charles town history

The west wing gambrel roof stone wing was added in the late 1700’s and connects the original building to the addition. (Major John Nelson Black (1787-1847), circa 1816, by unknown artist, probably Joshua Johnson, courtesy of Edgar McMullen, Charlestown, Maryland. Burnside, who left a journal describing his many courting adventures in Charles Town, was a storekeeper in town. Charles Town, city, seat (1801) of Jefferson county, in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, U.S. There they founded Charles Town, named for Charles II of England. After the death of Mr. Barnes, his son, Dick Barnes took over the operation of the family business. Wellwood Club (CE-394): Located on Water Street and built in the mid-19th Century to house seasonal wildfowl hunters, the “Wellwood Club” was an ideal location for duck hunting on Chesapeake Bay’s Susquehanna Flats. Mr. Barnes also built the icehouse in about 1880. Charles Town is an inclusive community renowned for its historic character, vibrant downtown center, sustainable commercial core, and outstanding livability. In 1850, the United States Federal Census tells us 15,357 people populated Jefferson County. There are several Victorian buildings, but many structures that appear to be of late 19th or 20th Century origin are of a much earlier period, their true identities obscured by alterations applied over the decades. Charlestown’s most prominent history occurred during the colonial period and to just after the Revolutionary War (1742–1790). Prior to this date, it was identified as New Crawford Town. He owned and operated a general store in Charlestown from 1913 until his death in 1934. A shed was later attached for fish net storage. In the background getting ready to spread the nets are Pauline Barnes, Ike Heisler and Will Heverin. Featured in a November 4, 1970 article in the Cecil Whig, the property was described by reporter Dot Clark, the women's page editor: "Inside the Indian Queen is only 30 feet square with a massive chimney rising through the center. The building was constructed in the mid 1700s and was restored in 1966 through the Maryland Historical Trust. Perkins.) 1740- Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly of Maryland, 1966- Drawing Sewer Profile Sheet – Sanitary Sewer System, 1984- Charlestown Dredging Site No. John’s Methodist Episcopal Church” was constructed in 1856. Many Charlestown properties belonging to the Black family were sold by the estate in 1966, including the Indian Queen. Thus did Charlestown escape the more devastating aspects of “progress.” Its heritage is preserved in the Historic District, which includes approximately 150 buildings. That area in 1797 became known as Brooke County, with that "Charlestown" as its county seat until a December 27, 1816 act of the Virginia General Assembly changed its name to Wellsburg, to honor a trader and his son. In the late 1800s the home became the residence of Richard K. Barnes (1865-1934) and his wife, Ann Cooling (1867-1920). Following the war, Ramsay had a distinguished public service career including a term as Maryland Congressional representative (1786-1788), United States Marshal for Maryland and as an Officer of the Port of Baltimore. At the time of Charles’ death in September 1799, Charlestown was still located in Berkeley County. Below, article as it appeared in the Historical and Industrial Edition to the Cecil Whig, July 26, 1919.). The ship’s officers and men were marched through the streets of the Town. The building has a gable roof and five bays. A two-room school house was erected in 1878 and housed grades one through six until June 14, 1961, when the Board of Education deeded the property to the Town. Paca House (CE-111; circa 1750): John Paca, the brother of Governor William Paca a signer of the Declaration of Independence, lived in Charlestown during the mid-1700’s. This property is located just off the Old Post Road on Caroline Street, behind the Cecil Hotel. Charlestown is the oldest Town in Cecil County and the third oldest town in the State of Maryland. His second son, William Paca, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the first governor of Maryland. He is the earliest African American painter in the United States, active from about 1796-1824. Paca served in many public offices and was a delegate to the lower house of the Maryland General Assembly. This house has been owned for over 100 years by the Murphy family. Having a busy port in its early years, Charles Town's major imports included raw sugar and rum from the