Morgan's Grove
Encyclopedia
Morgan's Grove is a rural historic district near Shepherdstown, West Virginia
. The area is noted for its abundant springs. Several historic houses and farms are included in the district, including:
Richard Morgan bought lands in 1730 that included much of present-day Shepherdstown. In 1734 he received one of the first grants of 500 acres (2 km²) from Lord Fairfax, selling some land to Thomas Shepherd, who founded Shepherdstown. During the French and Indian Wars
, Morgan was active in raising troops from the area.
During the American Revolutionary War
, local men began drilling in Shepherdstown, and two companies of riflemen were organized in July 1775 at the request of the Continental Congress
. By this time, William Morgan was a colonel in the Continental Army
, and, under Morgan's command, the troops began the Bee-Line March on July 17, 1775, marching from Morgan's Grove to Boston
in 24 days, covering 600 miles (965.6 km). The troops joined George Washington
's forces on August 11, 1775, and were the first units from the South to join the fight.
During the Civil War a number of Confederate
and Federal units camped in the area, including General John B. Gordon and General George Armstrong Custer
in the Valley Campaigns of 1864
. About this time, Fountain Rock, which was then owned by Confederate Colonel Alexander Boteler
, was burned by Federal troops under General William Tecumseh Sherman
.
By the late 19th century the area was used as a fair
ground, with its own siding off the Shenandoah Valley Railroad
. The Fountain Rock property was purchased by the Morgan's Grove Agricultural Association in 1889. In 1900 William Jennings Bryan
, then candidate for President, gave a speech to a crowd estimated at 15,000. Fairs were held until 1931, when the land was sold and the structures were torn down.
A portion of the site is now a county park.
Shepherdstown, West Virginia
Shepherdstown is a town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States, located along the Potomac River. It is the oldest town in the state, having been chartered in 1762 by Colonial Virginia's General Assembly. Since 1863, Shepherdstown has been in West Virginia, and is the oldest town in...
. The area is noted for its abundant springs. Several historic houses and farms are included in the district, including:
- RosebrakeMorgan-Bedinger-Dandridge HouseThe Morgan-Bedinger-Dandridge House, also known as Poplar Grove, then Rosebrake, is part of a group of structures affiliated with the Morgan's Grove rural historic district near Shepherdstown, West Virginia. The house was known as Poplar Grove until 1877. The original building was built circa...
, or Poplar Grove, built in 1745, with dependencies including a barn and outbuildings - Falling SpringFalling Spring-Morgan's GroveFalling Spring at Morgan's Grove is part of a related complex of buildings and lands associated with the Morgan family and other prominent members of the Shepherdstown, West Virginia community. Falling Spring was completed by 1837 as a large, porticoed stucco house and farm complex...
, circa 1831-1837, with dependencies. The nearby woods were a Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe 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...
encampment. Belonged to Jacob Morgan and his son William. - Old Stone House and springhouse, circa 1734, belonged to the original settler and family partiarch, Richard Morgan.
- Springdale circa 1760, home of Richard Morgan's son William, and dependencies. "Morgan Fort" was located on this property.
- Fountain Rock in Morgan's Grove Park with the foundations of the Fountain Rock house, burned in 1864 by Federal troops.
Richard Morgan bought lands in 1730 that included much of present-day Shepherdstown. In 1734 he received one of the first grants of 500 acres (2 km²) from Lord Fairfax, selling some land to Thomas Shepherd, who founded Shepherdstown. During the French and Indian Wars
French and Indian Wars
The French and Indian Wars is a name used in the United States for a series of conflicts lasting 74 years in North America that represented colonial events related to the European dynastic wars...
, Morgan was active in raising troops from the area.
During the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, local men began drilling in Shepherdstown, and two companies of riflemen were organized in July 1775 at the request of the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
. By this time, William Morgan was a colonel in the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
, and, under Morgan's command, the troops began the Bee-Line March on July 17, 1775, marching from Morgan's Grove to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
in 24 days, covering 600 miles (965.6 km). The troops joined George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's forces on August 11, 1775, and were the first units from the South to join the fight.
During the Civil War a number of Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
and Federal units camped in the area, including General John B. Gordon and General George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
in the Valley Campaigns of 1864
Valley Campaigns of 1864
The Valley Campaigns of 1864 were American Civil War operations and battles that took place in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia from May to October 1864. Military historians divide this period into three separate campaigns, but it is useful to consider the three together and how they...
. About this time, Fountain Rock, which was then owned by Confederate Colonel Alexander Boteler
Alexander Boteler
Alexander Robinson Boteler was a nineteenth century politician and clerk from Virginia.-Biography:Born in Shepherdstown, Virginia , Boteler graduated from Princeton College in 1835 and engaged in agriculture and literary pursuits...
, was burned by Federal troops under General William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
.
By the late 19th century the area was used as a fair
Fair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
ground, with its own siding off the Shenandoah Valley Railroad
Shenandoah Valley Railroad
Shenandoah Valley Railroad refers to one of several railroads in the U.S. state of Virginia:*Shenandoah Valley Railroad , a current short line*Shenandoah Valley Railroad , predecessor of the Norfolk and Western Railway...
. The Fountain Rock property was purchased by the Morgan's Grove Agricultural Association in 1889. In 1900 William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan was an American politician in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. He was a dominant force in the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, standing three times as its candidate for President of the United States...
, then candidate for President, gave a speech to a crowd estimated at 15,000. Fairs were held until 1931, when the land was sold and the structures were torn down.
A portion of the site is now a county park.
External links
- The Grove, Shepherdstown vicinity, Jefferson County, WV: 1 photo, 1 data page, at Historic American Building Survey ("Rose Break" or "Dandridge House")
- Jacob Morgan House, Shepherdstown vicinity, Jefferson County, WV: 2 photos, 1 data page, at Historic American Building Survey ("Falling Spring" or "Steptoe House")
- Springdale, Shepherdstown vicinity, Jefferson County, WV: 1 photo, 1 data page, at Historic American Building Survey