St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church in Harper’s Ferry
Our drive from Pennsylvania took us through Maryland, Virginia (briefly) and finally West Virginia. Our family has a lot of history in this state!
On my last stop in Lancaster County I learned about the importance of transportation in this area. Pennsylvania is the fifth largest state and ninth in population density. What that means, essentially, is that there are trucks fucking everywhere. Especially, it seems, on the otherwise scenic roads I traveled on to get here. One almost took us out – when I looked in the rear view camera he was awfully close! At least I know now I can make a panic stop in Starship Excellent Adventure (read activated ABS). Big fun!
Gettysburg Flyby
We decided to see what we could see at Gettysburg in Starship Excellent Adventure with both Saucer and Engine sections attached. Turns out not much. But we did get really hot walking around the Visitor’s Center (no dogs allowed inside) and a chat with Abe.
We arrived at our big campsite denuded of any trees where we landed the Starship. This one is a Holiday KOA meaning kids everywhere. I can’t believe they charged me a pet fee and want me to wear a fucking wristband.
The rest of the park was quite nice and I did enjoy a dip in the pool.
Harper’s Ferry
Harper’s Ferry was established in the mid-1700s by a dude named Harper. It sits at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers and was an excellent place for a ferry and water wheels to power machinery. Washington DC is about 50 miles downstream of here.
George Washington visited here in 1785 and liked what he found. Not much later, it became strategically important for the manufacturing and storage of guns at an armory that was built near the river. Most of the history from that point centered around the armory.
Work was done here to prepare for the Lewis & Clark expedition. Weapons were procured from the armory. He had a collapsable steel framed boat made here that was critical to their success. Early work in the standardization of gun parts using precision molds followed as a result of this effort. An industrial revolution all our own.
Later, just prior to the Civil War, it was the scene of John Brown’s raid. Brown was an abolitionist and planned to raid the armory and arm the slaves in rebellion. It didnβt work, and they hung him. Prior to his death, he predicated that the Civil War would begin soon.
A couple of years later, he was proved right. During the Civil War the armory was a target. It was burned and all the weapons seized. Yet it remained a vital part of both the north and south’s ambitions, changing hands 8 times during the war.
The impact of John Brown’s legacy lived on as the first college for anyone was started here after the war. White, black, male and female – everyone was welcome. How fucking cool is that man!
The area changed status from a Monument to a National Historical Park. The restaurants downtown probably make a fortune in the Summertime so many people visit here. They bus them in on shuttle buses.
In the afternoon we were treated to a downpour. Heaviest rain since the Outer Banks. Next stop is Charlottesville, Virginia and a visit to Monticello.
