SHEPHERDSTOWN (25443) AND VICINITY Shepherdstown, a bicentennial town and a Registered District on the National Register of Historic Places, is the oldest town in West . About a mile above Pack Horse Ford, it was laid out by Thomas Shepherd on his land grant of 1734 and chartered as Mecklenburg, Virginia, in 1762, by the Assembly of JEI'FERSON COUNTY, W VA. Virginia. The name was changed in 1798 in honor of the founder. "J PRATO RIO — Originally called Hopewell, the early portion was 8 SHEPHERD COLLEGE — Fully accredited 4 year college — 1 6 GEORGE 'S FARM — spent built about 1742 by Jacob Hite, son of Jost Hite, one of the established 1872. his first earnings as a surveyor in the purchase of some 2300 acres Shenandoah Valley's early settlers. It was bought from Jacob on the Bullskin Run. Parts of it he leased, and a part he farmed, Hite in 1775 by General Charles Lee whose conduct at Monmouth through an overseer for the rest of his life. in 1778 led to a court-martial. Lee renamed his home Prato Rio and 9 W.V.U. EXPERIMENTAL FARM — For horticulture research. The location is indicated by a marker on the Summit Point Road. lived here until his death in 1782. 4 miles West of Charles Town. | 0 TRAVELERS REST — The Home of Major General Horatio 2 PACK HORSE FORD — A natural game and Indian crossing, it Gates. This house built in 1772-1773 by Major General Horatio was used by numerous settlers moving down from Pennsylvania. Gates, who commanded the at the decisive battle 1 7 AND CI.AYMONT COURT — Built in 1820 by two ' Some of these founded Shepherdstown, West Virginia's oldest of Saratoga in 1777. General Gates lived here until 1790, when he grandsons of George Washington's brother. John Augustine (who | community. The most notable military crossing was made by Lee's moved to New York. had never moved to his property here.) army withdrawing from the battlefield on Antietam. Pennsylvania's Blakeley's builder. John II. inherited Corn Exchange Regiment, sent in pursuit of Lee suffered fearful 1 1 SHEPHERD MILL AT SHEPHERDSTOWN — Constructed about in 1829, thereafter using Blakeley as a summer casualties here in the Potomac's waters. 1739 by Thomas Shepherd, the founder of Shepherdstown, it home. (His son and namesake sold Mt. Vernon in I859 and was served as an early grist mill. Its wheel, which is forty feet in diame- killed in I86I while serving as aide-de-camp to General Lee.) This ^ JAMES RLMSEY MONUMENT AT SHEPHERDSTOWN - This ter, is said to be the largest overshot water wheel in the world. house was accidentally destroyed by fire in 1864 and rebuilt by its large granite column was erected by the State of West Virginia in Now being restored. last Washington owner. Richard S. B. Washington, a younger son 1915 as a memorial to James Rumsey, who first operated a steam- of the builder. It was sold in 1875. boat successfully here against the current of the on | 2 J°HN BROWN'S FORT AT HARPERS FERRY — This was the Claymont, the most elaborate home in the County, was built by December 3, 1787. fire engine house of the Harpers Ferry Armory and Arsenal, and Bushrod Corbin Washington. The house burned in 1838. while its The famous Bee Line March by volunteers from south of the Potomac to join was originally located nearer the main line tracks of the Baltimore owner was serving in the Virginia Legislature and was promptly General Washington in the defense of Boston started from Morgan's Spring here ^ — , the next oldest brother of and Ohio Railroad. It was seized by John Brown and his men in in 1775. James Rumsey made the first public demonstration of the propelling of a George Washington, and the first of the family to move to this October. 1859. and held by them until a force of Marines led by After its sale in 1872, one of its owners was the novelist Frank boat by steam on the Potomac at this site. During the Civil War it was strategic area, occupied his new home here in 1770. Active in public affairs Colonel Robert E. Lee captured it. Stockton whose last writings were done here. because of the river crossing. After the battle of Antietam, the town became a he was appointed a justice of the peace and subsequently, County sprawling hospital. Shepherd College, a state liberal arts institution, was estab- Lieutenant. He died in 1781. His unmarked grave lies in the nearby | 3 JEFFERSON'S ROCK AT HARPERS FERRY — This is the rock lished here in I872. family plot. from which the view, according to Thomas Jefferson, was "worth Here, in 1794, James Madison married Doiley Payne Todd, a voyage across the Atlantic." Several of the original log cabins still stand: about a dozen of the 1790 whose sister, Lucy, was then mistress of the estate. Continuously Federal-styled bricks are intact: the Market House. 