THE “Junction of the Potomac Fall 2019 and Shenandoah, Virginia,” by William Roberts, dating Page 3 - Allstadt’s Corner from 1808-1809. This is one transferred to National Park of the oldest known prints Service of Harpers Ferry. In 1783, Page 4 - Upcoming Park Thomas Jefferson declared Events that this view was “worth a Page 5 - 75th Speaker voyage across the Atlantic.” Series: Exploring the Battles (Museum of Early Southern of Harpers Ferry Decorative Arts, Winston- Salem, North Carolina) “Take me back to Harpers Ferry…” SO SWOON THE OPENING LYRICS OF THE and stirs the soul,” says Jim Beckman, past June, they did so in droves: alumni classic Magpie folk song, familiar to one of HFPA’s certified guides. Perhaps and fans of the Ferry bringing the village anyone who has ever ridden the park’s that’s why Harpers Ferry is one of those alive to celebrate the national park’s shuttle buses. “Being surrounded by locations that, as the song implies, peo- 75th anniversary. We hope you’ll enjoy such inspiring landscape and a place so ple do like to return to as often as pos- just a few memories of the weekend, rich in human drama inspires the mind sible. And on one sultry weekend this collected from some of our participants. Below: “Janice and I had the thrill of re- turning to Harpers Ferry as Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation volunteers for the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park’s 75th anniversary celebration,” writes HFPA/Lewis and Clark Heritage Foundation member Jerry Wilson. “We were stationed at the fine Meriwether Lewis at Harpers Ferry Museum. Also stationed at the museum was Thomas Jefferson [portrayed by Bill Barker], who stated in his writing, Notes on the State of Virginia, ‘This scene is worth a voyage across the Atlantic.’” Above: “It was an absolute thrill to be It was our ‘bible’ in first learning part of the writer’s panel with David Gilbert about the town, and I still consult it and Dr. Merritt Roe Smith,” says author almost weekly to this very day. And and professor Jim Beckman. “When my Dr. Smith’s 1977 landmark book wife and I first moved to the town several on the armory at Harpers Ferry has decades ago, the very first book we bought been on my bookshelf since 1997… was Dave Gilbert’s [Walker’s Guide to I’ve read and re-read it multiple Harpers Ferry]. times.” Harpers Ferry Park Association | 1 The View is published by the Harpers Ferry Park Asso- ciation (HFPA), an Official National Park Cooperating Association that supports the mission of the National Park Service. Above: A number of park alumni participated Below: “The very best thing about my Harpers The Association operates the in a special panel moderated by Doug Perks, Ferry is that it isn’t just mine,” says Catherine Park Bookshop in Harpers certified guide and a former ranger himself. “As I Mägi, co-author (with Dennis Frye) of Confluence: Ferry NHP. Profits from sales prepared for the Alumni Panel, I thought back to Harpers Ferry as Destiny, a comprehensive history are returned to the park to June 1970 when I first wore the green and gray of the Ferry. “Harpers Ferry is many stories, many support inter pretive and edu- at Harpers Ferry,” recalls Perks. “In those days, energies, many passionate individuals.” Conflu- cational programs to enhance cars were parked on the green and on the river ence, released during the 75th Anniversary week- your visit. side of the railroad tracks. The Visitors Center end, seeks to honor this coming-together of so was in the ‘Stage Coach Inn,’ today’s Bookshop. many strands in history, paying special attention You are invited to join this Rangers were posted in the Master Armorer’s and to often overlooked or censored voices. Featuring unique organization and be a the Harper House. Each of us took a turn in the these items in the book “was thrilling for me,” part of Harpers Ferry’s special parking lot, leading walking tours of the Lower recalls Dennis Frye of the launch. “To have people family. For more information Town, and did foot patrols up to Jefferson’s Rock tell me (even seasoned veterans): ‘I didn’t know call (304) 535-6881, e-mail us and out on Virginius Island. But my strongest that.’ . or ‘I never saw that before,’ proved at [email protected], or visit memory is of how exciting it was to tell the story Harpers Ferry is continuous discovery.” Fittingly, our website at www.harpers- of Harpers Ferry to Park visitors. Every day I could the book is dedicated in part to a “confluence” ferryhistory.org. not wait to get to work!” of park alumni, including former superintendents Don Campbell and Rebecca Harriett, along with EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR former supervisory ranger Arnold Schofield. Cathy Baldau OPERATIONS MANAGER Whitney Richards EDITOR Catherine Mägi GRAPHIC DESIGNER David T. Gilbert BOARD OF DIRECTORS James Silvia, President Cynthia Gayton, Vice President David T. Gilbert, Secretary Laura Clark, Treasurer Jim Beckman Chris Craig Mark Elrod Jim Jenkins Doug Perks Sarah Shafer Ed Wheeless 2 | The View | Fall 2019 More of Harpers Ferry Preserved: Allstadt’s Corner Transferred to National Park ONE OCTOBER NIGHT, NEARLY ly, hosting Joseph McGill, 160 years ago, the residents Jr., of the Slave Dwelling of Allstadt’s Corner found Project. On the evening of themselves at the epicenter August 17th—just hours of John Brown’s war on after the transfer—McGill slavery. Two of the Allstadt led participants in a unique men, father and son, were fireside chat and overnight taken hostage by Brown’s experience at the property, lead man, John Cook, and contemplating some of hauled away to the infa- history’s harder narratives. mous armory engine house. This was McGill’s first Seven additional men, en- sleepover in West Virginia, slaved by the Allstadts, were making it the 24th state on taken along as well. Less his list of overnights. As than three years later, as McGill pointed out, there the country waged bloody were only 15 slave states at civil war, Allstadt’s Corner the start of the Civil War—a would find itself once more “They bursted the door open with a rail.” reminder that the story of under fire. The property slavery in America extends lies near the Schoolhouse Ridge line—in and private individual donations. The to both shores, North and South. Learn other words, in the midst of the 1862 Jefferson County Historic Landmarks more about the Slave Dwelling Project Battle of Harpers Ferry. Commission, the National Park Foun- at slavedwellingproject.org. Thanks to the American Battlefield dation, and the West Virginia Division Trust, these thirteen history-soaked of Culture & History also aided in the Above: Allstadt’s Corner. Below: Joseph acres of Allstadt’s Corner are now acquisition. McGill, Jr., of the Slave Dwelling Project protected by Harpers Ferry National The American Battlefield Trust has hosts a fireside chat at Allstadt’s Corner. Historical Park. added 342 acres to the national park (Photo by Jim Silvia) “The events at Allstadt’s Corner since 2002; most shaped our nation,” said Superin- of this property is tendent H. Tyrone Brandyburg at the battlefield. Through August 17, 2019, land transfer ceremony. conservation ease- “This generous donation to the Amer- ment, an additional ican people allows the National Park 200 acres have been Service to preserve this important place, preserved as views- its lessons and its stories forever. It’s an heds. honor to be entrusted with its care.” Following The purchase of Allstadt’s Corner the land transfer was made possible by gifts from Elliots- ceremony, the site ville Plantation, Inc., a NPS American was put to use Battlefield Protection Program grant, almost immediate- Call for Dreamers, Planners & Problem Solvers WHAT DOES YOUR HFPA MEMBERSHIP can we keep HFPA going strong for please consider joining our brand-new, mean to you? What would you like it generations to come? If you’d like to volunteer Membership Committee. to mean? In 2021, your association will be part of shaping and implementing Contact Catherine Mägi at cmagi@ celebrate its fiftieth anniversary. How an improved membership experience, hfpawv.org for details. Harpers Ferry Park Association | 3 Upcoming Park Events Meet Your Park Archeologist. Sep- Reacting to the Raid: Local Militia standing of the Harpers Ferry story has tember 16, 2 p.m., John Brown Museum. and the U.S. Marines. October 12-13, 11 been fundamentally shaped by archeo- What’s it like to work as an NPS arche- a.m. - 4 p.m., Lower Town. The USMC logical research in the park. ologist? Learn more about the adven- Historical Company will portray the ture of archeology at Harpers Ferry. capture of abolitionist John Brown and Drink Your Apples: Historic Cider explore reactions to the raid. Making. October 26-27, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Archeology and the U.S. Armory White Hall Tavern. For centuries, the Ground. September 23, 2 p.m., John John Brown and the Night Sky of making of cider has been a tradition- Brown Museum. Discover how exca- 1859. October 17, 2 p.m., John Brown al way of extending the use of har- vations at the site of the U.S. Armory Museum. The skies were full of portent vest-time apples. It’s also a tasty treat! provided a treasure trove of information in 1859: a massive solar storm sent the Explore the process at this demonstra- about many aspects of Harpers Ferry colorful aurora, normally reserved for tion. life. arctic climes, streaking into shockingly southern latitudes.