West Indies. Warehouse Site (CE-390); Customs House Site (CE-391); Charlestown Wharf Site (CE-392); and Charlestown Wharf (CE-1297): In 1742, when the colonial Maryland Assembly enacted a law to build Charles Town at Long Point on the Northeast River, it also enacted a law to build a wharf for shipping and commerce. Both the Perry K. Barnes house and the icehouse remain today in essentially the same condition as when they were constructed. In 1770, the house was described as a frame dwelling 20 feet by 30 feet. The structure now houses the Post Office and the Town Hall. In 1753, Paca and his wife, Margaret, sold the property to Edward Mitchell, a commissioner of Charles Town. Old maps of Charles Town on Old Maps Online. Modern additions were made in 2000. (Harry H. Barnes, at home circa 1917, and right, with Snake Heverin, circa 1945, courtesy of J. Cranford Henry, Charlestown, Maryland.). Harry H. Barnes, 1917, Charlestown, Maryland. The Red Lyon is one of several structures in the Town that billeted the Royal American Regiment during the winter of 1756-1757, the beginning of the French and Indian War. It was about this time that Owens also began a storekeeping business here with a relative, John Hasson. The house is located on a low bluff that overlooks the Northeast River. Most are the historic inns and amenities that served the populace during the busy colonial period. Shown here from left to right are Marcel Cathers, George Cooper, Harry H. Barnes, and John Cooper, circa 1925. He expanded the business to include the restaurant and bar on the right side of the building. The wharf serves as a practical reminder of the part that Charlestown and the North East River played in the commercial history of Maryland. . But residents beg to differ with the movie’s portrayal of the area. Proudly Supported by: Amore Law, LLC, The City of Charles Town (Above, back porch and log kitchen at the Indian Queen as it appeared in 1970. All Rights Reserved. The town is known for its Maroon history and culture, its Safu Yard, the Charles Town Drummers and Dancers, the Maroon Museum, as well as its tour of the area educating visitors on the history … At the time, Owens owned the Linton House, the Indian Queen, and the Red Lyon, each property devoted to innkeeping. Varied and wide shiplap siding with beaded edges covers the façades of the buildings. (Pictured above is the Still House, circa 1910, also known as the residence of John Hutton. In an Annapolis newspaper, the Maryland Gazette, on March 8, 1753, Peacock Bigger advertised that he had "erected a Distillery at Charles Town where he makes rum." On January 1, 1856, he married Elizabeth C. Ewing (born May 23, 1834, died July 14, 1916). Charlestown today is a small, water-oriented municipality with a population of about 1,500 people, four marinas, a general store, two restaurants, an elementary school and a Post Office. The first involved a blockading, British warship in the Charlestown Harbor that was captured and burned. According to his journal, which was written in 1836 and 1837, young Thomas was quite the eligible bachelor. Photograph courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. J. Cranford Henry, Charlestown, Maryland. Charles Hard Townes was born into a prosperous family on July 28, 1915 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA. The structure was frame with clapboard siding and 9/9 windows. The settlement emerged around 1754. The building is a two-story, frame structure with an interior floor plan consisting of four rooms. The Indian Queen Tavern (CE-127; circa 1740): One of the founders of Charlestown, Zebulon Hollingsworth, was an inn-keeper who constructed the “Indian Queen,” the most significant historic resource in Charlestown. Water Tower (CE-1306): The historic “Charlestown Water Tower” is located behind the 107 House, the Charlestown Museum, located on Market Street. Charles Washington and his family moved to Happy Retreat in 1780 and set aside 80 acres to form Charles Town, officially founded in 1786. This church is distinguished by its geometric patterned stained glass windows. Left to right Nancy Black, June Guiberson (both girls on roller skates); Otas Murphay; unknown; Richard K. Barnes; Harry Clayton; Will Heverin; and Dick Barnes. When a severe hurricane in 1786 opened up the Locust Point Channel to Baltimore and made Havre de Grace an accessible, deep-water port, Charlestown’s prosperity began to falter. They were given a grant by Sir Robert Gorges, with whom they had settled at Wessagusset (Weymouth) in September 1623 and