the Charles Town Water and
Manufacturing Company has been sue
cessfullY operated for several years, and
the source ofthe water supply is a clear
spring about one mile north of the town,
where the water bubbles up through a
sandy bed as if there were at least so lit
tie springs in a space with a diameter of
80 feet. The spring has been covered
with building. which is kept locked, to
prevent the pollution of the water. 1t is
conducted to the town in pipes and
forced through the mains. There is no
reservoir, so called, but in order to have
a reserve of water for emergencies large
iron standpipe has been placed on one of
the highest elevations in the town. This
water is pure, fresh and clear as crystal.
RAILROAD FACILITIES.
Two railroads Norfolk and West
ern and Baltimore and ohio-pass through
Charles Town, and intersect at this place.
These roads furnish facilities for ship
ments to all points of the compass. The
Norfolk and Western runs four, and the
Baltimore and Ohio six passenger trans
daily. The mail facilities are as good as
any town in the Shenandoah Valley, there
being eleven mails received and the same
number sent out daily. There is also a
belt line railroad connecting these two
roads. over which cars are transferred.
An electric plant, owned by the Charlie.
Town Electric Light, Heat and Power
Company, furnishes the town with electric
lights on. the streets. and supplies mum
Der of business houses and residences witt
light. The Charles Town Gas and Water
Company operates gas plant, and is on.
of the oldest corporations doing bushes,
here. The former company has the con
tract for lighting the streets. Both com
panies are doing a successful business,
HOTELS AND BANKS.
There are three notes.-the Watson
House, the Carter House and the Hote
Powhatan latter having been run on
ly as a summer hotel. Besides these ther
are several excellent clearinghouse
which receive summer irregular boarder
at reasonable rates. The hotels are wei
conducted and run free hacks to all trains
Washington Hall isu used as alecture-roor
j and for theatres. Itisthe property of til
town, and is let to travelling troupes {
very moderate rates.
Three banks-the Bank of Charle
/ Town. the First National Bank of Jeffe
son, and the Citizen Bank of Charle
: Town, the first and last being State banl
T do the banking BUSINESS of the plac
: furnishing safe deposits for funds, an
5 accommodating parties desiring loans G
$ short time. The Citizens is new inst
5 tuition. organized only few months ag
d It is doing a creditable amount of busine
;. already. The Bank of Charles Town
e the Oldest at this place, and was organizc