July 6, 2016 Harper's Ferry

July 6, 2016

We are all up fairly early and finish off the shrimp ‘n’ grits for breakfast.  Lots of (feral?) cats hang out by our driveway!

  It is supposed to be very hot today, so we set off early for Harper’s Ferry National Historic Park.  

On the way we narrowly avoid a serious accident as Kevin comes over a hill to find a  pickup pulling a trailer blocking both lanes as he turned in front of us. (We were all in Kevin’s SUV) . But Kevin manages somehow to go onto the shoulder on the opposite side of the road.  There was a steep drop off and we would surely have rolled if he had gone off the road!  Thankfully the cars that were behind the turning pick-up and trailer stayed in their lanes as Kevin drove a short way down the shoulder.   THAT got all of our hearts beating faster!  Yeah Kevin!  

We park at the visitor’s center and take a shuttle to the old part of Harper’s Ferry.

The town was founded in 1799 and was popular because of its location where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers meet.  The original Mr. Harper ran a ferry there.  It also became popular because of the abundant water which powered mills and manufacturing plants. George Washington chose it as a site for one of two national armories.

It was the site of the famous John Brown’s raid in October 1855. Brown, an extreme abolitionist, raided and took over the armory before most of his group of 21  were either killed or captured. Their goal had been to distribute guns from the armory to slaves and win their freedom. 

John Brown's fort

 Many, including Brown were soon executed.  Many think that this helped propel the country toward the Civil War. This was the beginning of what was called the Niagra Movement, later becoming the NAACP.

Being located pretty much on the Mason-Dixon line separating North and South, Harper’s Ferry took a beating – changing hands 8 times during the war and being pretty much destroyed, burned and pillaged.

We watched a few films,  toured a few buildings, and visited a few shops. Anita,  Greg and Beth hiked about 1/3 mile of the Appalachian Trail to Jefferson Rock where Thomas Jefferson supposedly stood and extolled the beauty of the area.

 We passed by the remains of St. John’s Episcopal church as well.

The town has been rebuilt several times and was a bit of a “Little Coney Island” amusement area in the 1950s.  It has had several serious floods, which continue. I don’t think there were any residences near the river. Today it is mainly a tourist destination.

We found lunch at the Country Café where Greg had a footlong WV hot dog (with cole slaw) and all enjoyed other sandwiches. 

 We then stopped by Harper’s Cemetery which has graves going back to the early 1800's.

and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy which provides computers and wifi for hikers and had some displays about the trail, which goes from Georgia to Maine.

Drove through a bit of the Civil War battlefield and stopped at Bolivar Heights, from which you can see three states -West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland.

This was the site of the largest Union surrender of the war.  But, as I said, the town changes hands 8 times during the war, so this Confederate victory was short-lived.

The area reeks history.  George Washington surveryed the area and nearby Charlestown is named for his brother.  Stonewall Jackson enjoyed victory here, as did Robert E. Lee.  Lewis & Clark spent a year here working on a boat before their epic journey. The short-lived Baltimore and Ohio canal came through this area, as did the B&O Railroad (which is why the canal was short-lived).

We stop by the river again, checking out rocks.

Back to our “cabin”, where Kevin cooks steaks on the grill and we enjoy the fruits of Anita’s garden in zucchini and a great salad.  She also makes salt potatoes which are small, young potatoes cooked in very salty water.  YUM!

This pretty doe was enjoying a salt lick in the back yard at dusk.