Harpers Ferry
Community Newsletter
October 2016
Volume 13 Issue 6
Trick-or-Treat 2016!
Trick-or-Treat will take place in the
Town
of
Harpers
Ferry
on
Monday, October 31, 2016, from
6:00pm-8:00pm.
Inside this issue:
Calendar; Family Hiking Day - Sept. 24
2
Mayor’s Corner; Superintendent Rebecca Harriett’s retirement
3
Nature Program on Vultures; Harpers
Ferry Water Works news
4
Blast From the Past
5
Candidate Forum Dates for Election;
Harpers Ferry Cemetery
6
Harpers Ferry National Historic Park
Events in October
7-8
Dollhouse raffle by Woman’s Club
9
9 Charming Towns Across America
to Visit This Fall
The U.S. News and World Report identified nine
charming towns in the U.S. to visit this Fall. Harpers
Ferry was one of those nine towns selected. This is
truly an honor that we should all take pride in. You
are invited to view the nine towns at the link below:
http://a.msn.com/03/en-us/BBwQuOT?ocid=se
--------------------------------------------------------------The Town’s official website has useful information
including important notices, ordinances, meeting
minutes, official applications, and events calendar.
Visit us at www.harpersferrywv.us
2
September 24 - Family Hiking
Day
On Saturday, September 24th, a small but
enthusiastic group of town and local
residents gathered for an outing at Murphy
Farm in honor of the Appalachian Trail
Conservancy-sponsored Family Hiking Day,
as well as Public Lands Day. Participants,
including eight adults and six kids of
varying ages, enjoyed a stroller-friendly
walk through the farm led by Bolivar
resident Sarah Shafer.
In addition to enjoying the beautiful
outdoors, Sarah shared detailed knowledge
about the historic significance of the property during the Civil War and its history since.
ATC’s Laurie Potteiger added a little volunteer clean-up time in honor of Public Lands Day.
The kids enjoyed making art out of tree discs at the end of the walk. It was a great opportunity
to get outdoors together with friends and family. We hope more people will join in next year.
Town Calendar
All meetings at Town Hall, unless noted otherwise.
Wednesday, October 5
Municipal Court, 7-9 pm
Monday, October 10
Town Council Meeting, 7 pm
Wednesday, October 12
Parks and Recreation Commission, 6 pm
Monday, October 17
Landmarks Commission, 7 pm
Tuesday, October 18
Planning Commission, 7 pm
Wednesday, October 19
Water Commission meeting, 7-9pm
Wednesday, October 26
Harpers Ferry Foundation Board meeting, 5:30 pm
Thursday, October 27
Tree Committee, 7 pm
3
Mayor’s Corner
from Mayor Greg Vaughn
Smoother Roads and Parking Lots
Coming Soon
This fall the National Park Service and the Federal Highway
Administration will complete a project to preserve several roads and parking lots within Harpers
Ferry and the National Park. Workers will fill cracks, chip seal, and apply thin layers of asphalt to
the surface in order to extend the life of the roads and parking lots. This preservation process will
not only extend the surface life of the roadway but will also create a smoother driving surface
without resorting to the heavy reconstruction of the areas. The train station parking lot has already
been completed and its appearance has been dramatically enhanced. Within the coming weeks the
Cavalier Heights parking lot will be reconstructed, along with Shenandoah Street, Hog Alley,
Public Way, Shoreline Drive and several small Park Service parking areas. Any work done on
Town property will be undertaken at no cost to the Town. Due to the scheduling of some of the
work, there may be some minor disruptions to traffic flow. These will be kept at a minimum and
your patience is appreciated. The project is expected to be completed by the end of November.
Retirement from Harpers Ferry National
Historical Park
A crowd of several hundred Park employees, Harpers Ferry
residents and town officials were on hand to celebrate the
retirement of Rebecca Harriett, the superintendent of
HFNHP, on September 28, 2016.
