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Jefferson County, WV
About Jefferson County
Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Jefferson Rock
Shenandoah Canal
Shepherdstown
Entler Hotel
Rumsey Monument and Tobacco Warehouse
Morgan's Grove Park
Peter Burr House
Charles Town
Jefferson County Courthouse and Museum
Zion Episcopal Church
Happy Retreat
St. George's Chapel Ruins
Harewood
Cedar Lawn
Claymont Court/Blakeley
Middleway Historic District
Berkeley County, WV
About Berkeley County
Martinsburg
B&O Roundhouse & Station Complex
Belle Boyd House
Berkeley County Courthouse
Triple Brick Museum
General Adam Stephen House
Green Hill Cemetery
Van Metre Ford Bridge
Bunker Hill Mill
Morgan Chapel
Morgan Cabin
Gerrardstown Historic District
Hays Gerrard House
Mill's Gap
Sleep Creek Wildlife Management Area
Hedgesville Historic District
Mt. Zion Episcopal Church
Snodgrass Tavern
Morgan County, WV
About Morgan County
Spruce Pine Hollow Park
Berkeley Springs
Dutch Cemetery
Throgmorton's Inn
Bath Historic District
Berkeley Springs State Park
George Washington's Bathtub
Roman Bath House & Museum of the Berkeley Springs
Washington's Lots
Sir John's Run
Panorama Overlook
Great Cacapon
Camp Hill Cemetery
Paw Paw
Paw Paw Tunnel
Coolfont Manor House
Cacapon State Park

Washington Heritage Trail

 

GENERAL ADAM STEPHEN HOUSE


Adam Stephen built this impressive home of locally quarried limestone in 1774 on a hill overlooking Tuscarora Creek where a few years earlier he had acquired a tract of land. He also built a mill, distillery and armory. In 1772 when Berkeley County was formed, Stephen managed to wrest the courthouse location away from Leetown to his site which he would establish as the town of Martinsburg in 1778. He was the new county’s largest landowner and was appointed its first sheriff.

Stephen was born in Scotland. He was trained as a physician in Edinburg but functioned best as a soldier beginning with the Virginia militia. During the French and Indian War he served as a colonel and second in command to George Washington. He was at Fort Necessity when Washington was forced to surrender. In 1761 he ran against his former commander for a seat in the Virginia House of Burgesses. Washington won the election by a wide margin.

During the Revolutionary War he was promoted to general for his part in the Battle of Trenton. In one of his most notable achievements, he forced the retreat of British General Dunmore from Norfolk, Virginia. Stephen was eventually court martialed for unofficer-like behavior.

In 1959, William Evers donated the house to the city of Martinsburg. The Adam Stephen Memorial Association was formed to restore and furnish the building. The structure is a fine example of late colonial stone architecture. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it has been restored and furnished to the 1780-1820 period.

On the basement level there is an entrance to one of the many caves beneath Martinsburg. A second cave nearby is being explored. It is believed that the basement cave gave protection to inhabitants of the house in case of attack.

Location: 309 East John Street, Martinsburg
Hours of Operation: Open for house tours Saturdays and Sundays from May through October.

 

 



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