Historic Shepherdstown Newsletter June 19, 2023
Dear Historic Shepherdstown Commission members and supporters,
Summer arrives on June 21, and what better way to celebrate than to attend the Historic Shepherdstown Speaker Series talk about Prohibition in Jefferson County at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education on the Shepherd University campus. Lori Wysong, the director of the Jefferson County Museum, will be the featured speaker.
Prohibition in Jefferson County officially lasted barely two decades, but its roots go much further into history and its legacies still impact us today. It brought forward social, economic, and legal issues particular to the region and others that reflected national dilemmas. Lori’s presentation will focus on histories of local bootlegging, temperance, and more, as well as on the creation of a new exhibit about Prohibition at the Jefferson County Museum.
Lori is originally from Maryland and holds an MA in History with a concentration in Public History from Villanova University. In the past, she has worked at museums and historic sites in West Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Pennsylvania. She is a local historian and author of the book Historic Washington, DC: A Tour of the District’s Top 50 National Landmarks.
The talk is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be available after the talk.
New items for the Museum’s 40th Anniversary
The Historic Shepherdstown Museum originally opened in 1983, and this year we are celebrating our 40th anniversary. As we have mentioned previously, our new map exhibit, Great Dreams, shows the evolution of Shepherdstown and Jefferson County from the 17th through the 21st Centuries.
In addition, the Museum has two other new artifacts on display. It recently acquired a traveling trunk that was owned by Col. John Francis Hamtramck. Hamtramck likely had the trunk with him when he served in the Mexican American War. The trunk, which says “Hamtramck.. Jefferson Co Va” on its canvas covering, joins four other Hamtramck artifacts in the museum, his Mexican-American War sword; a table called “The General’s Table” by his family; his officer’s commission; and an invitation from his wife’s family to a dinner honoring him in 1847. Both the trunk and the table were originally sold at the estate sale of Elise Selby Billmyer, his great-granddaughter, in 1987. The General’s Table is on loan from Wanda Perry of Charles Town.
According to the Hamtramck biography on the Historic Shepherdstown website, after the war Hamtramck returned to farming in Shepherdstown. He judged a horticultural exhibition in Charles Town, served as magistrate of the court in Jefferson County, and was mayor of Shepherdstown from 1850 to 1854. He stayed very much the military man, fond of travelling in a coach-and-four with both driver and footman. On his death in 1858, the Shepherdstown Register noted that he “met the last great enemy as might have been expected of a brave man, with calmness and composure.” The militia unit he had commanded changed its name after his death to the Hamtramck Guards, and would later become integrated into the Confederate 2nd Virginia Infantry. According to his obituary, he was buried in the family burial grounds outside of Shepherdstown.
For more details about the fascinating life of Col. Hamtramck, follow this link to view the biography on our website written by Nick Blanton: https://historicshepherdstown.com/portfolio-item/john-francis-hamtramck.
The second new item is the Baptismal Font from the recently-closed Christ Reformed Church. The font was built and hand-carved by Samuel Post Humrickhouse (also Humrichouse), who was born in Shepherdstown on March 23, 1851. This is the second item by Humrickhouse in the Museum. His 1890 plat map of Shepherdstown is in the Museum’s collection and is part of the recently-opened map exhibit.
Humrickhouse’s early years are unknown, but beginning in 1881, there are many mentions of him in The Shepherdstown Register. He was a well-known furniture maker and architect. He designed and oversaw the construction or renovation of homes, schools, churches, and businesses. In 1881, he was recognized in the paper for building the altar, pulpit, reading stand, baptismal font, and chairs for the newly-renovated Reformed Church. Other pieces of furniture that he built for the church have been moved to the New Street Methodist Church.
Among other commissions, he was the architect and contractor for the expansion of Rockland, just outside of Shepherdstown. In the early 1900s, he oversaw the renovation of both H.L. Snyder’s home and the Quigley House, both on German Street. He was the “superintendent” for the Shepherd College classroom building, which opened in 1897. Unfortunately, that building was destroyed by fire. He also designed the Shepherdstown Graded School and a school in Martinsburg. He exercised “general supervision” over the building of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church on King Street, and he designed a Methodist Church in Halltown.
Humrickhouse died at his home on German Street on August 24, 1927. The house was located on Lot 19. His wife Nellie lived there until her death in 1939. The house was then sold to U.S. Martin, the owner of the Opera House. Both Samuel and Nellie Humrickhouse are buried at Elmwood Cemetery. The last name on the gravestone is spelled Humrichouse.
The Museum is open on Saturdays and Sundays through the end of October and will reopen after Thanksgiving for Christmas in Shepherdstown.
2023 Holiday Ornament
The recently-closed Christ Reformed Church is being memorialized on the 2023 Historic Shepherdstown holiday ornament. The church’s bell tower houses the oldest bells in Shepherdstown, and several Revolutionary War soldiers and patriots are buried in its graveyard. The church building will eventually become a performance site for the Contemporary American Theater Festival. The ornament will be available for purchase in the museum beginning in July, and will be available online or through the HSC office in the fall.
Make a Difference!
Are you interested in making a difference? The Historic Shepherdstown Commission is seeking volunteers for its Board of Directors. Board members serve three-year terms, and if they choose, can serve a second consecutive three-year term. This year, because of resignations and term limits, three members of the Board need to be replaced. The Board oversees the operation of the Historic Shepherdstown Museum; maintains the Historic Entler Hotel complex; plans and publicizes the annual Speaker Series, Museum exhibits, and special events; writes grants; participates in local events; and supervises the work of the HSC administrator. We particularly need volunteers who have a background either in archiving or in social media, marketing, and communication.
If you don’t have time to be a Board member, but you are interested in volunteering, the Museum is always recruiting docents. Anyone with an interest in history or in telling the story of Shepherdstown to visitors and residents alike is welcome to volunteer.
For more information about joining the Board or volunteering in the Museum, contact Historic Shepherdstown at [email protected] or call 304-876-0910.
Upcoming events
Historic Shepherdstown will be participating in Streetfest on June 24, and in the July 4th Independence Day Parade. Stop by our Streetfest table in front of the Museum for a free poster. And remember, if it’s hot that day, the Museum is air conditioned!
The HSC Speaker Series will resume on September 6 with a talk by Dr. Ben Bankhurst of the Shepherd University history department, who will speak about Loyalism in the Lower Valley during the American Revolution. This event will also serve as the HSC Annual Membership Meeting. The final talk, Important Architectural Features of the Shepherdstown Historic District, will be held on October 18. It will be presented in partnership with the Shepherdstown Historic Landmarks Commission.
And, on September 9, the annual Fall Fundraiser will be held at the Thomas Shepherd Grist Mill. The event will be hosted by the Mill’s owners, Shannon and Adam Thomas. Invitations will be sent to HSC members later this summer.
On a personal note, my term as HSC President and as a Board member ends in September. I have enjoyed meeting many of you at various HSC events and communicating with you through our newsletter and press releases. Jerry Bock, the current vice president, will take over as president of the Board in October. Like many “retired” HSC Board members, I plan to continue to volunteer with HSC. It’s a great organization to work with. Come join us and find out for yourself!
Best,
Donna Bertazzoni
President, HSC Board of Directors