It was a cool day in late october in martinsburg, west virginia. Throughout berkeley county, west virginia, many farms open their gates to locals and visitors alike to see daily life of working farm. Book your west virginia vacation today with choice hotels. The baltimore and ohio railroad reached martinsburg on may 21, 1842. Roundhouse in martinsburg wv main street martinsburg. Whether studying for the golden horseshoe exam, researching your family lineage, or looking for information on the history of west virginia, the archives and history website is the premier online resource. Roundhouses and shops railroad strike of 1877 historical marker. The for the kids, by george childrens museum is a handson experience designed to put children in touch with their heritage. After november 1863, berkeley county became a part of the new state of west virginia that supported the north.
Baltimore and ohio railroad martinsburg shops martinsburg. For the kids by george, childrens museum martinsburg, wv. Book your trip amtrak blog gas newsletter amtrak history amtrak media center. Proximity to rail service to play a bigger role in industrial site selection. While west virginias rail mileage once topped out at nearly 4,000 today just over 2,200 is currently active. The great railroad strike of 1877 began july 14, 1877 in this city at the baltimore and ohio railroad martinsburg shops. After workers began a demonstration at the depot, west virginia governor henry m. It was a major employer in towns such as harpers ferry, martinsburg, grafton, parkersburg, wheeling, and clarksburg. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. This led to the discovery of the coal and coke railway in west virginia and a fascination with the railroad, which ultimately led to a book on its history. West virginia railroad history photos not available for.
For the kids, by george childrens museum nonprofits. Located on the mainline of csx, the martinsburg station is a restored 18481876 railroad hotel and its sympathetic modern train station addition at 229 east martin street in martinsburg. There are several martinsburg, wv hotels ready to welcome your family. Streets, railroads, and the great strike of 1877 historical studies of. It is also a contributing property to the baltimore and ohio and related industries historic district. Indexed county and railroad pocket map and shippers guide of west virginia, accompanied by a new.
Amtrak and marc passengers share the martinsburg station, a brick. The martinsburg gazette west virginia 18101855 family history library the martinsburg news west virginia 1937 family history library the statesman historical and industrial edition 1905 family history library the world martinsburg, west. Martinsburg, west virginia and the great railroad strike of 1877 by. New homes in martinsburg, west virginia for sale west. Explore the information station and one of the three pathways to learn more about george washington, the history of the region and the history of rail travel. Some operate seasonally or year round with store front markets carrying local goods or set up as a vendor during our martinsburg farmer s market. Travel through the immersion galleries, take a bike ride along the washington heritage trail, learn more about young george washington and the rich railroad history of our area. Here she tells a fascinating story of historic martinsburg, west virginias past, with an emphasis on the roundhouse train station during the american civil war which is on the u. The railroads management eventually sided with the north during the civil war, influencing many people in the northern part of the area that became west virginia to support statehood in 1863. You could explore the citys history and natural surroundings during your weekends in martinsburg. He is the creator and owner of haunted history and legends tours of martinsburg, wv, and his professional career has ranged from mentoring to human resources and more.
If you are interested in west virginia railroad jobs you will most likely be working for a class i, as both csx transportation and norfolk own more than 2,100 miles of the states trackage the rest is home to a few class iii, shortlines. History cumberland valley volunteer firemens association. See more ideas about west virginia, martinsburg west virginia and virginia. Martinsburg roundhouse 2020 all you need to know before. Martinsburg s railroading history dates back to the 1840s with the presence of the baltimore and ohio railroad company. Martinsburg during the civil war encyclopedia virginia. For the 2018 season, the west virginia railroad museum is happy to present the baltimore and ohio railroad. The roundhouse in martinsburg wv is an superb piece of american history. Located in the northern portion of the valley, martinsburg enjoyed a booming economy because of its location along the paved valley pike and because it was a major depot along the. Martinsburgs railroading history dates back to the 1840s with the presence of the baltimore and ohio railroad company. Several threestory buildings had been built in the main downtown section. The martinsburg gazette west virginia 18101855 family history library the martinsburg news west virginia 1937 family history library the statesman historical and industrial edition 1905 family history library the world martinsburg, west virginia 1892 family history library valley star. The baltimore and ohio railroad martinsburg shops u.
See the large textile mills in the boomtown historic district. West virginia enjoys a rich and diverse history, and the railroads played a key role in the story that is west virginias history. It is home to a museum dedicated to preserving the buildings history and contains a visual representation of the memorabilia dating from the early beginnings of education for blacks in the city of martinsburg. It was originally part of the british virginia colony 16071776 and the western part of the state of virginia 17761863, whose population became sharply divided over the issue of secession. The event was reminiscent of wild west days, and it seized the imagination of reporters on newspapers across the us. Omnitrax donates historic locomotive to the reading railway heritage museum. Martinsburg is a city in and the county seat of berkeley county, west virginia, united states, in the tip of the states eastern panhandle region in the lower shenandoah valley. This photo is looking east along the last remaining portion of the branch still intact extends a few miles east of parkersburg, which csx uses to store centerflow hoppers. Jul 12, 2014 west virginia railroad history photos not available for this variation grafton wv stay safe and healthy. The streets of historic hinton come alive as the hinton railroad days festival takes over the town with food and craft vendors, music and smalltown fun. Its population was 17,465 in the 2018 census estimate, making it the largest city in the eastern panhandle and the eighthlargest municipality in the state. West virginia railroads date back to before the mountain state was even born in june of 1863. You still have 2 chances to explore west virginias railroad history this fall, while enjoying the spectacular fall foliage colors.
