Shepherdstown, West Virginia, is older than our country, that’s why it has a reputation as the “Most Haunted Town In America.” Initially settled by Native Americans, the first European settler was Thomas Shepherd. He received the land grant parcel located on the south bank of the Potomac River in 1734, an early river crossing in those days. In 1762, the town was chartered as Mecklenburg in honor of King George III’s wife Charlotte. It would return to the name Shepherd’s Town in 1798 to honor founder Thomas Shepherd.
Being older than the United States, Shepherdstown has seen its fair share of American history. One cemetery in town has the headstones of Revolutionary War soldiers. And, during the Civil War, both Union and Confederate troops occupied the village. The Civil War’s bloodiest battle, the Battle of Antietam, took place a few miles away. After the fighting ended, residents cared for countless wounded in their homes; and buried hundreds more in their fields.
Shepherdstown is worth a visit. The downtown brims with charming shops and restaurants, with many housed in historically significant buildings. It’s an exciting city to explore, especially if you enjoy history. If you are curious about ghostly appearances or hauntings, that’s an added bonus.
The city is 4 miles southwest of Sharpsburg, Maryland, the site of Antietam National Battlefield, and 10 miles north of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Both sit in the Eastern Panhandle Region in eastern West Virginia. You can spend the day or stay overnight. When you do, sign-up for an evening ghost tour to meet some of those intriguing spirits in person.
It’s In The Shadow Of The Civil War’s Bloodiest Battle
The nearby Antietam Battlefield is a national battlefield where 23,000 soldiers died, were wounded, or missing after 12 hours of fighting on September 17, 1862. It’s considered hallowed and haunted ground. Many wounded soldiers were transported to homes and businesses in nearby Sharpsburg and Shepherdstown which were converted to makeshift hospitals. Those who didn’t survive were buried in nearby fields. While neither side won the battle, the North claimed victory as General Lee’s army retreated from Maryland across the Potomac to Virginia. Five days after the war, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Stop here on your way to Shepherdstown, to drive the 8 ½ mile tour around the battlefield by car. The tour has 11 stops and begins at Dunker Church. The website details ways to experience the park or, if you prefer, a private tour. You’ll have a better understanding of the devastating events of that terrible day in history, and if your tour takes you near the Burnside Bridge at dusk, you’ll hear the sound of a phantom drum that beats out a cadence and then fades away.
The Ghost Of McMurran Hall
Shepherd University opened in 1871 in Shepherdstown and since then there have been over 200 reports of ghost sightings and poltergeist activity. At McMurran Hall, which was originally built as the city hall for the town, an older man haunts the clock tower at the top of the building. He appears at night and looks through the shutters at the students walking around campus. Since the city hall was also a Confederate hospital after the battle of Antietam, it makes sense that he might be one of the soldiers. So many died from their wounds and allegedly left their tortured souls behind.
William Peyton’s Cries Ring Out At The Shepherdstown Museum
The Historic Shepherdstown Museum is in the old Entler Hotel. The Museum opened in 1983 to house and display artifacts, furniture, and historical documents regarding Shepherdstown’s past. The first floor looks arranged for a formal dinner. The invitation reads that the dinner is in honor of Colonel John Francis Hamtramck in 1847. There are also historical books for sale. On the next floor is the resident ghost, William Peyton Smith’s bedroom. The furnished bedroom is where Smith, killed in a duel in 1809, spent his final hours moaning in pain. It’s said his ghost can be heard crying out for his mother as Smith did the night he died. Other floors have Sheetz rifles, Native American tools, a mail wagon from 1905, and Civil War artifacts. It’s a fascinating stop.
Reach Out To Your Spirit Guides
As you walk along German Street, independently owned boutiques enchant shoppers with unique goods. There are galleries, a record store, a bookseller, and On The Wings of Dreams. This shop offers crystals, Native American and sterling silver jewelry, ceremonial herbs, essential oils, tarot, and so much more. Simply put, the store has “Gifts and tools for Spiritual Journeyers.” A complete list of Shepherdstown stores is here.
An “Unseen” Pair Of Hands Helps At The Bakery
Shepherdstown Sweet Shop & Bakery has a fabulous selection of treats, hot coffee or teas, and seating outdoors. The bakery also has an “extra pair of hands” that the proprietors call the “Colonel.” Shop employees reported feeling someone occasionally brush past them. They also said they heard conversations in hushed tones when no one was there. It makes sense, as the bakery was also a makeshift hospital after the battle at Antietam. Some believe the Colonel is walking around and checking on his soldiers.
You Can Walk Among The Unliving
Shepherdstown Mystery Walks, owned and operated by Janet Hughes, leads crowds around historic Shepherdstown in full-period costume. Hughes discusses ghostly sightings and mentions the many mysterious happenings in town. She’s been a paranormal researcher and investigator for years and is currently appearing on a new television show, American Mysteries, filming in the West Virginia panhandle.
Even though the town has a ghostly reputation due to a brutal battle, in recent history, there were events that promoted peace and community. Shepherdstown is known as the site of the Israeli-Syrian Peace Talks in 2000 under the Clinton Administration and for establishing one of the top theater festivals in the world, the Contemporary American Theater Festival. Either way, it’s an old, interesting place.
Pro Tip
If all of this ghostly activity makes you hungry, The Mecklenburg Inn B&B is an excellent English-style pub and bed and breakfast circa 1793 with a fantastic patio (if the weather permits). There are several delicious dining choices, check here for more options.