1800. is now the public owned by the family, it is occupied today by a direct descendant. | 4 MUSEUM OF THE CHARLES TOWN CIVIC CENTER— This library: the 1842 Town Clock ticks on; and the Town Run continues to flow The interior is highlighted by handsome panelling and a beautiful exhibit, free to the public, contains many items of interest dealing under the strebts and through the alleys on its way to Thomas Shepherd Grist stairway. with Jefferson County's past. Of special interest are the cot on Mill, built about 1739. which John Brown reclined while being tried and the wagon in £ — The home of , youngest which he rode to his execution. brother of George Washington, was erected in 1780. On eighty 1 5 CHARLES TOWN POST OFFICE — Where Hon. William L. HARPERS FERRY NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK acres of his adjoining land, Charles laid out the streets of Charles Wilson, Postmaster General from Charles Town, in 1896 started Open daily except Christmas Day & New Years Town, naming many of them after his brothers and one after his the first Rural Free Delivery in U.S.A. On this site stood the jail Day. Summertime - Monday through Thursday - wife, Mildred. He provided that four corner lots at the Town's where John Brown was imprisoned while awaiting trial. center would belong to the Town, if it became the seat of a county Living History activities from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. separated from Berkeley. Jefferson County was formed in 1801 as LEETOWN NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY - Open he anticipated. The Court House stands ori one of these lots, as did daily from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. May through Sep- the jail until 1919 when it was demolished to be replaced by the tember post office. Charles Washington died in 1899. His grave site at Happy Retreat is unmarked. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & LIBRARY - Open Monday through Friday

3 COURT HOUSE — The original building erected in 1803 (two CHARLES TOWN MUSEUM - Open April through years after the County's formation) was replaced in 1837 by this October, Tuesdays through Saturdays - 725-8628 larger structure. Used as a barracks for occupying Federal Troops THE OLD OPERA HOUSE - Year around theatre - during the Civil War, the roof and interior were destroyed by For details write Old Opera House, 200 N. George cannon fire and vandalism. Renovation, using the old walls and Street, Charles Town, W. Va. 25414. Phone: columns, was carried out in 1872. Here, in 1859, John Brown and members of his band were tried 725-4420 and sentenced for treason. In 1922, militant West Virginia coal OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATRE - Featuring "John miners were tried and acquitted on a similar charge. Thus two of Brown Story"' by Billy Edd Wheeler - Opening in this Country's few trials for treason were held here. June, 1976 RAFT TRIPS- Open Memorial Day to Labor Day - 7 "J — Built in 1825 by John Thornton Augustine days a week - raft trips down the Shenandoah Washington, son of Samuel Washington's oldest son, Thornton. This structure replaced an earlier home built about 1780 by River (304)535-2477 Thornton Washington jn his share of the Harewood estate. APPALACHIAN TRAIL HEADQUARTERS - Open The only marked graves in the Harewood burial plot are those of Monday through Friday from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. - For John T. A. Washington, his wife and three children. information telephone 535-6331 HORSE RACING - CHARLES TOWN TRACK and SHENANDOAH DOWNS - 725-2021 - Open 9 months of every year AUTO RACING SPEEDWAY - Summit Point - CHARLES TOWN (25414), RANSON 25438) AND VICINITY \ 725-4071 One of the most historic county seats in America, Charles Town was Established January 4, I787. by an act of the \ HARPERS FERRY CAVERNS - Mar. 15 - Nov.; General Assembly of Virginia. Col. Charles Washington, for whom the t< >vn was named, provided 80 acres of land, laid Weekends during winter - 535-2438 out in half-acre lots. The four lots at the main intersection, where Georg< and Washington now cross, were deeded as a gift for public use. The streets of Charles Town were named for members of the Was ington family and are now George. Samuel, HARPERS FERRY (25425), BOLIVAR AND VICINITY Lawrence, Mildred, and Charles, and the main thoroughfare is Washingt n Street. Situated at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. Harpers Ferry is an important Within Charles Town many imposing residences were built, and man of them remain here today. Often in narrow chapter in the story of The Nation. Robert Harper, recognizing the abundant natural resources, ways that seem to be little more than alleys, one runs into perfect exampli , of early American architecture. A trip off the settled here in 1747 and operated a mill and ferry service. Water power from the rivers attracted beaten path is a rewarding one. industry and by the beginning of the 19th century weapons were being manufactured in great quan- tity at the U.S. Armory. This gun factory provided an economic basis for the town's development. With the arrival of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in the 1830"s, Harpers Ferry became an important national transportation center. By 1859 the town was heavily populated and lined with stores and industries that attracted shoppers from nearby communities. At the same time another town west of Harpers Ferry was emerging. Originally known as Mudfort, the town's name was changed to Bolivar in 1825, in honor of the South American Liberator. During the Civil War, Union and Confederate forces repeatedly occupied both towns. The heights above Bolivar provided a natural vantage point for defending the area from troops ad- vancing from the west. Today, through the efforts of local citizens and the , the towns are returning to their 19th century appearance.