These 11 west virginia historic landmarks are a must see. These first buildings were burned by confederate troops in 1862. Richter, chambersburg, pa a committee was also appointed to draft bylaws and a constitution. By the time of the city centennial in 1878, martinsburg was booming. The loss of jobs resulted in further economical hardships. Local author releases second book on local history local. Conversely, the decline of the railroad had a profound effect on the local economy in a cyclical manner. This logging engine, the last one to leave the erie, pa plant in 1941, was transported in pieces by truck from the north carolina railroad museum to durbin wv on june 11, 2004. For other books in the historical studies of urban america series, see madelon powers. Martinsburg, west virginia and the great railroad strike of 1877 todd a cimino johnson. Martinsburg, wv, was selected as the meeting place for the second annual convention. While not every image we have has been scanned into this database, it showcases a small selection of our many photographs, glass plate negatives, tintypes. The history of the facility and the history of the city of martinsburg and berkeley couny were intertwined in a number of ways. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
Located in the northern portion of the valley, martinsburg enjoyed a booming economy because of its location along the paved valley pike and because it was a major depot along the baltimore and ohio railroad. A historical marker located in martinsburg in berkeley county, west virginia. View all attractions near martinsburg roundhouse on tripadvisor. The original martinsburg railroad shops, roundhouse and depot were destroyed by. Faulkner on adjustment of the boundary lines between virginia and maryland. In the 19th century, martinsburgs industry also included foundries, millspaper, wood and plasterand distilleries. History martinsburgberkeley county chamber of commerce.
Clarke moved to northern virginia community college in 1978 but continued his interest in west virginia s railroads, particularly the west virginia central and pittsburg railway. Baltimore and ohio railroad martinsburg shops is a historic industrial district in martinsburg, west virginia. The roundhouse is the centerpiece of this district. Items on permanent exhibit include early surveying equipment, flax and wool spinning wheels, quilts, railroad items, and various items related to the industrial, social, and cultural history of the town from the 1800s to the early 1900s. Nations fastest growing railroad announces key leadership appointments. Stonewall jackson, the roundhouse of martinsburg, west. The for the kids, by george childrens museum is a handson experience in martinsburg, wv, designed to put children in touch with the history of the eastern panhandle and george washington. Martinsburg, west virginia and the great railroad strike of 1877.
Martinsburg, virginia now west virginia, the county seat of berkeley county, was in 1860 the shenandoah valleys second largest town, with a population of 3,364. Explore the best trails in martinsburg, west virginia on traillink. Engine and machine shops were used to expand the company. As you travel through the immersion galleries, take a bike ride along the washington heritage trail, learn more about young george washington and the rich railroad history of our area. Go on a selfguided tour of the towns historic buildings and districts. West virginia is one of two american states formed during the american civil war 18611865, along with nevada, and is the only state to form by seceding from a confederate state.
Martinsburg became a center of the railroad industry and its workers. By 1888, this railroad was extended to neighboring frederick county, virginia. This page has been created to allow folks to view, post, and share photographs of abandoned railroads, equipment, structures, and rightofways in the great state of west virginia. Locals regard justin stevens as a leading source on martinsburg history, in addition to his knowledge of local hauntings. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids. Sep 05, 2016 locals regard justin stevens as a leading source on martinsburg history, in addition to his knowledge of local hauntings. It is significant both for its railroading architecture by albert fink and john rudolph niernsee and for its role in the great railroad strike of 1877. Martinsburg, west virginia and the great railroad strike of 1877 book. The historic baltimore and ohio railroad martinsburg shops. Sumnerramer heritage archives and museum sits prominently within the rich history of martinsburg and is a surviving symbol of the segregation of blacks and whites in the community. The building now contains a museum of artifacts and memorabilia of life in old martinsburg. The magazine of the american society of civil engineers the martinsburg roundhouse is focused on the history lesson section. Today, accessible both by rail and highway from washington, d.
The railroads prosperity brought wealth to the region. Martinsburg also delights those in search of history, motorsports and culture. Find railroad ties in berkeley county, wv on yellowbook. Nitro, west virginiaaugust 11, 2016in railroad history. Alers history of martinsburg and berkeley county, west virginia 1888. Alers history of martinsburg and berkeley county, west. The tour guide provided factual and engaging details of area railroading in the 19th and 20th centuries and the function of the roundhouse and other train maintenance buildings in the complex. Once upon a history is most pleased to present writer debbie allens debut on the carolinians archives. Abandoned railroads of west virginia home facebook. Baltimore and ohio railroad martinsburg shops wikipedia. The city of martinsburg was incorporated by an act of the new west virginia legislature on march 30, 1868. During the civil war, railroads played an important part in transporting supplies and troops. The site features primary and secondary source documents, photographs, and databases.
248 400 681 1329 542 1121 1391 960 791 1423 139 202 361 1431 998 835 547 34 542 1479 927 1088 538 1168 803 1210 1456 701 1443 735 776 215 316 455 1489