The Station at Shepherdstown

 interesting place, historic landmark

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Formerly the Shepherdstown Train Station, the Station at Shepherdstown can be reserved for public events and private functions. The beautifully renovated space is suitable for weddings, parties, dances, concerts, gallery viewings, club meetings and workshops.

For a period of about 75 years, from 1879 until 1957, the trains stopped in Shepherdstown. Now they just pass through on their way to somewhere else.

On November 20, 1909, this passenger station was completed. It was opened to passengers on Dec. 1 of that year. The total cost was about $22,000. It is clear from reports in the Shepherdstown Register that the community was very proud of the station. It was from the Norfolk & Western’s top-of-the-line blueprint, aside from the large union stations.

A particularly popular feature of the new depot was a railway shed that ran 250 feet along the tracks, so that people could wait for the train outside in both hot and wet weather and still be comfortable. The station had two waiting rooms, "one for white persons and one for colored persons." Each waiting room had front and rear entrances, and each had a pair of restrooms. The editor of the Register writes proudly of the modern conveniences – restrooms, running water, a heating system, drainage system and electric lights.

The station agent’s office was in the center of the building, next to where the current kitchen is now. The bay windows looking out over the tracks had iron gratings to protect the windows.

The old wooden station became the freight-only station. At the same time, the track was re-aligned and straightened, and a new and higher bridge was built over the Potomac. This was to accommodate the heavier trains that were being used.

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