Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-11-24
Shepeown Jefferson County, Thursday November 1921

foundation stone, and they will en-
dure for ages get TO come, unless there
should be unforeseen CATASTROPHE.
There are persons still living who's re-
member the building of the church
wa Is. As he walls grew higher, and
as the tower lifted upward, derricks
were erected and a patient horse was
used to pull the stones to the top of
the walls as they increased in height.
Among the contributors to the
church building fund was Rein Davis
Snepherd, who gave, il is said, $1,000
towards lis erection. This was a very
large sum for those days. Mr. Shep-
nerd also had manufactured in Boston
a very line town clock, which it was
MS desire 10 have installed in the
tower of the church This accounts
tor the three circular openings in the
tower, on the east, west and north
SldeS-the south side having none,
TOR the reason that the roof Of the
church building came above the point
| wnere the face of the clock would
snow. There was objection to having
town clock in a church tower, and an
acrimonious discussion ensued. Mr..
Shepherd, rather autocratic BY nature
/ anyhow, fee ing that his large CON
trlbution entitled him to more than
ordinary privileges, became very much
/ offended At the opposition to his clock
project, and when Dr. Andrews de-
cided against him he lost all interest
in the Episcopal Church. He was de
termined however, that Sbepherds-
! town should have a town clock. and so
H., a - k,,.I
Gown Main street which was known
as the town hall. This is a structure
OF Classic architecture AMI a reaI'y
beautiful building. 1t is now part
OF the Shepherd College group, having
oeen leased by the town to the State.
II is the property of the town as long
as IT Sh2% b used for educational pur-
poses, according 10 Mr. Shcpherd's
deed. Many persons have wondered
why there are but three faces to our
town clock. The reason is given
aooVe-it was originally intended for
the church tower, and but three open
lngs were in the tower. Its rejection
by the church people added another
handsome building to our town.
The early records of Trinity Church
are not very satisfactory. II is said
tnat the first two rectors were Rev
Mr. Sturges and Rev. Mr.. Stubhs. who
were followed by Rev. Morgan Nor
gan, son of that Morgan Morgan who
built the first Episcopal Church in the
Valley of Virginia-the Mill Crcet
Church at Bunker Hill, in Berkelev
county. In 1910 its rector was Rev
John Price, who was the 'ast rector
of st. Georges Chapel, the ruins OF
which may be seen near Charles Town
Later Rev. BENJAMIN Allen, Rev. Ben
Jamln Smith and Rev. Alexander Tonee
were the ministers. In 1910 Rev. 7
n. Morrison came, and il is said he was
the first resident rector. In 1912 the
good DR.. Andrews came, and he was nor
| only the faithful rector of the church
until his death in 1878, but he was
public-spirited citizen and noble Chris
tain character who was beloved and
respected by our town people regard
less of church affilation
In 1865, when the news came that
General Lee and the Confederate
armies had surrendered at Appomat-
toX, there was camp of Union sol
diers near Kearneysvi le. They deter.
mined to celebrate, and late at night
squad of Yankees came to Sher-
| herdstown to rub it in. "Uncle" Ior-
dan Norris, respectable colored man.
was sexton Of the church at this time.
The soldiers went to his house, rputet
him out of bed and compelled him to
go with them to the church. They
didn't give him time TO dress, even.
Arrived at the church they made him
climb UP into the belfry and oricred
him to ring the bell loud and lone
to celebrate the Union victory. They
told him that they would be down
below, and threatened that if he
stopped ringing the bell. before he
had orders from them they would shoot
him. 1t is needless to say that "Uncle"
! Jordan rang the bell as il had never
| been rung before. When he was going
good the soldiers locked the door on
the outside, threw the key in the grass
and rode silently out the pike As
they rode past Walper's Cross Roads
they could still hear the pealing OF
the bell on the midnight air Almost
everybody in town was awakened b.
the ringing of the bell, but few per
sons ventured out, for those were
troublesome times. When DR.. Andrews
was aroused, however, he went strs eht
to the church. He finally got inside
and made his way to the belfry, where
he found "Uncle" Jordan pulling
away at the rope, tired and perspring
with his night garment flapping about
MS shanks, but afraid to stop ringing
the bell. He told DR.. Andrews whv hc
was there, but refused to quit u,.i'
the minister finally convinced him that
there were no soldiers about the church
10 the day of his death "Uncle" Ior-
dan had no use for Yankees, and ever
afterwards he had TO be personally ac-