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Renovated Chambers in Entler Museum. The former Parlors were taken back to the 1840's. One Chamber depicts the Sitting Chamber were guests would gather to read, socialize, play cards or write letters. The Dining Chamber is in the background. The Historic Shepherdstown Entler Museum reopened after 16 months of renovations on April 12, 2008. Hours are Saturday from 11-5 and Sunday 1-4. |
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Innovative Workshop: Exploration of the Early Crafts Industry in Shepherdstown with Hands-On Pottery Workshop
What? The Historic Shepherdstown Museum is hosting an all-day session devoted to studying the early crafts industry in Shepherdstown. The morning session will feature local artisan Dan Tokar, who will talk about the daily life of the artisan in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. He will pay special attention to such early artisans as the Sheetz family, known for their rifles, and Conrad Schindler and his copper kettles. Also, teacher Laura Borkholder will give a visual presentation on “Aunt Sallie’s Quilt” (a key holding in the museum) and how she used the museum’s quilt kit to make an attractive paper quilt in her Washington High School art class. Both quilts hang in the museum. The afternoon session will focus on the Weis pottery and its connections to modern-day local pottery. Pam and Ren Parziale will conduct a hands-on demonstration of clay techniques in which all participants will have the opportunity to work with clay. Who? The workshop is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Teachers in the Jefferson County Public Schools will receive six hours of staff development credit.
When? The event will occur on June 15, 2010, the morning session from 8:30 to 12:30 (including lunch) and the afternoon session from 1 to 3:30. Where? The morning session will take place at the historic Entler Hotel, 129 E. German Street in Shepherdstown. The afternoon session will occur at Pam and Ren Parziale’s Sycamore Pottery Studio, 38 Paynes Ford Rd. in Leetown. Why? The purpose of the workshop is to introduce teachers and members of the public to how the Historic Shepherdstown Museum may be used as a teaching tool. Emphasis is on its rich holdings in the early crafts industries, which played a major role in the development of Shepherdstown. The hope is that participants will come back with others (students, other family members and/or friends) to tour the museum and take advantage of all it has to offer. Teachers earn six hours of staff development credit from the Jefferson County Schools, as listed on their web site.
How? Participation is by registration only. Those interested in registering, or with questions, should contact Dr. Donna Northouse, coordinator of the event, by e-mail (dnorthouse@gmail.com) or by phone (304-876-8177). Registration will close when the maximum is reached.
Cost? The event, including lunch, is free.
This event is made possible by a generous grant from theWest Virginia Humanities Council.
Historic Shepherdstown elects new Board Members and Officers.
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Welcome to Historic Shepherdstown
Historic Shepherdstown is an active, non-profit, membership organization dedicated to preserving Shepherdstown's architectural character, and building public understanding of Shepherdstown's distinctive history.
Incorporated in 1961, Historic Shepherdstown has undertaken many important major projects that benefit our community. The Historic Shepherdstown Museum was founded in 1983, and in 1986 the expansion and updating of the National Register for Historic Places listing for the Shepherdstown Historic District was completed. The largest effort began in 1972 when the historic Entler Hotel was scheduled for demolition. Volunteers worked together to save and restore the building as a center for public activity. After many years of heavy public use, a major 25th anniversary renovation project was undertaken in 1997-98 to further enhance the public rooms. Today the Entler is headquarters for the Historic Shepherdstown Commission.
Ms. Gentry's 3rd Grade Class from Shepherdstown Elementary School Visit the Museum
The Travlers room at the Entler - 1800's
1st Rural Mail Cart in Shepherdstown (minus the horse) 
Learning about Weis Pottery, Schindler Kettles and RIckard Locks and the importance of these items in daily life
The Teachers
Pam Miller - Donna Northouse - Laura Bush - Paula Bush
(from left to right)
Historic Shepherdstown Museum to Reopen for its 27th Season
The Historic Shepherdstown Museum will reopen for its 27th Season for visitors on Saturday April 10, 2010. Museum hours are from 11 am to 5 pm on Saturdays and from 1 pm till 4 pm on Sundays, as well as on special occasions or by appointment.
The Museum is housed in the old Entler Hotel building at the corner of German and Princess Street. The building, which is on the National Register of Historic Sites, dates from the early 1800’s and was operated as a hotel until 1921 when it was purchased by Shepherd College. In the early 1970’s the building was purchased by the town from the college and restored through the efforts of the Historic Shepherdstown Commission, a group of local townspeople. The museum was opened in 1983.
Items of interest in the museum include three tall clocks made in Shepherdstown in the late 1700s by Jacob Kraft, one of many craftsmen of German ancestry attracted to Thomas Shepherd’s new town shortly after it was chartered in 1762. Several of the rooms in the museum recapture the feeling of a small town hotel as it must have been back before the Civil War, when the Entler was in its heyday. Period furnishings, many of them which have strong association with Shepherdstown and its early residents, grace two rooms on the main floor – the original sitting Chambers. The second floor features a traveler’s room as it might have been around 1840, (when a night’s lodging could be had for 25 to 50 cents) as well as new Civil War room focusing on Shepherdstown’s involvement. The museum also features Sheetz rifles, Rickard locks, textiles dating from the early 18th century and items dating from the Revolutionary War. Of particular interest is a mail wagon from about 1910, given by the Shepherdstown Volunteer Fire Department.
Housed in the garden area is a half-scale replica of James Rumsey’s steamboat, the first known adaptation of steam power to water travel. Rumsey successfully demonstrated his experimental craft on the Potomac River in December 1787, fully twenty years before Robert Fulton. The more modern craft, built to Rumsey’s patent specifications, is often exhibited steaming under its own power on special occasions.
For more information on the museum, its collection and hours of operation or to arrange special tours or access the museum archives, please call Cindy Schott at Historic Shepherdstown, 304-876-0910.