Congratulations to Superintendent Harriett! Thank you for
your service and for being a good friend to Harpers Ferry!
Communicating with the Mayor or Council
Mayor
Greg Vaughn
[email protected]
Recorder Kevin Carden
[email protected]
Council
Betsy Bainbridge
[email protected]
Members Jerry Hutton
[email protected]
Hardy Johnson
[email protected]
Charlotte Thompson [email protected]
Helen “Hap” Becker [email protected]
Water Dept. Phone: 304-535-2206 ext. 1 [email protected]
Newsletter Information:
Editor /Layout:
Laurel Drake
[email protected]
Next deadline:
Wednesday, October 26,
2016
4
AUDUBON SPONSORING NOV. 4 PROGRAM ABOUT VULTURES
The Potomac Valley Audubon Society will sponsor a program
about vultures on Friday, November 4, in Bolivar.
The program will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Bolivar Community
Center, which is located at 60 Panama Street.
Admission will be free and everyone is welcome to attend.
The speaker will be Katie Fallon, a West Virginia birder and writer
who lives in Morgantown.
She will discuss the natural history and biology of vultures, and
their role in the ecosystems in which they live.
Vultures are common in the Harpers Ferry area because the
confluence of rivers and surrounding terrain foster thermal air
currents they favor and provide excellent overall habitat for them.
Ms. Fallon has taught creative writing at West Virginia University and Virginia Tech. An avid
birder, she is also one of the founders of the Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia, a nonprofit
organization devoted to conserving birds through research, education, and rehabilitation.
She is the author of numerous nonfiction articles and essays and a recent book about Cerulean
warblers: Cerulean Blues¾A Personal Search for a Vanishing Songbird (Ruka Press, 2011).
Harpers Ferry Water Works News
How to pay your water/sewer bill:
Monday- Friday 8-12: The window at the Police Office at Town Hall will be open.
Other times:
Call 304-535-2206 Ext. 1 to make an appointment to see the Water Clerk.
7 days a week:
Leave payment with stub in the slotted box on the Police Dept. door or the
Town Hall door at the east end of the Town Hall.
Mail your payment:
HF Water Works, PO Box 217, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
Pay online:
Go to https://harpersferrywv.epayub.com.
Did you know?



If you move to Harpers Ferry or Bolivar and want to start water service, you must apply for new
water service and new sewer service, and pay a deposit for each.
When you get ready to move out, you must fill out a Termination Form, giving the effective date,
so that the Water Dept. can read your meter, shut it off and send you a final bill.
The New Water Service, New Sewer Service and Termination Forms are downloadable on the
town website under the Water Dept. tab. They are also available at Town Office.
5
Blast from the Past
Odds and ends from 125 years of Council minutes
curated by Dan Riss
22 may 1922 upon advice from an engineer from Frederick MD [Emory C Crum?] "giving
his judgment as to the best routes to select over and along which to lay the water lines for
fire protection...It was moved…in keeping with this report, that the fire lines begin at the
Shenandoah Pulp Mill, extend down Shenandoah St to the intersection of Potomac St; up
Potomac St to what is known as the Tibb-John Alley-- that from that point up the alley to
High St a surface line be laid ending with a fire plug on Washington St at the intersection
of the Alley & Street. The location of the fire line on Camp Hill was not changed."
30 jan 1923 extract from mayor Marlatt'rs report on his service in 1920, 1921 and 1922: :
"After the citizens talked of fire protection for thirty years in meeting after meeting, your
Mayor and Councilmen, with the assistance of the Bank of Harpers Ferry, gave the town a
fire line in sixty days, at a cost of approximately five thousand dollars ($5000.00). This is
partly paid for. Owing to a debt of three thousand five hundred dollars ($3500.00), still on
the fire line, it was necessary to impose a license tax on motor propelled vehicles, and raise
the levy from fourty cents to fifty cents. After paying off the present indebteness, this
license tax can easily be reduced to a minimum charge.
