Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1920-04-01
THE OLD KNOXVILLE CHURCH.
By J. o. Knott

Inc OLD Drlck METHODIST Snurch,
with its attached graveyard, situated
on the turnpike leading to Shepherds
town, and in the midst OF that scatter
ing group of houses formerly known
as Unionville, but now Uvilla, is red
olcnt with historical associations. Not
far from this church, on the opposite
Church. Both OF these structures
have been repaired and enlarged wish
/ in recent years, but each stands up
the ground on which il formerly stoo
and has many OF the features il for
merly had. The existence OF the Nv
churches in this community center i
monument TO longago split in
church circles While shall write
more particularly concerning the
Methodist Church, t5cause ! knew il
better, still, the existence Of the Lu-
theran Church in that neighbour 1oS
served to accommodate persons
that faith within a wide circle OF ter.
ritory. The people Of Lutheran in
cinations went from my own nc'"h-
borhood 10 Unionville to attend SER
vice there after the Reinhart school
house church center was merged in
the Bethesda Methodist Church, now
at Moler's Cross Roads.
In days farther back than care to
say, the Unionville community was an
aristocratic, highly intelligent che, Of
social standing that had far more of
Old Virginia about it than the Rein
hart schoolhouse neighborhood. The
latter community was decidedly color
ed and favored by Maryland and even
Pennsylvania ideas and manners; but
Unonvlle was more like the o! com
munity life in and about Charles
Town. In the days of which | write
the B. & o. Railway station was at
Duffields, with Shenandoah Junction
unknown, as was also the preseHt
Norfolk & Western Railway. Union
vile and Duffields were closely as
ISOLATED and formed what might be
called one distinct church and social
section of the county, although there
was in those days very strong
Presbyterian Church at Duffields.
Some OF the old families OF the
Unionville community were the Mo
lers, the Melvins, the Decks, the Hen
bricks families, the S.riders, the
Links, the Kepharts, the Nichols fam
lily, the Morrisons, the Engles, the
Henkels, the Snvders, the Dusts, the
Ryders, the Maddox families, and fc
time a family of Remnants. Thi'
is by no means a complete list, but
serves to indicate the caliber of the
people that gave tone to the entire
community.
The Unionville store did quite a
thriving business in the days when
was a child. 1t had no rival even
as far down as the Reinhart school
house neighborhood. The Duffields
center had the Melvin and Wysong
stores. The road from my own com
munity to Unionville was one of the
most finest and best kept of anv in the
county. 1t was shaded by woodlan5
for almost the entire way, and Wa
a favorite drive for both cd and
young. Young people from the Glow
er" neighborhood, as ours on the Pc
tomac was called, would drive tc
church to Unionville in the morning
aS we had afternoon, ear,,;,a o,I,, :
those days church attendance served
as about the only public meetings
which gave folks opportunity to see
each other in their good Clothes" and
gave young men a chance TO use their
new buggies to advantage with the,
best girls. The church at Unionvillc
therefore, was pretty sure to have a
good congregation on Sunday morn
ings. The entire roadside was line
with horses and vehicles, even I'D n
the woods where the Lutheran Church
stands. When service was over thc
dust of horses hoofs and flying We
hicles suggested camp-meetinr
crowd. In the old church yard befor
and after service friends from far a
near would chat and pass courtesies
for they would see little of each 9th,
from one service to another.
In this old Methodist Church took
place weddings and funerals. A wed
ding in appearance suggested a funcr-
al, as long lines of carriages drove in
attendance. But the abiding ard
perenniel attraction was the preach
ing, with its church music. The
choir in the old church was in the
gallery at the rear, and at certain
! neri0ds In the life Of .ha .L., 4, -