Remembering Hartstown

This SIGHTLINE series explores the history of Hartstown, a pioneering Black community in Jefferson County.

The first installment of this series was published in the August 2020 edition of The Observer. This page will continue to be updated with new installments and additional resources.

Honoring and Remembering a Community

Appalachia is often viewed through a narrow lens. The stories of Black communities throughout the region are often left untold or simply overlooked. Acknowledging these communities and preserving their stories helps us to truly understand the broad patterns of the cultural landscape in which we live today.

Part I: Building and Remembering Hartstown

For the first article in this series (published in the August 2020 issue), The Observer tells the story of Hartstown, it’s churches, and the large part that key community leaders played in building both.

Part II: Uncovering the History and Reconnecting the Community

The second article of this series (published in the September 2020 issue) explores the history of the Kearneysville Methodist Cemetery through conversations with the descendants of Hartstown’s founders and leaders.