1706INDIANS GALORE!
Swiss immigrant Louis Michel traveled along the west bank of the Potomac River searching for land for a Swiss colony. He reported that Indians covered the area.
1732-1733PETER’S HOLE
Peter Stephens, a trader from Germany, settles on the "point" of present day Harpers Ferry, gaining "squatters rights" to the property. The property is nicknamed "the hole" and "Peter's hole" due to the low elevation of the area, which is only 247 feet above sea level. Stephens builds a log cabin home. Other pioneers begin to arrive and settle in the surrounding areas as well.
OCTOBER 3, 1734AREA LAND GRANTS ISSUED
Two land grants were issued for land encompassing the Bakerton area. The two recipients for the land grants were Israel Friend and Samuel Taylor. Israel Friend received 300 acres, including a five mile span of riverbank property with heavy deposits of limestone and iron ore. Samuel Taylor selected two tracts equaling 325 acres. Taylor operated a ferry near present day Bakerton, and was close friends with G. Keyes, who is credited as being the first "official" settler of Bolivar.
APRIL 25, 1751ROBERT HARPER SECURES LAND
Harper, a Quaker colonist who was both a builder and a millwright, secures a patent for 125 acres in "The Hole" at the mouth of the Shenandoah River (present day Harpers Ferry), purchasing Peter Stephen's squatters rights. Harper was on his way to construct a meeting house for fellow Quakers near present day Winchester when he first traveled through "The Hole", and was attracted to the area because of its ample water supply and strategic location.
You can view the original land grant online here.1750’S – 1790GERSHAM KEYES SETTLES
Written histories credit Gersham Keyes as being the first settler in the present day Bolivar area, first constructing a home and a tavern. Keyes likely profited off of Harper's Ferry customers due to the close proximity of his tavern. By 1790, Keyes had built and owned a gristmill, sawmill, blacksmith shop, and two distilleries.
1761HARPER’S FERRY BEGINS OPERATION
Established by settler Robert Harper, Harper's Ferry begins boating passengers back and forth across the Shenandoah River, making his town a starting point for settlers traveling westward. Not much information has been uncovered about ferrys used during this time period, however
a model of what they probably looked like has been built and is on display at the The Prizery in South Boston, Virginia.
1763A TOWN IN “THE HOLE”
The town of "Shenandoah Falls at Mr. Harper's Ferry" is incorporated by the Virginia General Assembly
1777OAK GROVE AGRICULTURAL
Original land grants divide rapidly in the Bakerton area, opening up the agriculture industry for the community. Because trade routes from Shepherdstown and Harpers Ferry were difficult, Bakerton area residents most closely traded and communicated with residents of the Antietam, Samples Manor, and Dargan areas of Washington County, Maryland.
OCTOBER 25, 1783JEFFERSON ROCK
On this day Thomas Jefferson stood upon large slabs of shale overlooking the Harpers Ferry gap, declaring "the passage of the Patowmac through the Blue Ridge is perhaps one of the most stupendous scenes in Nature" and that it was worth a trip across the Atlantic. The rock on which he stood is now termed Jefferson Rock. The original foundation of the rock was replaced with pillars sometime between 1855 and 1860.
1796-1799THE U.S. ARMORY AND ARSENAL
In 1796, the U.S. Government purchased a 176 acre parcel of land from the heirs of Robert Harper. Construction of the Armory and Arsenal began sometime around 1798, although sources suggest several different years ranging from 1797 to 1799. The first guns produced from the Harpers Ferry Armory were manufactured and assembled in 1799.
SPRING 1803LEWIS & CLARK ARRIVE
Sometime during the spring of 1803, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark arrive to receive arms, ammunition, and gun parts from the U.S. Armory and Arsenal for their impending trek and exploration mission.
Lewis also worked closely with armory officials to design a collapsible boat, which ultimately failed during reconstruction elsewhere. Lewis spent around 6 weeks in Harpers Ferry.
1810CHARLES VARLE SURVEY
Highly esteemed French mapmaker Charles Varle surveys the Mudfort [Bolivar] area for mapping purposes, noting that Mudfort had "A good tavern, several large stores for goods, a library, a physician and a Professor of English…"
1821THE FIRST “WEST” VIRGINIA LIBRARY
The first "West" Virginia library of record was opened in Harpers Ferry by the Harpers Ferry Library Society, although Harpers Ferry was still considered Virginia during this time period.
1825MUDFORT RENAMED
"Mudfort" was officially established as the town of Bolivar, named after Simon Bolivar. Bolivar directly neighbors the town of Harpers Ferry.
October 15, 1830 CONSTRUCTION BEGINS FOR A CATHOLIC CHURCH
Reverend John Gildea laid the cornerstone of St. Peters Roman Catholic Church, kicking off the construction of the only area Catholic place of worship. The Catholic congregation had risen exponentially in Harpers Ferry due to the influx of Irish fleeing Ireland and seeking work in the town.
