Preserving the Stories and Industrial Legacy of Harpers Ferry

Harpers Ferry is a gorgeous village at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. Just up the road at the top of the ridge is the Harpers Ferry Historic District, home to varied buildings and stories with origins in the 1700s. One particularly interesting place is Amory Dwelling House #24 (ADH24). Built between 1810-1838, this property is one of the few remaining fully intact examples of dwelling houses from that era. We’re proud to say that we’ve received funding from the US Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), Historic Preservation Fund, and Save America’s Treasures Grant to not only preserve the building but also explore its history further.

Through the activities of the nonprofit People Tree Ministerial Services, we’ll match the grant funding that is offered for privately-owned properties. The combined investment in research and preservation will open up opportunities for historical research and archaeological work to uncover the building’s history and its connections to the Underground Railroad. Initial preservation activities were supported by the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office.

Exploring the Industrial History of Harpers Ferry

Harpers Ferry was a prominent industrial center and manufacturing hub in the 1850s, just prior to the expansion of railroads. The town’s intricate water canals powered water turbines in manufacturing mills along the Shenandoah River. At the time, these were at the pinnacle of water-powered manufacturing technology before the steam engine and railroad changed the face of industry. Some of the first manufacturing assembly lines in the world were built along the Shenandoah River. One of the first steam engines was invented by in neighboring Shepherdstown, the Rumsey steamboat.

Given the town’s significance, it’s natural that it became an important location for the early Civil and Human Rights movements. Today, landmarks such as John Brown’s Fort and Storer College are popular pilgrimage sites for those looking to remember the struggles of the civil rights movement.

The stories of those buildings and the events that took place in them are important, but we believe there are more under-told and even untold stories from that era. These stories reflect the struggles of brave and hardworking individuals who deserve to be remembered.

From the life of Officer Young to the growth of what was once called Shenandoah Falls, the town that earned the colloquial name of Harpers Ferry in the mid-late 1700s, in reference to ferryman Robert Harper, who took travelers across the Potomac River from 1761-1782.

Categorised in: Harpers Ferry

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