Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-11-24
NOTES BY OBSE-.yER

has Dcen removed, ana lls CSduilll!
tower once more shows AS ioveIy pro-
portions against the sky. This church
IS not elaborate in desIgn, but in is
Gothic simplicity it is regar~ei as one
Of the loveliest in this section, VIII .ch
is not unnoted for the Ueauly OF us
ecclesiastical structures. The spre
is especially handsome, reaching l2S
feet from the ground to the tip of the
iron spear at the top.
For several years past the spire has
needed repairs. Some of the slate had
gotten loose, the copper sheathing of
the ridges had worn and some of il had
been blown off, and as the rains beat
upon the tower the water would find
its way inside and there was danger
that the woodwork might decay. Mad
dex Brothers undertook 70 make the
repairs. Only a few days were need
Cd for the actual work of making the
spire all snug and tight, but in order
to get at the places requiring repairs
it was of course necessary to erect
Scaffolding- costly and tedious and
dangerous proceeding. Heavy timSers
we're hauled up 10 the top of the stone
work and upon them the scaffolting
was built The Messrs. MaideX and,
their workmen climbed about the dizzy
heights Just about as if they were on
tine ground, and happily there were on
acciden of any sort The tower and
spire were found to be in eXcel,en-
condition, except for the few leak.
in the roof and along the ges. an
it seemed a real waste to spent eve
or six hundred dollars on such trifnP
dcfects. Yet, neglected, they would
have soon become serious in their ef-
fectS.
Measurements showed the tip of tho
spire TO be 1913 feet above the ground
The big copper ball near the ton wa
found not to be as big as a hogShead.
as most persons had thought, nor was
it filed with honey, placed there by
busy, provident bees. Fact is, ther"
we're no bees about it, though a few
waSps were flying around. The lioht-
ming rod which had stretched its point
above the tower there for many years
was taken down. The discovery wa
made that its connections had been
broken and its usefulness had long
since ended. Probably lightn no -roI !
vendors will think that the vestry is
tempting Providence by removing this
protection, even if it is church thai
is involved. The tower was struck
by lightning many years ago, bH no
damage was done.
Trinity Episcopal Church has had
an interesting history in Shepherds
town. Its first organization cannot now
be ascertained, but it is likely that
there was no congregation here prior
to the Revolutionary War. Ahor'
l7S5, according to local historians, the
first church was erected az the corner
of Church and High streets, Thi?
was used until about 1910. when it
was rebuilt or replaced by the struc-
ture now occupied by the colored Meth
odist congregation.
In 1912 the Rev. Charles w. An
drews became pastor of the congre-
cation and few years afterward he
conceived the idea of building new
church in another location. A lot
was -pught on Main street, and DR.
Andrews ami his colleagues showed
their foresight in selecting the new
site for the church. for in after wears
othe- lots on either side wer" nur-
chased. and now more desirable To-
cation could no. be found The church
yard fronts on Main street NV feet.
with a depth of 2O6 feet, and the pic
ture"Cue stone edihce with its lawns
IN front and on either side is the deal
village church--a thing of beauv and
a 10" forever.
D. Anftrews. n man whose energy
~ ind, Ag
long been a proverb in this ormmuni-
~, and whose good deeds will never
he forgotten, began TO collect frnIs
for he proposed new church along
about 1845 He had wealthy friends
IN tie North and they contributed
literally. 1t is hard to say when the
wort Of actual construction hogan
Observer has been told that work was
started in 1916 or 1847. This is rrob.
ably correct, for Mr. Maddox found
the figures 1882 on a slate in the
tower. and it is known that the tower
was not completed until some vor-:
after the BODY Of the church hac
been built. When the stone unrt o.
the tower was finished board cover.
ing was placed over it. and on Ger.
tam 4th of Iuly CAPTAIN Criswelrs Cor.
net Band, famous for manv years. gave
concert from this high platform
playing patriotic airs with great spir.
it.
ne church was built BY our Ioca
men. Samuel Barnhart was in charpt
~ me carpenter work. Ii is because
ne was such careful and conScien
nous man. doubtless, that the church
stood so MANY years without the neec
VI repairs. The timbers of the tower
we're OF such quality and Joined 10
Ee'her with such skill and solid;tv tha
,sey nave stood the storms and pale.
VI siXtv-odd years without being NOV.
~ a. an inch out of plumb. Apparentl,