Shepherdstown
Jefferson County, WV
The oldest town in the state is located in the northern Shenandoah Valley on the Falling Spring Branch of the Potomac River which forms the boundary with Maryland. Initially founded by land grant owner Thomas Shepherd as Mecklenburg and chartered by the Virginia Assembly in 1762, it was renamed Shepherd's Town in 1798. After the Civil War in 1867, the name was officially changed to Shepherdstown.
The area is intertwined in the early history of our country. In 1775 while still part of Virginia as a town in Berkeley County, Captain Hugh Stephenson formed the first unit of the United States Army from this area in response to General George Washington's call for Virginia Volunteer Riflemen. The Company left Morgan's Spring in July of 1775 to join the War of Independence.
The town is also famous for the development of James Rumsey's steamboat which was first successfully demonstrated here in 1787. The first free public schools in West Virginia were built here in 1848 and the founding of Shepherd College, now a state gem as a university, can be traced back to events in 1872.
Military history also abounds here. The Shepherdstown Militia aka The Hamtramck Guards was sent to Harpers Ferry in 1859 to counter John Brown's Raid there on the Federal Arsenal. The militia group subsequently volunteered for the Confederacy and became part of the Stonewall Brigade. After the Battle of Antietam in 1862, General Robert E. Lee's army crossed the Potomac River at the old Pack Horse Ford and left over 5000 wounded in the care of the residents of the town.
In 1863, Shepherdstown became part of the new state of West Virginia. After the Civil War, the Jefferson County Courthouse was moved to the Town Hall on German Street and then transferred back to Charles Town after war damage was repaired in 1872.
The area is intertwined in the early history of our country. In 1775 while still part of Virginia as a town in Berkeley County, Captain Hugh Stephenson formed the first unit of the United States Army from this area in response to General George Washington's call for Virginia Volunteer Riflemen. The Company left Morgan's Spring in July of 1775 to join the War of Independence.
The town is also famous for the development of James Rumsey's steamboat which was first successfully demonstrated here in 1787. The first free public schools in West Virginia were built here in 1848 and the founding of Shepherd College, now a state gem as a university, can be traced back to events in 1872.
Military history also abounds here. The Shepherdstown Militia aka The Hamtramck Guards was sent to Harpers Ferry in 1859 to counter John Brown's Raid there on the Federal Arsenal. The militia group subsequently volunteered for the Confederacy and became part of the Stonewall Brigade. After the Battle of Antietam in 1862, General Robert E. Lee's army crossed the Potomac River at the old Pack Horse Ford and left over 5000 wounded in the care of the residents of the town.
In 1863, Shepherdstown became part of the new state of West Virginia. After the Civil War, the Jefferson County Courthouse was moved to the Town Hall on German Street and then transferred back to Charles Town after war damage was repaired in 1872.
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Location
Shepherdstown
104 North King Street Shepherdstown WV 25443, Jefferson County Contactwww.shepherdstownvisitorscenter.com/Phone |
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