Shepherd University - Cohongoroota Yearbook (Shepherdstown, WV)

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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

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- Design and Illustration by Tim Brown 4 The saloon was kicking. The piano belted out hip tunes of the times, the hustle and bustle noise of crowd. Outside, onlookers through the windows with pride admiration. Gambling and drink- were at a high point and this place the center attraction for both. This was the Entler Hotel in its hey- between 1786 and 1861. Located the corner of Princess and German in Shepherdstown, W.Va. la place for traders going from to as far south as Tennessee the Chesa eake Bayl- the Entler was P attraction to people passing town. It had everything to at- people to it. The architecture rep- resented that of the federal period: two storied brick construction, Flemish bond, hand-hewn ornamental wooden keystones atop windows and door- ways, small window panes and a well-lit, fan-lighted front door. It housed a lobby and di- ning room with a large door with sidelights, transoms and an over-head cover supported by pilasters. This architectural style was' inviting and at- tracted customers from all over. Other attractions in- i cluded the hotel's 32 large I plush rooms and a saloon that entertained guests and towns people nightly. It also had the privilege of boasting the best beef in tovxm. What happened to the Entler Hotel after 1861 is somewhat of a mystery. It remained a hotel until 1921, but it was never quite the same after 1861. Part of the problem was that it went through some changes in oum- ership from 1865 thru 1908. In 1865, before Daniel Entler's death, his son, I.P.A. Entler, became the proprieter. It remained like this until 1889 when the hotel was leased to W.N. Trussell. In 1906, L.W. Thompson and T.A. Carter, in partnership, applied for and were granted a saloon license under their management. In 1908, En- tler and Rust, in partnership, were is- sued a hotel license for the Entler Hotel. Finally in 1912, the property was sold to E.H. Reinhart and M.B. Baker. Also in 1912, tire destroyed the first building of the hotel. Alter the tire, the hotel really went downhill but still had some hey-days such as large din- ner parties. In 1921, the Entler was sold to Shepherd College and made into the school's first male dormitory facility. Shepherd paid a sum of S10,500 for the building. As a dormitory, its name changed from the Entler Hotel to Rum- sey Hall. It remained a dormitory until 1953 when it was turned into an apartment complex for the faculty and staff of the college. In 1968, it was turned into a storage warehouse, which it remained until 1971. In 1971, Shepherd College wanted to raze the building and turn it into a parking lot, but the town met and petitioned against this happening. In 1973, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The struggle between the town and the school over the Entler continued until 1978 when the West Virginia State Legislature passed an ordinance which said that the college would sell the property to the town for S1 as long as it was used on a non-profit basis. After this, the town prepared for the restora- tion of the hotel and in 1979, it was begun. The restoration was started by the Historic Shepherdstown Commission Inc. and its main goal is to have a com- plete and substantial restoration of the building by 1986 lthe 200th anniver- sary of the buildingj. The restoration includes two parts: 1. A renewal of the brick exterior and the early nineteenth century woodwork to their original state to serve as a valuable architectural statement. 2. A restoration of the Entler to its former position as the center of the town's social life. Careful attention is being given to historical accuracy of the restoration where it is feasable. The restoration project is being done under the guide- lines of the United States Department of the Interior for Rehabilitating His- toric Buildings. So far, two rooms have been restored for commlmity use. One is primarily for Senior Citizens fthe old dining rooml and the other is for gen- eral meetings and exhibitions fthe old saloonl. Still to be restored are the porches that run along the back of the building, 13