arrived at what they called Mishawaum in 1624. Lackey-Murphy House (CE-1301): Located on Baltimore Street, this structure was originally constructed in 1750. The Indian Queen has a gable roof and beaded shiplap siding. The three subdivided lots of Lot 82, including this property, were sold to Jonas Owens in 1804. This unique Charles Town property is the site of a tavern that was owned and operated by Mary Palmer, who had been widowed by the Revolutionary War. In addition, the Town is surrounded by significant archeological resources that predate colonial settlements and an abundance of sensitive natural resources. The Village Blacksmith Shop, formerly located on the northeast corner of the Market Square. He was a Maryland planter who lived near Abingdon in what was then Baltimore County. First married to John Hasson of Charlestown, who died in 1808, the couple had two children, John and James Hasson. The "Cecil Hotel" or "Cecil House," as it may be called, was built in about 1810. Although referred to by most in town as the "McKown House," some call the home the "Jackson House," as Mrs. McKown's daughter, Millicent, married Craig Jackson of Principio and lived at the home until his death. However, Charlestown’s early history is also significant. They are working at the Barnes decoy house in 1950, the same year that Mr. Barnes acquired this Sneak Boat License for the Susquehanna Flats.. Photographs courtesy of J. Cranford Henry, Charlestown, Maryland. Town Commissioner Zebulon Hollingsworth, who originally drew the ballot for Lot 82 and subdivided the property, is referred to as "Innkeeper" on the original deed. A fireplace with a 5-foot wide opening is located in the cellar. The settlers fortified their town and raised crops. If you don’t know its stories, just walk the historic downtown. Like the people it has served for generations, its history has highs and lows, positive and negative events. It was a stone and frame structure, approximately 80 feet long and three stories high. Shelton House (CE-1303): This house was constructed in 1872. In 1758, Rev. It is a three story house with a slate, mansard roof in the Empire style. Deed research notes that a dwelling was built on Lot 107 of the Town’s original 1742 plat. ), (Perry K. Barnes House, Charlestown, Maryland), (Barnes Ice House, Charlestown, Maryland). Northerman House (CE-380): Located at 225 Market Street, it is a two story, three bay, by two bay, frame dwelling with a gable roofed main section built by Jacob Northerman for a Philadelphia cooper. The harbour village of Charlestown was a Georgian 'new town', a port development planned by local landowner Charles Rashleigh (after whom it was named) and built between 1790 and 1810 for the export of copper and china clay. The structure was supposedly built in 1762 but has been altered. John Paca was born in Maryland in 1712. Charles Town is an ideal place to slip into the past. Mr. Henry is the grandson of Isabella Ewing Black. (Circa 1905 Photographs courtesy of J. Cranford Henry, Charlestown, Maryland. Two incidents in Charlestown are recorded from the Revolutionary War. Report Station. The Barnes icehouse, shown in these turn-of-the-century photographs, was made of 18-inch eastern white pine planks, and the inner walls contained18 inches of tick cork used for insulation. He married Hannah L. Chapman on September 29, 1881. ), (Lot # 82 , "Red Lyon Tavern"/ "Black's Store"). A frame “Charlestown Customs House” stood in the center of site. Charles Town is featured on the Washington Heritage National Trail Scenic Byway. Below, Ella Verna Gibson, who lived in the home, on her way to the train station at Charlestown to North East, where she taught school, circa 1920.). The settlement, originally called Charles Towne (for Charles II), was established by English colonists in 1670 on the west bank of the Ashley, thus beginning the colonization of South Carolina. According to the records of the Maryland Historical Trust, the “Hamilton House” was relocated from Lot 74 to Pennsylvania in the last quarter of the 20th Century. Many of this historic community's streets are named for Washington family members including Mildred and Samuel. It is therefore quite possible that Rev. It was a hotel from its earliest days well into the late 1800s, later being called the "Valentine B. Algard Hotel." It was originally constructed as a water tower for the McKeown House and was later moved to the Charlestown Museum. there being as yet no [town] settled at or near the head of the Chesapeake Bay . Charleston Tea Party - November 3, 1774– Original newspaper article 3. It is located at Water Street near the Charlestown’s Veteran’s Park. ), (The photograph above was taken by Cran Henry in 1950 on the pier in front of the Barnes' Ice House in Charlestow, and pictured left to right are Burnsie Lawson, Harry H. Barnes, George Cooper and Arthur Paulson, with a load of shad. See Article History. The portrait was painted in the Indian Queen Hotel.). Mary Palmer Tavern (CE-398; circa 1790): This house was constructed during the late 18th Century and was one of the Town’s many taverns. The original clapboard is located beneath a layer of asphalt shingles and an outermost layer of aluminum siding. 