Old Episcopal Church Above Harpers Ferry
by Don Struke
Title
Old Episcopal Church Above Harpers Ferry
Artist
Don Struke
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Built sometime before the American Civil War on the site of the collapsed original 1849 church, during that war this structure was used as a stable for Union horses and as barracks. Soldiers used some of its roof beams for firewood until the roof collapsed. It was a target, also, for cannon balls from both Union and Confederate troops (Harpers Ferry changed hands at least eight times during the war). In 1895 a new Episcopal church was built not far away, on Washington Street. This sad old veteran of history now belongs to the U.S. National Park Service. Harpers Ferry was the site of abolitionist John Brown's 1859 raid on the town's federal armory, which culminated in his capture (by federal officer Robert E. Lee with J.E.B. Stuart assisting) and execution by hanging in nearby Charles Town. In the crowd that December 2, 1859, morning: future Confederate general Stonewall Jackson, poet Walt Whitman, and the man who would assassinate Abraham Lincoln in 1865, John Wilkes Booth. NOTE: The Fine Art watermark visible in preview windows is not on any print.
Uploaded
May 3rd, 2011
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Viewed 218 Times - Last Visitor from La Mesa, CA on 04/10/2024 at 4:07 AM
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Comments (1)
Sharon Gonzalez
Fascinating history to this, Don. Is age the culprit or the war for it's decay? Possibly both? Superb capture and thank you for sharing.
Don Struke replied:
ITS decay began during the Civil War per my caption and more or less kept going downhill into the late 1880s. I think it's haunted. Love to be up there on a dark and stormy night.
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