Literary Hall
Encyclopedia
Literary Hall is the historic former site of the Romney Literary Society and currently serves as a museum featuring local memorabilia in Romney
, West Virginia
, United States
.
and science
in the South Branch Potomac valley. The Society was the first of its kind in West Virginia and one of the first in the United States. The first Literary Hall, according to its cornerstone
, was built in 1825. Prior to the outbreak of the American Civil War
, the Society had amassed a collection of over 3,000 books at its height making it the largest library
west of the Blue Ridge Mountains
. In 1846, the Society completed construction of the campus for the Romney Classical Institute on East Main Street. During the Civil War
, the Society disbanded and its collection dwindled to less than 400 books. Plundering by the both Union
and Confederate
armies during Romney's multiple occupations resulted in a similar fate for the county's 18th and 19th century records in the Hampshire County Courthouse
. The first Literary Hall was destroyed during the conflict in 1862.
block foundation. While the Society reorganized and rebuilt its library, the Romney Classical Institute campus continued to lay unoccupied after the Civil War. In 1870, the Institute was sold to the state of West Virginia
for use as the grounds for the newly-created West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind
. Literary Hall remained the meeting place for the Society until its meetings again ceased on February 15, 1886. After the Society's final disbandment, Literary Hall served as Romney's Masonic Lodge
.
Literary Hall was restored after its purchase by prominent local attorney Ralph W. Haines. Haines purchased and restored numerous historic properties throughout Hampshire County
including the William Washington House
, built by freed slaves after the Emancipation Proclamation
. Under the custodianship of Haines, Literary Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on May 29, 1979 and opened as a museum featuring local memorabilia from the Civil War era to the present. Literary Hall was featured on the Hampshire County Historical Society's first annual "Christmas in Old Hampshire" Christmas bulb
in 1987.
Romney, West Virginia
Romney is a city in and the county seat of Hampshire County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,940 at the 2000 census, while the area covered by the city's ZIP code had a population of 5,873. It is a city with a very historic background dating back to the 18th century...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Romney Literary Society and the First Literary Hall
In 1819, the Romney Literary Society was organized with the purpose of advancing literatureLiterature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
and science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
in the South Branch Potomac valley. The Society was the first of its kind in West Virginia and one of the first in the United States. The first Literary Hall, according to its cornerstone
Cornerstone
The cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.Over time a cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry stone, or...
, was built in 1825. Prior to the outbreak of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the Society had amassed a collection of over 3,000 books at its height making it the largest library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
west of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
. In 1846, the Society completed construction of the campus for the Romney Classical Institute on East Main Street. During the Civil War
Romney, West Virginia during the American Civil War
The city of Romney, Virginia traded hands between the Union Army and Confederate States Army no fewer than 10 times during the American Civil War, assuming the occupying force spent at least one night in the town...
, the Society disbanded and its collection dwindled to less than 400 books. Plundering by the both Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
and Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
armies during Romney's multiple occupations resulted in a similar fate for the county's 18th and 19th century records in the Hampshire County Courthouse
Hampshire County Courthouse (West Virginia)
The Hampshire County Courthouse is a Neoclassical edifice in the center of downtown Romney, county seat of Hampshire County, West Virginia. The present building was constructed in 1922 to replace the previous 1833 Neoclassical courthouse that had been destroyed by fire in 1921...
. The first Literary Hall was destroyed during the conflict in 1862.
Second Literary Hall
The Society was revived on May 15, 1869 and construction of the second (and current) Literary Hall commenced later that year and was completed in 1870. It is a tall, two story red brick building with a gable roof. It sits on a sandstone, ashlarAshlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
block foundation. While the Society reorganized and rebuilt its library, the Romney Classical Institute campus continued to lay unoccupied after the Civil War. In 1870, the Institute was sold to the state of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
for use as the grounds for the newly-created West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind
West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind
The West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind were established by an Act of the Legislature on March 3, 1870. The School for the Deaf and the School for the Blind offer comprehensive educational programs for hearing impaired and visually impaired students respectively. There is also a unit for...
. Literary Hall remained the meeting place for the Society until its meetings again ceased on February 15, 1886. After the Society's final disbandment, Literary Hall served as Romney's Masonic Lodge
Masonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
.
Literary Hall was restored after its purchase by prominent local attorney Ralph W. Haines. Haines purchased and restored numerous historic properties throughout Hampshire County
Hampshire County, West Virginia
Hampshire County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 23,964. Its county seat is Romney, West Virginia's oldest town . Hampshire County was created by the Virginia General Assembly on December 13, 1753, from parts of Frederick and Augusta counties ...
including the William Washington House
Washington Place (West Virginia)
Washington Place is one of the first homes built by freed slaves after the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 in Hampshire County, West Virginia, United States...
, built by freed slaves after the Emancipation Proclamation
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation is an executive order issued by United States President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War using his war powers. It proclaimed the freedom of 3.1 million of the nation's 4 million slaves, and immediately freed 50,000 of them, with nearly...
. Under the custodianship of Haines, Literary Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on May 29, 1979 and opened as a museum featuring local memorabilia from the Civil War era to the present. Literary Hall was featured on the Hampshire County Historical Society's first annual "Christmas in Old Hampshire" Christmas bulb
Christmas ornament
Christmas ornaments are decorations that are used to festoon a Christmas tree.Ornaments take many different forms, from a simple round ball to highly artistic designs...
in 1987.
See also
- List of historic sites in Hampshire County, West Virginia
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Hampshire County, West VirginiaNational Register of Historic Places listings in Hampshire County, West VirginiaThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Hampshire County, West Virginia.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Hampshire County, West Virginia, United States...
- West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and BlindWest Virginia Schools for the Deaf and BlindThe West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind were established by an Act of the Legislature on March 3, 1870. The School for the Deaf and the School for the Blind offer comprehensive educational programs for hearing impaired and visually impaired students respectively. There is also a unit for...