107 House (CE-386; circa 1750): This structure, now the Charlestown Museum, is located at 343 Market Street. Ms. Sherwood died in 1927 and is buried at St. John's Methodist Church in Charlestown.). John Nelson Black Jr. died January 27, 1906. Richard Kirby Barnes was born at Carpenter's Point on December 3, 1865. Woods Mattingley, Jr., San Jose, California.) Perry K. Barnes (1849-1919) also owned and operated the icehouse in town, located on a protective cove on the waterfront near the Wellwood Club. It is located on Water Street and was built by George Shelton. Frame Ice House (CE-1299): This ice house was built in 1890 by Perry K. Barnes. With the availability of raw sugar and rum in Charles Town, it is easy to understand how there were as many as ten taverns operating at one time in the town. A modern brick garage was added to the house on the west wing. In the rear of the structure was a log kitchen and chimney. Ice House (CE-1304): The “Icehouse” is a small stone structure located on Conestoga Street, near the colonial wharf. Left to right are Walter Heath, Bruce Buhrman and Ronnie Daniels. His home, Happy Retreat, still stands, and the City is exploring options for purchasing the property for use as a community museum and park. It is a two-story frame Federal structure sitting on a high stone foundation. These blocks would be stored in the icehouse and later placed on the nearby trains for shipment to Baltimore and Philadelphia. Mr. Barnes built this home as his "town house" in about 1880, as he and his half-brothers, George W. Barnes (1862-1915), Robert Lee Barnes (1864-1936), Richard K. Barnes (1865-1934), and Harry R. Barnes (1870-1926), operated a commercial fishery at Carpenter's Point. This is historically significant as there are no other known drawings or pictures of the warehouse, only written descriptions found in the town's historic documents. Charles Town is a Maroon Community located approximately 20 minutes drive south of Buff Bay. Hamilton purchased Lot 74 in 1751 from John Kanky, the deed states that there was already a house standing on Lot 73. Note: Joshua Johnson was born in about 1763, the son of a slave mother and Caucasian father, George Johnson. Both men were signers of the Declaration of Independence. Klondike/McKeown House (CE-109; circa 1900): This house is one of the few ornate Victorian structures located in Charlestown. ", (Pictured right is Annie Sherwood, the former cook, behind the kitchen at the Indian Queen, circa 1910. Chapter 3: Historic Charles Town Properties Lot 1, "The Still House," also known as "The Locust" This home was originally built in about 1760, and is situated on Lot 1 of the original town plat. Charles had two brothers and three sisters, and the family lived on a 20-acre farm. In the late 19th Century, the McKeown brothers left Charlestown, making their fortunes in the western part of the United States from gambling in Nevada. The dwelling exhibits ornamental Victorian architecture. It sits on a high stone foundation sheathed in brick (a traditional English cellar) and still retains its original windows, front door, and semicircle arched fanlight. (Home of John Black Graham, Charlestown, Maryland, circa 1880, courtesy of B. The schoolroom blackboard – with initials and dates carved thereon – is proudly displayed in the Town Hall section. In 1776, he was commissioned as a Captain of the 5th Company of the Maryland 1st Regiment. Pictured below, Robert Boone Gibson and Hannah Gibson, circa 1890. Porter was convicted of manslaughter but served no prison sentence, although he was incarcerated in the town's stone jail for a brief period shortly after the offense. Charlestown’s inns and taverns became known for their variety of cherry rum and brandy drinks. Maryland Historical Trust records indicate that the warehouse was used for the storage of goods shipped from the Charlestown Harbor. His home was