As we tour through the streets of Jefferson County located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley we can imagine ourselves transported into another era in time in this place filled with so many historical sites and treasures that is mixed with a touch of country charm. Jefferson County that includes Shepherdstown, Charles Town and Harpers Ferry is also a part of the one hundred and twelve mile motor driven scenic loop that spirals its way through the Panhandle, the George Washington Heritage Trail. “Jefferson County is the most historically rural county in America with one hundred armed conflicts in the Civil War and sixty sites on the National register.” Says Jim Surkamp, historian and producer of programs on commercially supported cable television. Jim has done over forty hours of programming on the celebrated Jefferson County.

Beginning our journey in Charles Town named for George Washington’s brother we’ll come to the Zion Episcopal Church and Cemetery located on Congress Street, “Over seventy members of the Washington family are buried there in the Church yard.” Jim says.

On George and Washington Streets is the renowned Jefferson County Courthouse that served as a barracks for Union troops in 1863, Confederate General John D Imboden surrounded them and the battle that followed caused damage to the courthouse that was restored and enlarged in 1872. Also the site for the famous trail of John Brown on October 26, 1859 his short ride to the gallows took him to the present Samuel Street and between Hunter and Mason there is a historical marker on the site. Guided tours of the courthouse are given on weekends.

The Charles Town Post Office located on West Washington Street is the site of the jail where John Brown was imprisoned and in 1896 William L. Wilson, Postmaster General started the first Rural Free Delivery in the United States. “With very many stops to make in Charles Town recommended is the Jefferson County Museum.” Says Jim. Located in the basement level of the Charles Town Library on 200 East Washington Street you’ll find Civil War artifacts and one of George Washington’s original 1766 surveys. For more information you can call (304) 862-8628.

Built of brick and logs in 1797 and situated between Washington and Liberty Streets is the office used by Charles Washington. “There are a total of twelve Washington homes in the county.” Says Jim. “The Washington’s were very present here, these lands are the Washington ancestral lands.” He says. You can take a drive around of some of the privately owned Washington homes located in the same four square miles west of Charles Town, “Happy Retreat in Charles Town was the home of Charles Washington.” Jim says. “Harewood was built in 1770 and was owned by George’s other brother Samuel and is still owned by the Washington family, Dolly Payne Todd and James Madison were married there.” He says. “Claymont is owned by a foundation and is the largest home in the valley with forty rooms, it was built in 1820 by a great nephew of Washington’s.” Says Jim.

The 47^th Annual House and Garden Tour will be taking place this year on April 27^th and 28^th from 10AM to 5PM and we can all get a chance to visit many of these privately owned homes in Berkeley and Jefferson counties. You can call Wendy Kedzierski for more information at 304-728-8636.

Shepherdstown listed in the Register of Historic Places is the oldest town in West Virginia and located at the corner of German and Princess Streets is the Entler Hotel that is now a museum. Featured are many artifacts, Indian tools and Victorian furnishings. “Built in the 1920’s is the doll house is behind the Entler Hotel, it is very tiny and beautiful.” Says Jim. The Elmwood Cemetery on Route 480 is a place where many Civil War soldiers are buried and at the north end of Mill Street is where you can find the Rumsey Monument where he gave his first public demonstration of his steamboat in 1787.

The beginnings of the United States Army took place at Morgan’s Grove Park where men of Shepherdstown and Berkeley County met in 1775 to begin the famous Bee Line March to join George Washington’s Continental Army in Boston fighting for Independence from England. Pack Horse Ford is located less than a half mile from Shepherdstown and is where Robert E. Lee began to pull his Army back across the Potomac at Shepherdstown withdrawing from the battlefield at Antietam; the Battle of Shepherdstown ended the Maryland Campaign, Lee’s first invasion of the north.

Built in 1738 by the founder of the town is the Thomas Shepherd Grist Mill located off of East German Street, forty feet in diameter this water wheel is said to be the largest in the world.

Because there are so many historic sites and buildings in Jefferson County, Harpers Ferry will be highlighted in another issue of Weekend Adventures Magazine.

Jefferson County is a place of history, battlefields and historic buildings, only a half hour away from Leesburg VA, Winchester VA, and Frederick MD and is forty five minutes away from Hagerstown MD. It is only sixty miles from Washington DC.

You can call the Jefferson County Visitors Bureau at 800-848-TOUR extension 212 or visit their website at www.jeffersoncountycvb.com for information on lodging in Jefferson County or call (304) 535-2627 for a walking tour map and more info on the historic sites. Historian Jim Surkamp also does over sixty tours a year in Jefferson County and can be contacted at (304) 279-4796.