"The fire line is not complete by any means. There are several things to do before
completion, such as, increasing the plugs, buying five hundred or one thousand feet more
hose to add to our fice hundred feet which we all ready possess, at a cost of five hundred
dollars ($500.00). The town will have to make some contracts for water coming through our
line, build its own stand, or buy Storer Colleges, therby making us independent of private
institutions and individuals.
"Although our hose and fire line is not paid for in full, I can conscientiously say it
has all ready paid for itself. It decreases the rate of insurance. The store on the corporation
street owned by the Wentzell heirs, caught fire and was partially destroyed, when a hand
full of citizens with our fire hose quelled the fire in thirty minutes. People living two blocks
from the building never knew until the next morning how near they came to being
homeless. Had it not been for this fire line and hose, the fire more than likely would have
destroyed the lower end of the town."
6
The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan political organization which has as a goal providing voter
registration and candidate information. In Jefferson County the League organizes candidate forums in advance
of the November election. The following are the scheduled forums for Jefferson, Morgan and Berkeley Counties.
SCHEDULE

FOR
C ANDIDATE FORUMS
Tues, 10/11, 7-9pm, at Byrd Center. Possible two sessions: Governor,
US House; WV Secretary of State & WV Attorney General (times depend on
who accepts)

Thurs, 10/13, 7-8:30pm, at JC Commission meeting room. JC Accessor,
JC Circuit Clerk, JC County Clerk

Tues, 10/18, 7-9pm, at JC Commission meeting room. 7-8: JC County Commission for
Charles Town & Shepherdstown; 8-9: JC Prosecuting Attorney and JC Sheriff

Tues, 10/25, 7-9pm, at Byrd Center. 7-8: WV House of Delegates, Districts 65, 66, 67; 8-9:
WV State Senate, Districts 16 (Berkeley & Jefferson) & 15 (Berkeley & Morgan)
 Wed, 10/26, 7-9pm, at JC Commission meeting room. WV State Auditor, WV State
Treasurer, WV Commissioner of Agriculture (times depend on who accepts)
Help Restore Historic Harper Cemetery
Harper Cemetery is a historic and much visited cemetery in West Virginia. The cemetery is bordered
on the south by the Appalachian Trail and is the final resting place to the town’s founder and his
family, veterans of the American Revolutionary War, Union and Confederate soldiers, the founder of
Storer College. It is also the site of perhaps the best view of the Gap in the mountains where the
Potomac River crosses the mountains on its way to the Atlantic. The Cemetery Board is asking for
assistance to help restore the decaying grave stones of Robert Harper, the town’s founder, and his wife.
The Harpers Ferry-Bolivar Historic Town Foundation has partnered with the cemetery’s Board of
Trustees to help raise funds to restore the grave stones of Robert Harper and his wife as a first step in a
comprehensive restoration plan targeting many grave stones throughout the cemetery that are in need
of specialized care. Many of these historic grave stones mark the resting place of residents who have
no living family. In addition, restoration of the cast iron gates and fencing is needed. Further, the stone
wall bordering the southern boundary of the cemetery is compromised in several places and in need of
restoration.
The Trustees and the Foundation urge you to participate in this project by making a tax-deductible
contribution in any amount at the following site: https://www.gofundme.com/ourharpercemetery.
If you’d rather, you may make a check payable to “Harpers Ferry-Bolivar Historic Town Foundation”
and earmark it for “Harper Cemetery Restoration Fund.” Checks should be mailed to Harpers FerryBolivar Foundation, Post Office Box 1427, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia 25425.
7
National Park Service Events in October!
Saturday, October 15: Election Day 1860: To the Polls Ye Sons of Freedom!
