Shepherd University - Cohongoroota Yearbook (Shepherdstown, WV)

Page 14 text:

LICE OF LIFE Copy by SCIIIIIIN Snzzitlz Design and Illustration by Tim Brown History of Shepherdstown shape the land. Beginning in the early 1700s the un- manned land between the Shenandoah and the Cohongoroota fthe bend in the Potomac River at Shepherdstownl was acquired as acreage by powerful men such as VanMetre, Shepherd, Morgan and Swearingen. By 1760 the area population was nearing 300 and on Dec. 23, 1762 the town of McKlenburg was established by an act of the Vir- ginia Assembly. It was a time of lot sales in the in- fant town. For 40 shillings, and there- after a yearly ground rent of 5 shil- lings, one could purchase a town lot with the promise to construct within two years a dwelling at least 20, x 16' with a stone or brick chimney. After overcoming severe rat infestation the previous year, in 1776 the town opened an academy of classical learning, the Presbyterian, Lutheran and Reformed churches had taken root and the youth- ful town was abandoning its wobbly first steps and venturing healthy strides toward expansion. One of the town's oldest newspapers, The Register began weekly circulation on Dec. 4, 1849 at a cost of S2 a year. The following are selected excerpts gleaned from The Register and offered s always, man began to as glimpses of Shepherdstown's past -- the people and the happenings which carried the town steadily into the pres- ent. Dec. 4, 1849 fThe establishment of The Registerl First and foremost, its a Shepherdstown paper, advocate, organ and the expo- mL , A I E

Page 13 text:

It Looks Like eaven In West irginia Copy fr. Patti C7-nt Deszgn by Mari. Lou Lvfteroio F! ? v Krsnofs' homeland of Yrindaban home- land is in India. the people can fullv depend on natures beautv and cows. and this New Yrindaban rl'lf'JLllCl be such an ideal village where the resi- dents will have simple living and high thinking. New Yrindabanis ultimate goal is selfsufficiencjr. though todajfs econorn- ics make it more practical for the resi- dents to buv what thev need rather than produce independently. Still. thev maintain a herd of 200 cows for milk only since thev are all vegetarians and grow enough vegetables to be able to sell their surplus at the local market. While the hulk of the communitvs monetary funding comes from outside sources. the inhabitants are in a posi- tion to be self sufficient ifthe economv should falter. A big plus to the communitvs mat- erial and spiritual well-being has been the construction of Srila Prabhupada? palace. lt has become the showcase for the Krsna conscious movement and a major tourist attraction. The palace was built for Srila Prabhupada. the man who was directly responsible for bringing h,7'N'7lfl consciousness to the Western World. vet who lived the humblest of lives. One of Prabhupada! devotees and a chosen disciple. Swami Bhaktipada conceived of the idea for building the palace. He explained. L'n- fortunateljf. during Prabhupada! life he never has become very prominent through the Hare Krsna movement. Of course. he planned it that wav. he was such a humble devotee. But as his dis- ciples. we should understand that for the benefit of all humanitv. Prabhupada should be as prominent as Jesus Christ. Bhaktipada believed that the palace would add a force to Prabhupadas spoken word and cause all who gazed upon its beautv to re- member Prabhupada better. The palace is an opulent structure built with gold. silver. marble. onyx. stained glass and teakxvood. The furni- ture. pillars and arches are all intri- catelv carved. There are ornate chan- deliers. and manv ofthe walls and ceii- inas are hand-painted depictions ol Krsoo in its manjv forms. The palace la a true rlLlClf-' of contrasts. It if as opu- lent and intricate in form. as the de- votees who built it are simple in their lifestvles. When asked whv these devoted Krszio followers CTIUNGJ to build sL1c'l i a magnificent building iiisteatl of using the monej: in a more charitable such a.s feeding the poor or building a hospital. Swami Bhaktipada clarified. While the palace cost Ur Siliwifili and took us six vears to build. it only cost each devotee in this communitjv Sl a week to build this palace. There are bfi manv people who spend S111 a week klllrl for cigarettes. Why don't they quit smoking and feed the poor? No one would criticize us if we spent the monej: on beer and cigarettes. But ifwe take S111 a week and spend it to create a beautiful temple for a pure devotee of the Lord-and then invite everyone to come and .see for free -then they fUl!if'- times criticize. This is called envj.'.'i Regardless ofanj: criticism that maj. arise. the palace stands matiesticalljr. as a monument to what great love and in- spiration can do. lt is a spectacle like no other. certainly none of its like can be found elsewhere in America. These devoted followers ofK11sno are sincere in their work. Thev believe in Heaven on Earthuz in fact. thev prettv rnuch li'.'e it. Thev have transcended the mundane desires. such as fame. rnonej: and glory. and seek higher :oals in life. Thev strive to perfect their psvche in order to become closer to their bod consciousness. Their -illi- stance in love and devotion. One of the devoted inhabitants ot New Yrindaban. Aravinda llasa com- ments on how West Virginia was cho- sen as the rnovements site for a Heaven on lfarthng We did not choose West Virginia. it is Kl'.s'I2fllN plan that we are here. One cant help but think that there must be something right about this l.ord Krsna. After all. of all the places in the world to choose. he chose West Virginia. Almost heaven. indeedf 9

