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History
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Scouting in Shepherdstown
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Written by, Aaron M.
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Scouting in Shepherdstown started in April of 1916. For
the first 20 years Shepherdstown had its own council,
and Troop 1 was established. It became Troop 9 in
1930 through 1933. The troop went dormant for 2
years, and in November of 1935 was re-established as
Troop 33. With the exception of a brief dormant period
in the 1960s Troop 33 has remained active through
present day.
In 1947 Asbury United Methodist Church sponsored
Troop 34 a “black” troop because like everything else in
the nation, Boy Scouts was segregated. This troop
continued until 1952. There was also an Explorer Post
from 1950 to 1963.
Of the approximately 550 scouts, 20% achieved the rank
of First Class, 15% Star, 9% Life, and 4% Eagle (22
Eagle Scouts). There have been 35 Scout Masters and
Explorer post Advisers. The longest serving Scout
Masters are Rev. John H. Fray 1935-1946 and Burke
Feaster Sr. 1977-present.
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Downtown Shepherdstown
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Shepherdstown Library
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Shepherd University
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Shepherdstown
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Written by, Aaron M.
In 1734, Thomas Shepherd was given 222 acres of land on the south side of
the “Potowmack” river. In 1762 the Virginia Assembly chartered it as the
town of Mecklenburg. By 1775 Mecklenburg had over 1,000 inhabitants.
This was because the town run, which never flooded or ran dry, attracted
smiths, millers, potters, tanners, and other artisans. Answering General
George Washington’s call for “Virginia’s Volunteer Riflemen”, Capt. Hugh
Stephenson mustered the ranks of his company here. They departed from
“Morgan’s Spring” or what is now known as Morgan’s Grove Park on the
famous “Beeline March to Cambridge.” On December 3, 1787 James Rumsey
successfully tested his new invention, the steamboat. The first newspaper The
Potomac Guardian was published here in the 1790’s, as was the book, The
Christian Panoply.
In 1798 the town limits were extended so the name was changed to Shepherd’
s Town. On September 17, 1862, (after the battle of Antietam) General
Robert E. Lee’s infantry crossed the Potomac at Pack House Ford. The town
was soon over run with 5000- 8000 casualties of Antietam. Every alley,
church, street, house, and building was filled with wounded and dying. 285
Confederate dead were buried at Elmwood Cemetery. The town was officially
named Shepherdstown after the Civil War. In 1848, two free schools were
built. In 1863, when West Virginia became the 35 state these schools
became the oldest free schools in the state.
From 1865-1871 Shepherdstown served as the county seat because of war
damage to the courthouse in Charles Town. In 1872, the Town Hall Building
was transformed into a “Classical and Scientific Institute.” Later, the building
was leased to the State, Shepherd Collage was born. The whole campus
occupies a large majority of Shepherdstown. It became a University in 2004.
Shepherdstown’s “economy” has shifted from agriculture to hospitality and
tourism. Lots of people come for the history. There in a walking tour with 51
stops, half of which are structures. Most are 200 years old or older.
Troop 33
Shepherdstown , WV
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