Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1916-04-13
NOTES BY OBSERVER.

Virginia that has more OF interest attach
ing TO its local history than Shepherds
town. Easily the Oldest town in the
State-it was settled about 1892, maybe
as early as l7l2, and incorporated in 1862
there have been many interesting and
curious happenings in the annals OF this
ancient burg. Observer has notes TO
many matters that he hopes to write about
from time to time and preserve as local
history in the columns Of the Register.
What pity that with each generation
from the beginning there was not some
reliable historian who recorded the events
OF interest and the curious details oftown
life.
One OF the oldest buildings OF the town
is the big, rambling house on Main street
owned and occupied by Mrs. M. L. Her
rington and her niece, Mrs. Julia Miller,
and her nephew, L. c. Little. This
building, so long used as ahoteI, is prob
ably $50 years old. Mrs. Harrington says
/ that it was used as rendezvous for SOL
diers in the Revolutionary War, was
barracks during the war OF 1912, and dur
ing the Civil War it was also occupied
from time TO time by soldiers, Union men
and Confederates alternating in its pos
session. The house was originally built
OF heavy logs, filled in with clay and
bricks, but it has been weatherboarded
for these many years. Additions were
made TO the original structure, hence there
are peculiar steps and stairways leading
from one part TO The other.
Joseph EntIer, Mrs. Herrington's father,
bought this property in 1903 from Charles
Harper and Levi Goodjng, and besides
the building, owned the ground on which
now stand the Episcopal Church and the
residence Of the editor OF the Register
On the alley WAS large stone stable, in
which were stalls for 25 horses. During
the Civil War the soldiers took from time
to time the seasoned timbers from this
stable and used them for firewood. The
frame work was thus weakened, and one
night the roof fell in from the weight OF a
heavy snow, and now there's nothing left
but The ruined stone walls. These same
vandalS also tore out the mantels and
wooden partitions in the house, leaving
il sad wreck at the END Of the war Mr.
Entler and his family did not live there
during the war, having moved TO Wingard
Cottage, now the home OF Mr.. and Mrs
I. n. Davis. A man by the name OF
Thompson kept hotel in the building dur
ing part OF the war period, and it did
not bear very Savory reputation during
his occupancy. AT least one foul murder
plot was hatched there.
A hundred years or more ago this old
Entler property was famous tavern.
No railroads then stretched their steel
bands across the country, but all trans
portatlon was by road or river Shep-
herdStown was on the highway from
Kentucky and Tennessee and other south
ern sections to Baltimore and Philadel-
phia. The Pack Horse Ford was the best
crossing place on the Potomac in many
miles, and so this road was one OF the
most popular. The Great Western Ho-
tel, as Mr.. Entler called his inn, was |
favorite stopping place for the wagonerS
who drove splendid four-horse and six
horse teams, bringing farm products and |
other goods from the South and carrying |
back great loads of merchandise from the |
cities. Sometimes a dozen big teams |
would put up here for the night, and |
there would be merry times. Trials OF
skill or strength would test the metile Of
the teamsters, while chicken fighting and |
reckless betting occupied the attention OF
the sportily inclined, TO say nothing OF
gambling on the sly, sometimes for heavy
stakes.
Joseph Entler was not only an enter
prising hotel-keeper-he was busy man
in other affairs. He owned couple OF
brick yards, one of them being where the
old manufacturing shops now stand, and
he used novel method OF notifying the
men when il was time TO quit work. AT
dinner time and supper time he would
run red flag to the top ola pole fastened
above the roof OF the house, and the
workmen. keeping one eye in that di-
rection, lost no time in needing the signal.
Mr.. Entler also conducted cooper-shopS
on the LOT where now stand the homes OF
Mrs Cuttings and Mrs. Bilmyer. He was
interested in a cigar mandatory and
shoe makers shop; ran a store; with
Mr. McAnIy conducted the Shepherds
town Register for several years and
owned hay scales that WAS located on
The site of the home OF the editor OF the
Register. On one occasion traveller
stopping at the hotel took liking TO Mr..
Entler's dog Watch" and when he left
the host gave him the dog as a present.
He took Watch" to Kentucky with him,
but in few weeks the dog left his new
master and found his way back to Shep-
herdstown, turning up at the hotel loot
sore and lean and weary, but wagging
his tail in Joy al being home again. II is
known that he swan several good-sized
rivers on his homeward journey.
The big lot adjoining the tavern was
the usual parking place for the wagons
that stopped here over night in order that
horses and drivers might rest. ltwaS also
a fine place for circuses, and frequently
travelling shows would put up their tents
and hold their exhibitions here. On one
occasion while circus was showing to a
large audience fierce Storm came up
and gale Of wind blew the tent over.