Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1922-09-25
ONE CT OLDEST HOUSES IN BERKELEY co.
IS DESTROYED BY FIRE-H0ME OF THREE
SHEPHERD BROTHERS. WAS BUILT IN 1853
Family Had Retired For The Night When Cracking OF Flames
Arolses Them To Their Peri-Bedstead On Which George
Washinuton Slept Lost-Many Colonial Articles

Fire about midnight Saturday
night wiped out one Of the eldest
and most historic homes OF Berkeley
county. the large eight room stone
house a mile off the Winchester Pike
south of Martinsburg belonging u
". L. Shepherd and occupied by
himself and three bothers and their
families Fortunately no one was
injured and no lives were lost, but
articles of inestimable value he
cause of their historic interest were
destroyed bv the flames which ate
down through the center of the
building while the residents stood
by powerless to preserve the ancient
structure.
The fire is believed to have been
started. perhaps. by an unknown ma
rauder, who is believed to have been
proving through the upper stories
before the occupants of the house
returned home from a trip to Mar
tinsburg. It is thought the marauder
escaped, although at one time it
seemed that he may have persisted
in the flames, but this is now con
sidered unlikely.
The Shepherds had returned and
retired to rest along about 11.30. a
short time thereafter they were
aroused by the cracking Of fire and
jumped up TO find the garrett, in the
northwestern corner of the house,
to be ablaze. While the fire rapidly
progressed they were able to save
their bed and bed clothing, clothing
~ htyV dr0y
which were hurriedly removed, and
a quantity of household effects on
the lower floor and canned and pre-
served fruit from the cellar.
However, a great many pieces OF
antique furniture, including a bed
stead highly priced because of the
fact that George Washington had
frequently slept in it when he visited
this county, and other old beds,
homespun linens, winter bed cloth.
ing, etc. were destroyed Among
the articles saved was an od-time
harpisehord and an organ
The eight room structure was then
Quilted by the flames from cellar tn
garnet, and the families thus driven
forth are compelled to live for the
time being in the small building a
short distance from the main house.
IN ante-bellum days used as the
slaves quarters. This consists of
kitchen and dining room on the first
floor and three living rooms up
stairs
The actual loss on the house will
never be fully determined because
Of the intrinsic value of the innum-
cradle relics of the colonial period
that have been retained within its
confines for more than a hundred
years. and the insurance is small il
comparison with tho worth Of the
more modern household effects.
The house was built 159 years
ago by Strobe, a great great-grand-
father of the Shepherd boys, and
was intimately associated with the
earlier history Of Berkeley county,
then in Frederick county. Va.
Earlier Saturday night motor
cycle was observed near the fence
In tbs roadway by the Shepherd
home. There was no occasion for
one to be in that neighborhood in
connection with the Shepherd fam
lilies and it is believed the man who
started the fire while pr9wling
through the house, rode the motor
cycle to and from the place