HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 10
(By Delegates Overington, Blair, Doyle, Duke,
Cowles, Miller, Tabb and Rowan)
Requesting the State of West Virginia and the United States Federal
Government to fully recognize that the counties of Berkeley
and Jefferson in the State of West Virginia are part of the
beautiful and historic Shenandoah Valley.
Whereas, The State of West Virginia was part of the State of
Virginia until June 20
th, 1863 and the counties of Berkeley and
Jefferson were not officially added into the new State until 1872
upon the ruling of the United States Supreme Court. This ruling
split the Shenandoah Valley into two sections, with the two
counties just mentioned being now part of West Virginia and part of
a political arm called the "Eastern Panhandle"; and
Whereas, The geographical landscape of the Shenandoah Valley is
as follows: Beginning at the Potomac River that forms the northern
boundary along Berkeley and Jefferson Counties and continuing
southwestward to the southern boundary near the city of Roanoke,
Virginia. The valley is flanked to the east by the Blue Ridge
Mountains (in eastern Jefferson County, West Virginia) and to the
west by the Allegheny Mountains (in western Berkeley County, West
Virginia). The Shenandoah River flows northward and empties into the Potomac River at Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. To break down
the valley into two parts: The Upper Shenandoah Valley is located
southward because of a high elevation and the Lower Shenandoah
Valley is located northward because of a low elevation; and
Whereas, The historical landscape of Berkeley and Jefferson
Counties is a storybook land full of famous patriots and people,
wars and great events that made it into the history books. Both
counties are rich in legend and lore. This is where the Great
Wagon Road (later called the Valley Turnpike) provided travel for
Indians, the earliest pioneers and Revolutionary and Civil War
soldiers. The entire valley was known as the "Breadbasket of the
Confederacy" because of its richness in fertile soils that sustains
life for farms and orchards. The following is a brief look at the
history of the counties of Berkeley and Jefferson: From George
Washington and Thomas Jefferson to Morgan Morgan, from
Revolutionary War Generals William Darke, Horatio Gates, Charles
Lee, Daniel Morgan and General Adam Stephen to the famous Bee Line
March and the oldest continuous 1735 United States Military Unit
still in existence; and
Whereas, From the birthplace of United States President Andrew
Jackson and the marriage of United States President James and Dolly
Madison to Davy Crockett who worked on a local farm to James
Rumsey, inventor of the steamboat. From John Brown and Robert E.
Lee, "Stonewall" Jackson and J. E. B. Stuart, Turner Ashby and the Gray Ghost and Confederate Spy, Belle Boyd to the Battle of Falling
Waters-the first engagement in the Shenandoah Valley and first
cavalry action of the Civil War -- From the 1862 Battle of Harpers
Ferry, to the Jackson Valley Campaign, to Philip Sheridan's
successful Union Valley Campaign -- From David Hunter and David
Hunter Strother (Pen name "Porte Crayon") -- To Martin Robinson
Delaney, the highest ranking black officer in the Civil War -- From
the B. & O. Roundhouses (landmarks in 20
th century industrial
architecture that replaced buildings destroyed in a famous Civil
War raid by Jackson) to the first Rural Free Delivery in America
(begun by United States Postmaster General William L. Wilson, a son
of Jefferson County) and Washington Family Homes to the birth of
Harry Flood Byrd, Senator and Governor of Virginia and from
baseball player, Hack Wilson and WWI Secretary of the War, Newton
D. Baker to the Legend of Wizard Clip and to famous western artist
William Robinson Leigh, a Berkeley County native. From the city of
Martinsburg, "Northern Gateway to the Shenandoah Valley" and at one
time known as "Queen City" to the famous Apple Pie Ridge and the
first Apple Carnival Event held in 1909" -- From Apple Blossom to
Apple Harvest......This is the "Cradle of America"; therefore, be
it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That in 1996, the United States Congress established the
"Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District and Commission" and Berkeley and Jefferson Counties, West Virginia were
not included to be a part of the program or to obtain any funds;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That Berkeley and Jefferson Counties, West
Virginia should be eligible to become part of the "Shenandoah
Battlefields National Historic District and Commission" and be
eligible for any other federal programs that are available for the
Shenandoah Valley; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates is
hereby directed to forward a copy of this Resolution to the
President of the United States and to West Virginia's Delegation in
Congress and the Governor of West Virginia and to the Mayors and
City Councils of Bolivar, Charles Town, Harpers Ferry, Hedgesville,
Martinsburg, Ranson and Sheperdstown and to the County
Commissioners of Berkeley and Jefferson Counties, West Virginia.
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