Historic Shepherdstown Newsletter – April 2024

Historic Shepherdstown Commission & Museum
Spring Bulletin – April 2024

Our 2024 membership drive is ongoing – Join or renew today! Thank you to those who have already signed up this year. For additional information or questions regarding any of the following activities, or if you would like to volunteer and/or serve on a Committee, please contact us at 304.876.0910 or email to [email protected].

Activities at the Museum
Spring Opening Reception Friday, April 19, 5-7 pm – Members only
Historic Museum opens Saturday, April 20 – beginning our fifth decade!
We have a wonderful new Volunteer Manual, with extensive information about the displays in the Museum, as well as guidance for docents and other volunteers (created and published through a grant from Volunteer West Virginia)
This season again features our wonderful Historic Maps of Jefferson County display
Newly acquired objects include the Samuel Humrickhouse baptismal font from the Christ Reformed Church of Christ, the sword carried by Col. John Francis Hamtramck in the Mexican-American War, and an 1830s German-made doll given to Virginia Helen Blackford when she was a child.
In addition to regular weekend hours, we continue to offer requested tours of the Museum, including planned tours this spring for 3rd graders from Shepherdstown Elementary School and 8th graders from Shepherdstown Middle School.
The 2025 Season will feature an exciting major exhibit (already in planning) of Sheetz rifles, presented in partnership with the Kentucky Rifle Foundation. The Sheetz rifle exhibit will be a part of Shepherdstown’s celebration for the 150th anniversary of the Beeline March.

Speaker Series & Additional Events
2024 HSC Speaker Series:
Coming this spring:
April 17 – Addison Reese, Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commissioner, will present “Black Burial Grounds of Jefferson County: Restoring Lost History through Cemetery Preservation”
May 15 – Dr. Carole Nash, James Madison University, archaeologist, principal investigator Shenandoah National Park will present “Where the Rivers Join: Native American Cultures of the Potomac and Shenandoah Valleys”
September 4 – Tiffany Ahalt, National Road Heritage Foundation, will give a presentation on the National Road
October 16 – Keith Alexander and Tom Mayes, both members of the Shepherdstown Historic Landmarks Commission, will discuss the architectural features of the Shepherdstown Historic District, 1850 to present

Recently co-sponsored an April 5 talk by author Tom McGrath, “Bay State Blood and Valor: Massachusetts at the Battle of Shepherdstown.” The presentation was organized by the Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association. Historic Shepherdstown assisted in the creation of a new brochure for touring the battlefield.
Co-sponsoring an April 18 talk by Dr. Keith Alexander, “Town Run’s Story.” This presentation about the crucial freshwater stream flowing through Shepherdstown has been organized by a new non-profit, the Town Run Watershed group.
Visit HSC’s booth at the Earth Day Celebration at Morgan’s Grove Park April 27, 12-6 pm

Entler Building
Working with the Shenandoah Garden Club to refurbish the Entler garden
Replacing ultraviolet protective covering on Museum windows (expensive!)
Currently upgrading the building complex electrical systems
Currently upgrading the building complex Wi-Fi
Tenant offices remain fully occupied with a waiting list
Historic Shepherdstown members work hard, contributing many volunteer hours to preserve and maintain this vitally important historic property on German Street