Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1920-06-17
HISTORIC HOUSES OF JEFFERSON
COUNTY.

Tho we may roam,
BE II ever so humble,
There's no place like home"-
that the people who came into the
Shenandoah Valley to find homes feI,
their hearts burn within them as they
realized the wonderful possibilities OF
homes they might establish amid the
green meadows and woodlands. Tn.
first homes, however, were not built
Tor imposing style, but were we'll built
OF logs or stone. Many of them have
stood for two hundred years or more
and are now homes for the survivors o
those early pioneers. The homes bull,
alter were OF better style, and lar,
and were built for more comfort.
Strangers find the old homes in
terestIng, and many of them beautiful.
yet they are, as they should be, more
interesting to the people who live in
JEFFERSON county, and who appreciate
he traditions connected with them.
probably the Oldest house is in
>hepherdstown, and is a little brown
rouse on one OF the back streets me-
he station, in which Miss Texan.
lucas lives. II is built of logs and
Neatherboarded 1t was built by ono
IF the earliest settlers Of Shepherds
own, who chose this spot on which TO
build because il was near what is called
low the old town run" which had g
much power for mills. The house is a
Ttory and a-half high, and the rooms
are rather small
A most interesting house is one on
Main street in Shcphcrdstown, tn,
nome of Mrs. Harrington. This is a
Brown weathcrboarded house, tw
stories and a-haf high, containing
seventeen rooms. 1t is long, with an
ell at the back which is ready to fall
with age. Stone steps lead to the bir
entrance door This house was bar
racks during the Revolutionary War.
and 1t is said that while reviewing his
men here General Washington spent =
night in this barracks. During the
Eivil War the Union soldiers removed
nearly everything from the house
which was movable. Even partitions
were torn away. Two colonial mantcls
were left, however. These are of very.
dark wood, and are high. There is
very little carving, and the shelf
narrow. Antique dealers have hccl
anxious to buy them, but the owner is
not willing to sell.
Near the station in Shepherdstown
is brown house, story and a-half
high, which is the home of the Ham
rick family at present. This was the
home of Michael Cookus in the DAYS
before the Revolution There is a
story that in battle with the French
and Indians, Michael Cookus saved
George Washington'S life. Long after
this battle, when Washington was
President, he remembered this Mr.
Cookus, and in gratitude for what
Michael Cookus had done for him he
;ame to Shepherdstown and visited
lin at his home
Not far from Shepherdstown i. a
small stone house. owned BY Mr.
Crawford at present, and occupied bv
'enant. This was the old home OF
General Morgan, of fame in the Rev
Tuition.
A long, stone house, built long ago
or the resistance of Indian attacks
;tands near Dufficlds. This was the
ONE of General William D.rkc. The
forth section is built heavily. and .
story and a-half high This is ioin-
d TO part having one story, with
cry thick stone walls also Under
his part bubbles a spring. which was
20 necessary 0 those first occupants
uring Indian attacks. This is now
he home of Mr.. Carroll Tabler.
North of DuHiclds is a log house
now partly weatherboardcd. owned
y Mr.. Thomas Link This is supposed
have been built by Darkc. II is
certain that he lived here at one time.
Near Leetown, short distance fro.
Ire turnpike, is the house where Tvc9
General Charles Lee Ii is long an
ew' with a high pitched roof, and ir
.ssuIarly placed chimneys When o
Iupied by General Lee he allowed no
partition to divide the interior. A
huge chimney rising through the cen.
or Of the house separated to ccrtai.
osstent the cooking department from ~
remaining part, which served for e.
'ed-room, parlor library, and dog-kcn-
led, all combined. Besides the scpara
fop made by the chimney, Lee some