History of Shepherdstown

Colonial settlers began their migration into the northern end of the Shenandoah Valley in the early 1700's. The Colony of Virignia started issuing Valley land grants in the 1730s. In 1734, Thomas Shepherd was granted 222 acres, on the south side of the "Potomack" river. From that tract, he selected fifty acres and laid out a town. He named his town Mecklenburg and petitioned the Virginia Assembly for a charter. It was granted in 1762 and was located in Frederick County. Thomas Shepherd was the sole trustee. He owned the town and had the responsibility to conduct its government. The "Falling Spring Branch of the Potomac" flows through the village from south to north, as do most streams in the Shenandoah Valley. The "Town Run" is fed by twenty-five natural springs and never floods, nor has it ever run dry. As it courses through town, it meanders through backyards, under houses, across alleys and beneath five streets. A natural ford, Pack Horse Ford, traverses the Potomac River, about a mile east of town. These natural phenomena were conducive to all types of millers and tanners, as well as potters, smiths and other artisans. As a result, the town flourished. By the time of the American Revolution, the town boasted 1000 inhabitants. In 1772, Berkeley County, Virginia, received its autonomy from Frederick County. Mr. Shepherd's Mecklenburg was now in Berkeley County. In 1775, General George Washingon issued a call for "Virginia Volunteer Riflemen." Captain Hugh Stephenson filled the ranks of his company in Shepherdstown and it has been heralded as the first unit of the United States Army. It departed from "Morgan's Spring," (a.k.a. Stinson's Spring) about one-half mile south of the town limits on July 16, 1775. This famous "Beeline March to Cambridge" covered 600 miles in twenty-four days. Thirty-eight Revolutionary veterans are buried here. When Thomas Shepherd died in 1776, he willed the town to his youngest son, Abraham, who was serving in Captain Hugh Stephenson's company. The new trustee was absent; the town had no government. It has been recorded that the citizens "just took care of each other." The residents decided in 1794, it was time to govern themselves. A petition to the Virginia Assembly resulted in the granting of a second charter, which allowed for the election of trustees and, in 1798, the name of the town was changed to Shepherd's Town. The year 1801 brought another change in county seats. Jefferson was partitioned from Berkeley and Shepherd's Town became part of that county. After the Civil War (1867), the town's name was officially contracted to Shepherdstown. Another first was James Rumsey's successful demonstration of the steamboat, which occurred on the Potomac here on December 3, 1787. Another, more impressive presentation was given several days later. Rumsey died, unexpectedly, in 1792. Twenty years after Rumsey's first exhibit, Robert Fulton sent the "Clermont" on her way and received the credit. The part of the C&O Canal, across the river from Shepherdstown, was built during hte 1830s. Shepherdstown is the only town, in what is the state of West Virginia, to have a canal lock named for it. Lock 38 was the "Shepherdstown Lock." The state of Virginia, in 1847, decided to give its counties the opportunity to offer a free school system. Shepherdstown built two free schools in 1848, which resulted in the fact that because Jefferson County became part of the state of (1863), the town's schools became the oldest public schools in the 35th state. The Shepherdstown Militia (The Hamtramck Guards) was dispatched to Harpers Ferry to counter John Brown's raid on the Federal Arsenal, in 1859. These men volunteered for the Confederacy and became part of the famous "Stonewall Brigade." After the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862, General Robert E. Lee's army crossed the Potomac at Pack Horse Ford. The town was overwhelmed with 5000-8000 of the 23,110 casualties of that battle. Over 300 Confederate veterans are buried here. In 1863, Shepherdstown became part of the new state, West Virginia, and its oldest town. After the Civil War, the Jefferson County courthouse was moved from Charles Town to Shepherdstown. It occupied the town hall on German Street. It had to be enlarged, two brick wings were added. In 1872, the courthouse was moved back to Charles Town. This left the town with a large building and a need for additional school space to offer students a post-eighth garde education. A deal was worked out with the state to lease the building and establish a "secondary college." From this nucleus grew our beloved Shepherd College. The 1960s brought about a renaissance. Being about 75 miles from the Washington-Baltimore metro area sped the process. The town has been nearly restored, with private funds, to its colonial and later periods. Once again, the streets bustle with activity: students of Shepherd College, artisans busy at their trades, shopkeepers displaying their wares, stately homes waiting for a "look see" and inns and lodges beckoning to the thousands of yearly visitors. --Jim Price

Hear Jim being interviewed during the January 2000 Peace Talks