Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1919-09-11
Demolishing An Old Landmark.

Ii was stated IN last weeks ReglSle
that Chas. B. VanMetre and VIM. B
Snyder had bought from H. W. Blum
the old cement mill along the river
mile east Of Shepherdstown and woule
use the material in rebuilding the Ma
tional Highway Garage, recently de
stroyed by fire. Bright and early Mon
day morning the work of demolishine
the building was begun under the di
rection of Mr.. VanMetre, and begin
ming at the roof the structure will be
taken apart and the bricks and lumber
brought to town. There is ire
mendous amount of building material
and such part as will not be needed fol
the garage will be sold by the owners.
In the demolition Of this building ar
old landmark Of the Shepherdstowr
neighborhood will pass-one which has
been the scene OF many incidents OF
interest and importance-for in its ex-
istence OF almost a century many q
tragedy and many comedy has been
enacted in and about the place.
The mill was built almost hundred
years ago by George Reynolds, a prom
inent farmer and landowner OF this
section. Samuel Barnhart, who erect
ed many of the most substantial build
ings in Shepherdstown, was the con-
tractor, and he built it well from the
foundations up. II was originally put
up as a -four mill and was erected on
the Virginia shore Of the river mile
below town. The river, which is here
eight or nine hundred feet wide, was
used to furnish power, substantial
dam being constructed across the
stream to impound the water. The
dam was built of heavy oak logs, its
foundation being a ledge OF rocks that
runs across the river at this point. A
head of water Of eight or ten feet was
secured and there was no lack OF pow
er. The mill was built OF bricks that
were burned on the level plot OF ground
Just east Of its site. The most of the
lumber was cut from the woodland
along the river four or FIVE miles above
town and was foated down the river.
Six sets of burrs were installed in
the mill, and it had a large capacity.
When it was first built the present riv7
er road had not yet been constructed.
The old road led straight out from
Main street, and near Mrs. Johnson's
present home veered to the south,
crossing leagues run at the edge Of the
coil mill woods" thence through the
Thomas Wysong farm, right in front
OF the house, to the trough road, and
on to the famous old fording place, first
known as Pack Horse Ford and after
ward as Boteler's Ford and Blackford's
Ford. The mill did great business
from the start Wagons would be
lined UP for half mile along the road,
waiting their turn to deliver wheat and
take on a load OF -four. A consider
able part of the product was shipped to
Georgetown and Washington when
the canal went into operation. Mr..
Geo. R. Staley tells US that his father,
Jacob Staley, ran boat between Shep-
herdstown and Georgetown, taking
-four down and bringing back in season
supplies from the city, including gro
ceries, herring and shad in season,
plaster and other articles. The boat
would leave the canal at the outlet lock
opposite Shepherdstown, land its car
20 on the wharves here, and would then
be loated down to the mill. Receiving
its cargo Of -four, it would be poled
back to the lock and again started on
Its journey to the city. Among the
millers who then superintendent tbs
business Of making -four were Moses
Matheny and John Q. A. Metcalf, who
wilr be remembered by our older peo-
pie.
1t is said that some Of the -four made
here was used for the export trade.
The wheat grown in the Valley was OF
A quality that enabled the flour to stand
sea transportation better than that
from other sections, and quantities
we're shipped from Washington and
Baltimore. An interesting fact was
stated by the late George W. Duke:
He said that when he was boy he was
at the mill, his job being to
shovel the bran, for which there was
little or no demand, into the tail race
N order to get rid of it, Bran is sell
ng now at about sixty dollars ton and
there is hardly enough to supply the
nsistent demands for it!
An addition was built to the mill for
he grinding of cement, large vein OF
cement rock having been developed
near by Just when the manufacture
IF cement was begun no one seems to
know, but it was early in the history
IF the mill. This became an import
ant feature Of the business, the pro-
iuct being disposed of principally in
A good deal Of the ce-
nent was also used jim building opera
ions in this section.
During the Civil War the mill was
The scene of a sanguinary battle. A
lew days after the battle of Antietam
m September, 1862, General Lee hav-
ng withdrawn his army across the Po-
.omac at the ford few hundred yards
east of the mill, a couple of regiments
IF Union soldiers were sent across the
river to reconnoiter and strike, pos
sibly, at his rear guard. The 118th
Pennsylvania, known as the Corn EX'
change Regiment, made its way TO the
.op of the bluffs overlooking the river.
When it had gotten itself into tran
hat had been set for it, General A. P.
Hill attacked it in force and came near
it. The Inflated soldiers
we're rushed over the cliffs or chased
iown the hillside, and as best they
could they tried to make their way
across the river. The Confederates &C.
,upied the mill and shot many OF the
Union soldiers as they tried to swim
the river or crossed on the breast OF
the dam. The Corn Exchange Regi-
nent lost more than 300 men in tho
brief but bloody battle. Some Of the
Union men found refuge in the cement
kilns at the rivers edge, facing the
Maryland shore. They were safe here
from Confederate guns and rifles, but
unfortunately a shell from one Of their
own batteries on the Maryland hills
exploded in their refuge, killing or
six or eight men.
The min was partially destroyed by
fire during the war. II is thought that
it was set afire by gang OF scalawags
who were not attached to either army,
but who were always stirring UP trouble
in one way or another and committing
such depredations as they dared. The
walls were but little damaged, and afi
ter the war Captain H. Frank Barn.
hart, whose father had built the orig
q