Time: 11 am to 4 pm
Location: Lower Town
On Saturday October 15th, from 11am to 4pm, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park invites you to
attend and participate in the living history event called “Election Day 1860.” Participate in a national
Presidential Election and cast a ballot to change the course of history. Each of the presidential
candidates’ political platforms will be interpreted through special displays and living history campaign
headquarters. Each will illustrate the social, economic, cultural and political divisions that permeated
the national scene in the 1860s. Polls for park visitors and living history volunteers will be offered in
the park’s Dry Goods Store exhibit, offering everyone an opportunity to elect the candidate of their
choice as the 1860 President of the United States.
This year’s event offers a unique opportunity to look back 157 years to the roots of Civil War and how
John Brown’s 1859 Raid influenced the 1860 voter at the ballot box. The white Abolitionist John
Brown attempted to seize weapons from the town’s United States Armory in his ill-fated effort to arm
and free slaves. Brown and the surviving raiders were captured by U.S. Marines. They were convicted
of conspiring insurrection, treason, and murder. Brown was executed on December 2nd, 1859. Brown’s
Raid further polarized slavery and anti-slavery factions, including national political parties, and
influenced the 1860 presidential election. This living history program will share these opposing
viewpoints with park visitors.
The election labeled Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln as a “Black Republican.” Lincoln is not on
the ballot in the state of Virginia. Politically, the south is Democratic and hatred for the Republican is
intense. Lincoln was pitted against a vast array of experienced Democratic and Constitutional Union
Party politicians with contrasting viewpoints on slavery at play in the political arena. On November 6,
1860, the American electorate cast their ballots for the next President of the United States. This resulted
in the election of Abraham Lincoln that provoked secession of southern states. Civil War soon
followed.
Abraham Lincoln
Stephen Douglas
John Bell
John Breckinridge
Photos from http://civilwardailygazette.com/presidential-election-of-1860-know-your-candidates/
8
National Park Service Events in October (continued)
Sunday, October 16: At All Times Ready: The U.S. Marines Reacting To The Raid 1859
Time:
Location:
11 am to 4 pm
Lower Town
On Sunday, October 16th, from 11am to 4pm, Harpers Ferry NHP invites the public to attend At All
Times Ready: The U.S. Marines Reacting To The Raid 1859. On October 16, 1859, all eyes focused
on Harpers Ferry and John Brown’s raid to free 4 million enslaved African Americans. Brown’s raid
polarized slavery and anti-slavery factions, including national political parties, influencing the 1860
presidential election. This living history program will share opposing points of view with park
visitors.
John Brown, the fiery abolitionist, attacked Harpers Ferry Armory on October 16 and was captured
two days later by the US Marines. This program harks back to the town under martial law, living in
fear of other attacks or slave insurrection. The volunteers of the USMC Historical Company will
portray the many reactions of the town and military. Special program presentations will be offered at
the John Brown Fire Engine House at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm.
Drink Your Apples: Cider Making, 1860
Date: October 22-23
Location: Lower Town
Description: Join living history staff and volunteers to make cider at White Hall Tavern on Potomac
Street. This time-honored tradition produced the most popular 19th century beverage for man,
woman, and child.
Under Fire: The Battle of Bolivar Heights, 1862
Date: October 29-30
Location: Bolivar Heights Battlefield
Description: Artillery crew demonstrate the might and intimidation of field artillery during the
town's surrender to Confederate General "Stonewall" Jackson.
9
Woman’s Club Raffles Off House Full of Furniture!
The Woman’s Club of the Harpers Ferry District is raffling off a beautiful dollhouse that
comes fully furnished! The tickets are $5 apiece or $20 for 5 tickets. There is a cap on the
number of tickets sold - no more than 300 tickets will be sold, increasing everyone’s chances
of winning the dollhouse. The drawing for the dollhouse will be held on November 30.
The dollhouse was donated by Betsy Bainbridge and Steve Ramberg to the Woman’s Club.
The money from the raffle tickets will support the many charitable contributions that the
Woman’s Club makes to good causes inside and outside of Jefferson County.
If you would like to buy raffle tickets, please call Laurel Drake at 304-702-7004 or email her
at [email protected].