located just to the southeast of the store, where he and his wife, Ann Cooling, lived. African American History: Early records from the first English colony in South Carolina tell us that Africans were among the first settlers at Charles Towne. Charlestown evolved as a major port and taxation center for the British colony as well as a point along the “Old Post Road” that connected the Town with larger urban areas such as Baltimore and Philadelphia. Down in the cellar, the large stone foundation of the chimney is ten feet square. This dwelling is thought to have been built in the late 18th Century, which may be evidenced by the large fireplace and cooking crane in the basement. Website: Small Details, LLC It was constructed in 1901 by Scott Jackson, a skilled local craftsman who executed all the wood trim in chestnut. Over the course of time, harmed by the long-term effects of the Revolutionary War, by the realignment of the Old Post Road and better roads which lessened traders’ dependence on water transportation along with the establishment of Elkton as the new Cecil County Seat in the 1780’s, Charlestown slipped into gentle obscurity. The two-story construction has each floor divided into four rooms. .” The Assembly directed that “a place called Long Point on the west side of North East River in Cecil County” be the location of the new town and that it be named Charles Town. Not only did the Barnes family find the North East River a source of fair income when the river froze, it also provided Harry H. Barnes with an opportunity to challenge his neighbors to a daring race. Nancy Meek Hasson Black was born in Port Deposit, Maryland, on April 22, 1778. It was built by the Orphan Starfish Foundation and has added to the rich history of the location. The building is a duplex; to the left was Porter's Tavern and to the right, Black's Store. Charlestown experienced a gradual decline from 1780 through 1820, which was caused by decreased trade and shipping with the British Empire. Ramsay headed a group called the Council of Safety. The Wharf is a significant site related to Maryland’s colonial history and early commerce. Founded in the late 18th century, historic Charles Town, West Virginia, offers something for every traveler. 1 Plans & Sections, 1991- Plans-Erosion & Sediment Control Details, 1991- Plans-Erosion & Sediment Control Plan, 1998- Fire Boat Pier and Entrance Channel Dredging, 1936- Sale of Blacksmith Shop to Charlestown, 1994- Critical Area-Worksheet 10 Rule Compliance, 2001- Map Charlestown Panchromatic Digital Orthophotos, 1742- Map of the Corporation of Charlestown, 1836- Map of the Corporation of Charlestown, 1920- Holloway Beach-Charlestown Beach Estates April 1919, 1922- Holloway Beach – Edna M. Black Subdivision, 1924- Holloway Beach – Charlestown Beach Estates, 1953- Holloway Beach Improvement Association Map, 1966- Plat of Proposed Site for Sewage Treatment Plant, 1979- Map Boundary and Annexation Survey of the Northeasternmost Boundry Line, 2008- Charlestown Manor In-Town & Out-of-Town Maps, 2011- Boundary and Annexation Survey Census Map. Cecil County Decoys / https://cecilcountydecoys.com /  Copyright 2021Gerard "Rod" Wittstadt, Jr, Esquirehttps://lawofficeofgerardwittstadt.com/, Chapter 1: 1742: The Founding of Charles Town, Chapter 2: Charles Town and the American Revolution, Chapter 3: Historic Charles Town Properties, Chapter 4: Miscellaneous Properties and Unique Places, Chapter 16: The Issue of Col. Nathan Ramsey. Charlestown Town Hall and Post Office (CE-388): Located on Market Street and constructed in 1878, the building served as an elementary school site until June 14, 1961. The building has a pitched gable roof, 2/2 windows, and narrow chimneys. Cecil House Inn/Gamble House (CE-397): Located at Caroline and Bladen Streets, the “Cecil House Inn” is believed to be the site of an older structure once located along the Old Post Road. The house’s construction is thought to be influenced by high Victorian architecture from San Francisco. "Charlestown" was established by an act of the Virginia General Assembly in January 1787. It is entirely constructed of eastern white pine planks and shiplap siding. Some of Charlestown’s colonial historic sites and structures were once inns, taverns, and shops. John Nelson Black Jr. was born at the family home in Charles Town on January 27, 1818, the second son of Major John Nelson Black and Nancy Meek Hasson Black. Thomas Walford, acting as an interpreter with the Massachusetts Indians, negotiated wit… Without doubt the grandest house in Charlestown, this