Fairview Cemetery of Gibsontown, established 150 years ago, is the largest black cemetery in Jefferson County and was recently designated a county historic landmark. Read the Full Story >>
Column: History
Battlefield Advances on Preservation
The ground around Jefferson County is littered with history. Literally. “I got a call a few weeks ago from a kayaker who was paddling along the shore in front of the cement kiln along the Potomac River downstream from Shepherdstown. Read the Full Story >>
Volunteers Preserve Shepherdstown Battlefield
River Road, east of Shepherdstown is a sleepy part of Jefferson County today. In September 1862 it was a pretty busy place, with an estimated 1,700 Union troops crossing the Potomac River from Maryland to engage 3,000 Confederate troops positioned on the south bank and cliffs above. One hundred and sixty years later, you need to look closely to see any signs of the two-day battle, other than a roadside marker. Read the Full Story >>
Building The Shepherdstown Opera House
Construction of the Shepherdstown Opera House began in December 1909 and the theater opened its doors for its first show in June of 1910. Read the Full Story >>
Remembering & Maintaining Fairview Cemetery
Cemeteries not only serve as resting places for our loved ones but also offer windows into our history. Old family graveyards are often a lasting mark of the wealthy landowners of the 19th century. Cemeteries established to bury the Civil War dead, like Elmwood, Edge Hill, and Pine Grove, remind us of the true cost of war. Church cemeteries are monuments to the congregations and community who once prayed together within their walls. Read the Full Story >>
Preserving the Past, Enriching the Future
The Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission first met on March 18, 1974. From that first meeting through today, their goals continue to focus on heritage education, historic resource development, and research, in addition to preserving the county’s invaluable historic resources. Read the Full Story >>
The Significance of a Local Community
St. Paul Baptist Church has a rich history of quarry and mill pond baptisms, bush meetings, concerts, revivals, weddings, funerals, family reunions, and other community events. Families have remained dedicated to St. Paul through generations, and it remains a place that draws people home. Read the Full Story >>
