Essay on What Shepherdstown Means to Me

This is the oldest town in West Virginia located in Jefferson County within the United States. The town sits on expansive banks of river Potomac. The town host one of the best universities called Shepherd University. The current population of the town is approximated to be 137, 532 according to the census. The first settlement in the town is thought to have started in the year 1730 when Thomas shepherd being the pioneer to settle in the area obtained a land grant latter in 1734, and others soon followed him who ended here. The original name of the town was Mecklenburg, but this name was later changed to Shepherdstown to honor its founder (Pawlak, 32). Among the first migrants and settlers in the town were the Germans at the time the town had seen a sprung up of a German school within the early advent of occupying the area. Ideally, the German school was founded in 1762 while it is evident that the said street is still in existence to date where it called the German street. Historically the town is remembered for an outstanding invention, which was done by James Ramsey (Pawlak, 34). Ramsey invented a steamboat in 1787 within this great town and his monument sculptured in commemorating the mileage in technology, which was applauded by many people. Alongside being the birthplace of the steamboat, the town is also believed to have hosted bloodiest battle as far as American civil war is concerned. These make the town to have a lot of literature to write about as well presenting the town to have bountiful reasons as to why any person would find it great fun to pay a visit to this town.

The town sits on spectacular scenery under which there approximately twenty natural springs that feed the town. The runs neither floods nor dries up as they meander their way through the backyards, alleys and beneath the five streets as they join in the Potomac River. The Potomac River was a source of livelihood to the original settlers, its waters wad used for domestic purposes, for fighting fires and mainly as a source of fish to supplement the diet. Alongside being a fishing ground, the river provided power which was used for various reasons such as milling, potters, something gas well as other artisan works. During the summer of 1775, a call was issued by the continental congress calling for volunteer companies from Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania to come to the aid of the embattled Boston (Pawlak, 35). One, Captain Hugh Stephenson commanded about 100 men from Mecklenburg. It is from such that the town contributes to the rich history of American independence. Immediately after the end of the revolution, the river town is described as having continued flourishing despite the war leaving behind several orphans and widows. Interestingly, it is within the rivers that surround the town that the testing of the steamboat was witnessed with a great multitude gathering to pay tribute to James Ramsey (Pawlak, 37). After a few months, Abraham shepherd created a riverfront land as well as other facilities that made Mecklenburg a warehouse for tobacco.

Because of the strategic location of the town, Shepherdstown provided one if the most convenient stopover where wagon masters, as well as other sojourners and taverns, rose within. There were adequate food and water for drinking coupled with lodgings. These important amenities attracted myriads of sports and vocational hosting such as horseracing, cockfighting, gambling, and other forms of entertainments to soothe weary travelers and townspeople (Snyder, 28). In the wake of 17690, there was a rapid change as far as shepherds town development was concerned. There was an establishment of the first post office, which became West Virginia and it opened in 1793. Due to the availability of the Brickyard in welsh many of the pioneer wooden houses and structures were demolished and torn down to make way for brick homes and shops that favored the new business generations. The development of shaped town mainly relied on the construction of the surrounding infrastructures. It is with the advent of 1879 that Shenandoah Valley railroad reached Shepherdstown. It introduced strong and dynamic developmental plans that changed the towns outlook turning it away from the known river. In the same breath, the western and the Norfolk became the successors of the Shenandoah rail valley (Snyder, 29). The railroads that connected the town to the outside world also provide linkages that promoted wheat cultivation. In the course of mid 19th century, there was a halt in shipping of wheat, which was preceded by rapid production f apple. Due to interlink that was made possible by the railroads and canals, life started growing cheap for the inhabitants of the town but the peace was disrupted by the civil war that tore the communities apart. The town faced a tragic time during the war. It is then that Hamtramck guars f the Shepherdstown joined units and dispatched the Harpers Ferry to help in subduing john browns raid on the federal arsenal. The hallmark of this created the outbreak of the war creating a group ht was name as company B.

The battle set many families living in Shepherdstown a part. This was the worst that hit the town during which its young men took sides- others fighting on the side of the Confederacy while some fought for the union (Snyder, 33). Because of the war, there was death toll something that became a significant moment for the town. It recorded that the town provided care for close to 8000 casualties. The wounded as well as those on the verge of dying filled everywhere including buildings, churches, alleys, and streets. Scores of dead toll wrapped this that proceeded September 20th which left about 162 meds dead with 63 confederates and about 100 federals with many wounded. Despite the wreckage, which Shepherdstown was dealt by the war, it later gained a new future a college and town, which are busy and developed now. In 1872, Shepherdstown had the first collage, the Rezin in the town. The Rezin within the town was the first one of its kind and was the character of as classic as well as the scientific institute. Soon enough, the trustees of the Rezin leased it out to the state house to make a school out of it (Snyder, 34). It kicked off as a primary school and later grew college when several courses were added. It is from the initial seed sown that shepherded university grew to its stature today.

In conclusion, the town traces its roots from atrocious moments as well as some of the most confusing times of different reigns filled with fear and rages. However, it is one of the towns that stood today with educational wing emanating from the university. From its beginning, the schools, and the college has played a great5 role in shaping the town providing much needed educational and employment opportunities as well as vibrant cultural attractions. Currently, the expansive east campus wing occupies almost one-third of the town while the west campus takes the junk part of the northwestern of corporate limits.

Work Cited

Pawlak, Kevin R. Shepherdstown in the Civil War: One Vast Confederate Hospital. , 2015. Print.

Snyder, Vivian P. Growing Up in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. , 2016. Print.