home was built in about 1900. During this time (1782 – 1787) Charlestown was also the county seat for Cecil County. . As a member of the Barnes family and the son of Perry K. Barnes, Harry had an unlimited supply of decoys made by his uncle, Wash Barnes. Notice that she is smoking her corncob pipe. Top Charles Town Landmarks: See reviews and photos of sights to see in Charles Town, West Virginia on Tripadvisor. It is a three-story, three-bay frame house with a side hall, sitting on a stone foundation. . This photograph courtesy of J. Cranford Henry, Charlestown, Maryland. Ramsay was personally charged by General George Washington to hold the British attack so Washington could save the Colonial Army through a necessary retreat. The chimney was constructed on a diagonal to the house, so that each room has a fireplace in its innermost corner. They prospered so well that the brothers had this home built for their mother. “We got 10 computers and a printer as well, and the compound has Wi-Fi, which the kids access for free. The Black children were Josephine L. Black (born November 14, 1857, married Harry M. Cantwell, M.D., on April 19, 1881); Walter Ewing Black (born April 2, 1860, married Clara Walker on December 25, 1916); Isabella Ewing Black (born April 21, 1862, married Perry K. Barnes on December 21, 1882); Nelson Montgomery Black (born November 3, 1864, married Myrtle E. Richardson on May 11, 1892); Emma Margaretta Black (born January 3, 1867, died February 12, 1890); Pinckney P. Black (born April 19, 1869, died February 20, 1902); Bayard Gayley Black (born August 27, 1874, married Nellie Clark on August 4, 1909); Ressie E. Black (married Harry R. Barnes on August 17, 1899); and Edna Maude Black (born September 19, 1876, married Franklin Caulk on March 27, 1935). There is a brick belt course and molded water table on the front façade. There is no evidence that he ever lived there, although he certainly visited the town to survey his investment. Charles Towne on the Cape Fear River was the first overseas effort to colonize the Carolinas after the 1663 Carolina grant from Charles II to the eight Lords Proprietors.As early as 1662, William Hilton had explored the Cape Fear River (briefly called the Charles River) for the Adventurers about Cape Fayre, a group of Puritans from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. It is a rambling frame structure built in 1760 and was one of Maryland’s early rum distilleries. We will review the data in question. The Town’s most prominent resident, Nathaniel Ramsey, was a lawyer and 1767 graduate of Princeton University. Portions of the area form the present-day Charlestown fishing pier. Town History - Cape Charles The Eastern Shore of Virginia, one of the earliest colonized areas in North America, remained a seafood and agricultural region with scattered small towns until the 1880s. The original portions of this home were built in 1750 by John Paca (1712-1777). St. John’s Methodist Episcopal Church (CE-379; circa 1856): Located at Market and Bladen Streets, the “St. Moved to its present site in 1680, it became the commercial centre of trade in rice and indigo. Legend has it that when she had finished her kitchen chores, she would sun herself on a bench in the doorway, smoking a corncob pipe. There was a one room addition constructed in 1830. He was a hunter and duck decoy maker, who printed his own money to be used at his store in town. (Photograph above, 1936 Historical American Buildings Survey). Double parlors have two massive corner fireplaces, which are back-to-back. It is thought that the Still House was the first such distillery in America. Major Black was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, on February 16, 1787, the son of John and Rebecca Black. Open to the public, the library provides a full range of library services that includes book borrowing privileges, a reading room, reference services, internet access, a local history room, audio-visual materials, specialized programs for children and adults. The city lies 16 miles (26 km) southeast of Martinsburg. William Sayle was their leader and first governor from 1670 to 1671. (Richard K. Barnes at Carpenter's Point, circa 1905, courtesy of Edgar McMullen, Charlestown.). The interior of the house maintains dark wood paneling which extends up two 15’ walls. The building is a handsome brick structure of Flemish bond with a gable roof and five bays. The “Paca House” was sold in 1753 to Edward Mitchell, a Charlestown Commissioner.

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