Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-07-21
NEW VOL. 56-No. 20
NOTES BY OBSERVER.

In last weeks Register reference
vas made BY Observer to some OF the
oeauN spots in and about Shepherds
town, many of which had seldom been
hOt'sed oy many persons living in our
community How true il is that We be-
come ~ accustomed TO these attrac-
lions that We never give them
tnoueht, while visitors TO our town 70
into raptureS over them.
Our Town has been beautified this
season oy improvements to some of
our Old houses, which take on new
dignity ana character when they are
painted and furnished A striking ex-
ample OF this is seen in the old Baker
house on Main street, bought last wear
oy Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas F. Jones.
The Bakers have not lived in this
house for years, and as il was rented
out, II somehow fell into shabby unat-
traetiycnesS for lack of paint and
other necessary attentlon. IL has
been transformed by Mr. and Mrs.
Jones. A beautiful new porch with
dignifed columns has been added, and
the building has been painted a warm,
brick red, with green shutters and
white trimmings. A feature that has
been brought out by the paint is the
very lovely cornice thar adorns the
house. Although this dwelling is nc
least l2S years old, il is noteworthy
that real architect must have had
something 10 do with its construction
the beautiful cornice shows it. Each
window in the house had wooden
cornice also, but many years ago the
windows OF the lower story were
changed and the cornices we're noe
restored. The building is now one OF
the handsomest on Main street and is
an adornment TO that end OF town.
Another gratifying Improvement in
the same neighborhood Is Z. E. Bill
myers block, in which is located tho
Farmers Bank and the Geo. W. Bill
myer store, with Edward Bilmyera
residence adjoining. The whole block
has been painted brick red with har-s
monious trimmings. The residence
was erected by DR.. Hammond in lS45,
and Mr.. Billmyer said that some paris
OF il had not been repainted since thar
time. The business block was built
by the late David Billmyer in 1873, and
was, We believe, the first three story
business building TO be erected in
Shepherdstown. This corner has been
greatly improved by the application OF
paint in excellent taste.
Another fine old colonial house has
also been made more beautiful and at
tractive by good job OF painting-the
home Of E. II. Reinhart corner Church
and New streets. Red brickwork and
dark green shutters are the colors of
the house, and Mr. Reinhart has Sc
lected an old ivory tint for the colonial
porch that is in beautiful good taste
much TO be preferred, in our opinion.
to the dead white usually selected for
the porches and woodwork in our
dwellings. The doorway in this house
is Of especially handsome design.
With the Improvements that Mr.. Rein
hart has made to this property il is
easily one OF the handsomest and most
comfortable residences in Shepherds
town. Mr.. Reinhart's property on the
opposite side OF the street, occupied
by Mr.. and Mrs. II. B. Reinhart, has
been painted in the Virginia colonial
colors, just exactly the right shade Of
buff having been secured. This house
was years ago the abode of Philip
Barnhart and his two sisters, who are
we'll remembered by our older folks.
NJ. Tnnart was a shoe cobbler, and
his sisters we're rwo sweet old ladies
OF the uuaintest ways and the mos.
adorable characters.
Speaking Of cornices, il is not gen.
orally known that some Of the cornices
of the old houses in Shepherdstown
are among the most beautiful in this
country. and have been copied by.
architects and artists. The. old CO.
lonial home Of Mr.. and Mrs Geo. w.
Billmyer on Main street is adorned
with lovely cOrnice This house is
much more than a hundred years old,
and is most substantially constructed.
II Is said that II was used as a high
class inn hundred years ago or so.
Mr.. and Mrs. Billmyer have improved
II greatly within the past year or two
by adding a handsome porch 70 the
east side of the house, and the re-
moval OF the high board fence reveals
pretty yard that sets off the build
ing to advantage. Other unusually
pretty cornices are those of the Hodges
store and residence, the Reformed
parsonage, and other old brick build.
ings along Main street. II may not be
out of place to suggest that some Of
these fine old buildings would also re-
veal new beauties If paint is applied in
the ripht u,ay