Early 1830'sTHE WELSH FAMILY ARRIVES
The Welsh family arrives in Harpers Ferry sometime between 1828 and 1834. The family likely landed sometime after the year 1830, although their oldest son, Martin, may have first made the trek alone during the late 1820's.
November, 1833THE C&O CANAL
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, which had been under construction through the early 1830's, reaches Harpers Ferry from Georgetown.
1834THE B&O RAILROAD
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad arrives at Harpers Ferry.
March, 1836TWO RAILWAYS MEET
The Winchester and Potomac Railroad linked with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at Harpers Ferry. Trains regularly ran to Baltimore and back to Harpers Ferry.
1836THE HARPERS FERRY BRIDGE
A bridge across the Potomac was opened in Harpers Ferry, which rendered the Ferry obsolete.
OCTOBER 16, 1859JOHN BROWN’S RAID
John Brown and 22 men attack the Federal Arsenal at Harpers Ferry to seize both ammunition and arms from the facility. He planned to arm slaves in the region in order to start a large scale southern slave revolt. Receiving little resistance from an unsuspecting Harpers Ferry, he quickly gained control of the armory, arsenal, and engine house, and taking several hostages consisting of prominent citizens and slaves. Brown sent men into the surrounding areas to arm the slaves, believing that the slaves would support his cause and come to his aid -- Soon, Brown was surrounded by Marines under the command of Robert E. Lee and J. E. B. Stuart. The soldiers stormed the engine house where Brown and his men were taking refuge, killing eight of Brown's men and two of his sons.
APRIL, 1861VIRGINIA SECEDES FROM THE UNION
The state of Virginia was much more supportive of residents in the present day Eastern Panhandle. As a result, most Bakerton residents' allegiance lied with their state during the civil war. However, there are many stories of residents feeding and caring for soldiers of both sides, no matter their loyalty, as they passed through the community.
APRIL 18, 1861ARMORY DESTROYED
The U.S. Armory is completely destroyed by Union forces. Some of the Arsenal was able to be saved, and the equipment was shipped south.
SEPTEMBER 12, 1862THE BATTLE OF HARPERS FERRY BEGINS
The battle raged until about 9:00a.m. on Monday, September 15, 1862 when Union troops surrendered all along Bolivar Heights. Major General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson seized 13,000 arms, 47 pieces of artillery, and over 12,700 Union troops.
OCTOBER 16, 1862COMPANY D, 12TH VIRGINIA CAVALRY
The Confederates held a picket line in the Bakerton area. Company D, commanded by Cap. John L. Knott, were spread from Bakerton to Shepherdstown Rd. and had reserves in Uvilla. The Company was attacked by troops commanded by Brigadier Generals Humphreys and Hancock. Although Knott was injured, his regiment had no trouble slipping through the enemies grip to join the rest of the troops due their great familiarity with the area -- they lived here.
OCTOBER 17, 1863COMPANY D SKIRMISH
The following year, the company skirmished three hours to delay troops attempting to reach Shepherdstown from Harpers Ferry. The Company was successful, and allowed Stuart's smaller force to drive Federals back across the Potomac River into Maryland.
JULY 25, 1864THE RAILROAD & COMPANY D
The Federal troops would place guards at Duffields to guard the railroad for transportation purposes; this was a frequent location for Company D to battle. A private of Company D 12th Virginia Cavalry, George Cook, was mortally wounded this day.
OCTOBER 2, 1867STORER NORMAL SCHOOL
Storer Normal School opened its doors due to a generous contribution from Maine resident John Storer, offering a $10,000 contribution to open a school for all races, sexes, and religions in the south.
DECEMBER 1869STORER COLLEGE
A part of the old armory's facilities in Harpers Ferry were transformed into Storer College, a institution for the education of African Americans.
1883OTHO & CHARLES KELLER
The Keller family began purchasing land in and surrounding Bakerton for quarrying operations, and abruptly began business.
AUGUST, 1883A SCHOOLHOUSE
The Board of Education acquired a lot near Bakerton to construct a schoolhouse near Engle, which borders Bakerton, although the area at the time was known as Keller.
1884THE COMING OF THE BAKERS
In the early 1880's, the German immigrant Baker family decided to diversify their business holdings and investments. In 1884, the family purchased half an interest in 87 acres owned by the Keller family. This acquisition opened the door for the family in the limestone industry in the area.
1889THE BAKERS AND WILLIAM ENGLE
In 1889, the Baker family acquired an 49 acre parcel of high calcium limestone rich land from William Engle. In the process, the family also obtained William Engle's patented lime kiln. This quarry operation took off and the Oak Grove community quickly grew around it, becoming Bakerton.
