Retracing Washington’s footsteps on the other side of the Potomac River
History is everywhere along the Washington Heritage Trail in West Virginia. The trail is designated with a goal at least partly to revive the historic towns, sort of like the GAP. In a way these towns are competing for tourists, but some do better than others. And then economies and politics are inseparable.
The Washington Heritage Trail in West Virginia.
Feeling haunted by the old colonial buildings in Martinsburg, West Virginia. And the few people I ran into on the streets look just like these buildings. It is depressing and at the same time puzzling given that as a strategic gateway to the Shenandoah Valley, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad arrived here as early as 1842, and today it serves the seat of Berkeley County and well connected by Interstate 81 that goes through the Appalachian Valley.
On a side note, Martinsburg was established by general Adam Stephen, who was a longtime associate and sometime rival of George Washington, and was named for Stephen’s friend, Lord Fairfax’s nephew Thomas Bryan Martin.
Glad to see some promising signs in Charles Town, the seat of Jefferson County, West Virginia. A decent looking and well operated grocery store where residents can place orders in one window or online and pick up at the door. A Saturday farmer market where religious and political campaigning is not allowed. There are young people around and you can find some well maintained stately houses. A person at the farmer market told me that some town people commute to the DC area for work, and some are doing poorly; but at least they are trying to maintain a political conversation here.
Happy Retreat, the historic home of George Washington’s brother Charles Washington, in Charles Town.
Featured by a Washington Post article as a weekend getaway in Morgan County, West Virginia, people in Berkeley Springs still call their town Town of Bath. Despite its endowments in natural springs and the local artist’s humor, the town needs a more substantial economy in addition to a few shops and restaurants, an art gallery, and a nice country inn.
The historic site of George Washington’s brother Samuel Washington in Berkeley Spring. Today it is the law offices of Trump & Trump.
The Ice House Artist’s Co-op, a gallery showcasing the work of local and regional artists in Berkeley Springs.
Support for Trump is visibly loud in these West Virginia towns, though you may also spot yard campaign signs for Biden. It is only when you get to Winchester, the county seat of Frederick County in Virginia, about 25 miles south to Martinsburg along Interstate 81 and 40 miles from Berkeley Springs along Route 522, that you see support for Biden gain voices, but Winchester is a lively town with live music (see below).
I think it is people like those in these WV towns who will determine the election results – they had switched positions in the past. These are not people who are delighted in or can afford the delight of the art of debate – they have been left far behind economicallyand felt hurt so badly that they completely lost trust of the governments. They want change and had voted for candidates who promised change from one party and then the other. They will vote for whoever makes them feel heard.
US presidential election results by county in West Virginia. Source: Wikipedia.
Winchester, Virginia
The town also tries to capitalize its rich history, but it got real stuff: a vital Old Town that is full of life and a wonderful farm market at the city’s edge on Route 522. The pumpkin and apple cider donuts sold in the farm market are simple but delicious, and it feels so nice to hear live music in Old Town, almost heavenly, after spending a day driving though those WV towns in its Eastern Panhandle.
