Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-06-04
NOTES BY OBSERVER.

geo IN response 10 TIE uouuiuS VI ZIG
horses heads, it reminded Observer of
the time when bell teams were quite
common in this section. Observer
doesn't pretend to remember that far
distant time-long before the days of
railroads-when Shepherdstown was
on the high road between Baltimore
and the South az far as Tennessee, and
was a regular stopping place for the
great wagons that hauled merchandise
between the two sections. but he has
often heard the older men talk of
those interesting days Bells on the
teams were a practical necessity in
those times, for often the wagons would
be out on the road in the deepest dark
ness, and something was necessary to
give warning of the approach of vehi-
cles from the opposite direction, 1t
would be interesting to know just how
many buildings in Shepherdstown were
used as mus in those old days. There
we're great many of them, and bust.
ness was Aourishing with all of them.
Some time Observer will try to locate
as many of them as possible. The
more important inns had big yards
where the teamsters parked their wag-
ons for the night, and plenty of stable
room, of course, was necessary for the
horses. There was great rivalry be-
tween the wagoners, and each driver
tried to keep his team in the best Of
condition. They usually drove from
four to six horses, and one of the rules
of the road was that if team got
stuck in the mud and could not pull
out, the next team that came along
had the privilege Of having a trial.
The teamster who could by steady pull.
ing and good management extricate
the unfortunate who was stuck had
the privilege of carrying off the vic
TINS bells. 1t was considered dis
grace to come to the stopping place
at night without the bells, and the
victorious driver who had taken them
was in high feather. The roads were
not as good in those days as they are
now, and at some seasons of the year
were almost impossible. The main
routes were kept up pretty well, how.
ever, and were macadamized VIII erever
there was available material.
One of the prominent residents of
shepherdstown was William Short, a
Scotch Irishmau of business ability,
who owned the warehouses along the
river front and had large trade. He
built the stretch of turnpike between
ShepherdstowD and Middleway, and
it is good road to this day. He had
line OF wagons that hauled goods
from Baltimore to this section of the
country, and it is said that it was
through his influence that the Balti-
more & Ohio Railroad was prevented
from passing through Shepherdstown.
When that road was projected to link
Baltimore with the Ohio river, the
line was surveyed through Shepherds
town, this being the shortest and east
est route. 1t was then that Billy
Short got busy. He mounted his sor-
rel horse and rode in every direction,
telling how the railroad would destroy
the wagoners business, depreciate the
value of land, frighten horses as well
as people out of their senses, and play
the dickens with business in general.
Short didn't want to come in compe-
tition with a railroad, for he very
greatly feared that his wagon line
would go to the wall. So he used all
his influence against the new project,
and property owners asked such enor-
nous prices for right of way through
their land that the railroad people be-
came disguised and determined to give
the Shepherdsfown the go-by, circling
to the south and passing FIVE miles
away at the nearest point, Kearneys.
vile. Short lies in the old graveyard
now a part of Elmwood Cemetery, and
it is not at all improbable that within
few years his bones will be shaken
by the heavy trains that will roll with
in a few hundred yards of his last
resting place, for the B. q o. survey
for its low.grade line passes very close
to the cemetery. he kept the rail-
road from Shephsrdstown many years.
1t would be but retributive justice that
he should be we'll shaken for having
been so selfish and short.sighted.
Observer well remembers the wagons
that used to haul freight from the
railroad station at Kearneysville to
Shepherdstown. 1t was a weary pull
up and down those hills, and we doubt
if Jim Barnhart could have handled
the traffic as well then as he does now.
And do you remember Adams's old