Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-06-16

S WEI tnS iOEtune 10 know some
'hing OF iartinsburg for nearly seven
y years, having moved here from
Massachusetts when was eleven.
Compared @ith that former time we
all know that the settled parts of
the country have changed immensely
aud this good little city has kept the
fuii pace and more with the average
progress. The oldest among Won see
this distinctly and those ofm,ddle age
VIII know 1t if they have travelled
enough 10 make comparisons.
In Al, when irst knew ii, it had
about 1900 inhabitants, not dwelling
OF any kind beyond the creek and the
railroad except The residence OF Daniel
Bhrkhart and two or three log houses
close TO the -four mill ON what is now
distillefy ground. The streets and aI.
leys were we'll laid out at the begin
ming, the location of the town was fine
but the descent toward the creek on
Martin, Burke and King and John
streets was precipitous and on three
latter close to dangerous. Equally
rocky was the little section below John
street and quite steep and narrow the
way to the low bridge below, which
was destroyed by high water in A. or
40.
The houses of the town were manly
of log, but many toward the centre
were of bettermaterial and the newest
of the few brick ones was that of John
X. Wilson, yet looking handsome Oh
the public square.
The narrow streets were then called
alleys, they had log stables and high
picket fences and the war disposed of
much of both aud also the wood work
of the little stone academy.
The town was then burning wood
entirely and the b. & O. road was
about to begin work on its road in ran
hing trains as lar as TO Cumberland
from Baltimore. lis grass hopper
engines would look queerto the people
now.
Wagoning was hard in this section
of SO much clay, especially from Jan u
airy to April and fine horseback riding
for all doctors, sheriffs, business men
and farmers and even the mailboy--
and that was myself for one late wiuter
and spring starting ffon Winchester
in the nlght-all these as good riders
with many a farmers wife with heavy
basket of butter ready to sell ut the
old market-north OF the Bowman res
idence on the public square.
| There were no public schools, many
boys seemed never to have gone to
school at all. Why 80 many learned
to read was problem for not large
part of the girls and those of the best
class only could attend the two private
schools for girls and the academy for
town and whole vicinity probably
never had as many as fifty at one
time.
Not to dwell on the past, and one
that can see from that to this will say
that the change has been tremendous
The little city has now four excellent
primary and grammar schools COM
| bined; four men at the head with high
purpose and experience, and having
the aid of women of equally high pur-
pose. The High school has had its
fine corps, probably from the very be-
ginning. The tribute 10 them at the
festival on Friday speaks of their quail
appreeiative high quality of the grad
oates. If one chooses to see distinctly
the present situation he will not fail to
note the grade OF the present admins
tration from the superintendent all
| through; his not ovegdrawn but excel
lent report, the evident qualifications
character of the examinations, the in
terest and appreciation of the scholars
This fores hadowed the holding of the
fest of the past, the sure gain of the
future. Wen may Martlnsburg be
proud; it will stop short before vanity
is reached.
If any man from any part of the
country had been present at the festi-
val, unless he was wholly insensible
to taste, beauty and appreciation, he
would have been impressed. The
things that were said by the gradu-
ates, the music, the elegance o the
general arrangement, the beauty Of
the Martinsburg women and their
skill IN administration, their cult
waited manners; the quality of the
| alumni president with his thoughtful
and apprecIative remarks-these may
not only show what the Board OF
| Education on its part may have done,
but are part of the evidence of the
totsIity of movement Of this city. 1t