Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1910-05-12
An Ancient LANDMARK Removed.

the corner of the alley on Duke stree
was torn down couple OF weeks ago
another ShepherdstoWn landmark dis
appeared. This ancient structure, which
stood on the lot owned by Mrs. M. l.
Harrington, and which she recently sold
TO Mrs. ]. B. H. Cuttings, where the latter
has erected new Westinghouse, was
frame house story and a-half high. II
served a useful purpose for many years
as a newspaper office and school-house
but for the past generation had been the
humble abode of colored persons. Al
the request OF the editor of the Register,
Mrs. Harrington has given us an interest
ing historical sketch of the old place; and
she makes the timely suggestion that the
name of Duke street be changed to Rum
sey street, for il was on a corner OF this
street, near the old building referred to,
that James Rumsey, the inventor OF the
steamboat, had his home.
On the 4th day of December, lS49, says
Mrs. Harrington, VIM. H. Hardy and
VIM. H. McAnly began the publication
of the Shepherdstown virginia. Register
in the small building on Duke (Rumsey)
street, south of German street. The lot
and the buildings on it were owned by
Joseph Entler, being in his possession
and that of his family for nearly hum
dred years, and the property has a his
tory very interesting to those who know
something OF the story of the old town
and to the younger generation who love
and appreciate facts concerning our his
toric old place. Hardy and McAnly were
both brainy men. Mr.. Hardy, who came
from Washington, was friend OF Mrs. E.
D. N. Southworth, the authoreSS, and the
two were associated in literary work.
Her star was in its zenith at the time Mr..
Hardy began newspaper work in Shep-
herdstown. He remained in the business
here but short time, however, selling
out his interest in May, 1850, to Joseph
Entler, who with Mr.. McAnly then con-
Quoted the paper, disposing of it after
ward to ]. T. H. Bringman, who moved
the printing office to the house on Ger
man street now owned by Miss Ella
Grant.
Twenty or thirty years before this old
building was used as printing office, it
was occupied as a School-house. One
teacher, whose name was Foster, taught
there many years. Then Mr.. Coburn
taught for a long time, and after him came
Mr.. Barstowe, then Mr.. Overmyer, a
music teacher, who held forth during
many winter evenings with blackboard
and tuning-fork. Last OF the school,
teachers was Rev. ]. |. Miller, pastor OF
the Lutheran Church here during the
Civil War. His term was not very long
one, on account of the unsteady times.
Mrs. Harrington OWNS book printed
and bound in Shepherdstown in 1877 by
p. Rootes and c. Blackgrove. Could the
work have been done in that old building?
What a wealth of romance could be wo-
ven out of all the curious happenings in
that little, dilapidated old Shanty The
printing office, the school, the singing
school, the old walls doubtless held some
sweet secrets, if we but knew.
The other building on the lot, at the
corner of Duke and New streets, was
used as cooper's shop for years and
wears back. Before the war almost the
entire lot was piled high with lumber OF
all kinds. An old man with iron-grey
hair, of large build, on whose dark, tanned
arms the muscles stood out like ropes,
hammered his rat-a-tat- tat, rat-a-tat-tat,
on the flour barrels from early morn till
evenings close, and little boys with home
made wagons would gather the Shavings
to haul them away to their homes. This
Indian-looking old man, whose name
was Cammock, was succeeded by a Mr.
Callahan, whose grandfather, Mr.. Fitch,
was associated with James RumSey, in
ventor of the steamboat. Later came Mr..
George D. McGlincy to WELD the cooper'S
hammer, but he gave it up to become an
auctioneer.
The Civil War put stop to the manu-
facture OF flour barrels, and the building
was rented to a colored family that had
Just gotten their freedom and moved to
town from the country. To distinguish the
real "head OF the family" from the other
MollieS of the town, she was called
"Cooper-Shop Molly" and ever after
ward went by that name. Later the lot
was used as a lumber yard, and small
office was added to the building. About
three years ago the office and the cooper
shop against which it was built were both
destroyed by fire, and colored man was
burned to death. Rumor said that he was
murdered for his money, and the building
set on fire, but this theory was not sub
stantiated.
The landmarks of the past are rapidly
disappearing, and the two handsome
houses now almost completed on the
cooper-shop lot are in pleasing contrast
to the dingy old buildings that stood
there for perhaps hundred years or more
But we ought not to lose the records o
our old places of intereSt-while there is
vet time we should search out the rict
and abundant material, and there is nc
doubt that in the old-fashioned chests
and secretaries there Can be found many
records yellow with age and of the great
est historical value and interest.
How'S This
We offer One Hundred Dollars Reward
1 Coo opv coca of Catarrh that cannot he