Page 15 text:

nent of all the interests of this commu- nity .... It will study to observe the interests of the Farmer, the Merchant, the Mechanic, the Trader and Profes- sional mang to deserve the liberal pa- tronage of the rich, and, should occa- sion demand, to protect and defend the rights and welfare of the poor .... Dec. 18, 1849 - Negroes for Hire - I have two boys and a girl whom I wish to put out for the ensuing year. The boys are 16 and 12 years old respec- tively, and the girl is 14, Alex R. Boteler. March 26, 1850 - t1850 was a year of securing routes to far awayl The Shepherdstown Bridge is getting finely along. By the middle of the week the span of the Eastern section will be finished, frame work and all .... Mr. Blackford gives up his ferry finally on Monday next into the hands of the Bridge Company. June 18, 1850 - A new era in the history of the Canal! On Monday next or sooner it is understood the water will be let into the Canal for the distance of 7 or 8 miles - the length of the first level, commencing at this place .... June 25, 1850 - The Bridge - We are happy to be able to state that this work is now passable for footmen, and in a few weeks will be ready for travel, and cattle. 5, 1 ct. 8, 1859 - According to previous announcement, the f 1' Corner Stone, to the Town 1 Hall, now in progress of A I 1 A ,erection in this place, by Rezin D. Shepherd, Esq. was laid on Thurs- day last, 6th of October . . . a building, which, when finished, will be a lasting ornament to our town and an honor to him by whose liberality it was built. The printing of The Register halted during the Civil War. Feb. 21, 1880 - C1880 saw the open- ing of further communicationb Tele- graphic Communication at Shepherdstown - The work of putting up the wires was finished on Saturday evening last, the 14th . . . We there- fore congratulate our fellow citizens b' 1 d ' d f the with the rest of mankind, inasmuch as to be without them in these latter days of progress and improvement is like being headed up in a barrel and taking peeps at the outside world through the bunghole! uly 10, 1880 - Another, and one of the greatest enterprises ever undertaken in this sec- tion of the county was com- pleted on Wednesday last at this place, in the successful completion of the great railroad bridge, for the use of the S.V.R.R. over the Potomac in its extension northward .... we are by the completion ofthis bridge, connected by many ties and strong cords, with the North, and that it will be the means of bringing capital to our valley . . . Let it come, we are ready and willing to receive it. Oct. 1, 1895 - A distinguished fish- ing party composed of President Cleve- land, Secretary of Agriculture Morton, Commissioner of Internal Revenue Joseph Miller and Mr. Alvey, a B8zO Railroad official passed, in carriages, through town about 8 o'clock this morning on their way to the river for a day's sport. The Register on behalf of the good people of Shepherdstown ex- tends a hearty welcome to the greatest and best man who has occupied the presidential chair since Washington vacated it . . . hoping that they may not only carry home with them plenty of fine bass but also pleasant memories of their visit to our quiet town. arch 30, 1911 - fTwo Shepherdstown ladies recall Civil War incidents? There had been a tremendous down- pour of rain, and the Confed- who were in camp south of town, thought that there would be no trouble from the enemy, who were on the Maryland side of the river. A number of I them came to town to see erates, friends and the home folks. and were enjoying themselves first rate when simultaneously the sun came out and the village filled with Yankees who had quietly crossed the river. The Union soldiers were in force, and soon there was a lively running fight along the Kearneysville pike. There were a number of casualties . . . March 18, 1936 - tShepherdstown experiences the Potomac's greatest flood as the river swelled 40 feet above its normal levell One of the heaviest losses Shepherdstown has had in many years came on Wednesday when the bridge of the Virginia and Maryland Bridge Company across the Potomac River at Shepherdstown was entirely carried away by the record-breaking flood that swept down out of the head- waters ofthe river .... A great many folks were marooned on the wrong side ofthe river .... Furniture and house furnishings and all sorts ofthings rode the crest of the flood .... whole sides and floors and roofs of small buildings were numerous, and a number of intact sanitary privies, erected by WPA, went down on the flood. n 1974, Shepherdstown was named the Community of the Year by the Farmers Home Administration of West Virginia. And though the town may never again need to charter laws concerning the grazing of swine and cattle within the town limits or regulating the use of firearms lwhich, in the 1800s was per- mitted only during emergencies or paradesvl, it can be said with certainty that Shepherdstown will take stock in its solid beginnings as it continues to expand in the years that lie before X ,s,..J-- upon eing no onger eprive o modern facilities for communication