Charles Town Remembers Cemetery, Ranson Rejects Rezoning
Published 9 days ago • 8 min read
Observer Weekly
August 21, 2025
Jefferson County, WV news & events
Every week, The Observer digs into the details that matter in Jefferson County. Our content is free for everyone to read, but producing well-researched local news isn’t free.
The newly-appointed board of the Jefferson County Development Authority (JCDA) met this week to elect officers and get a brief overview of priorities and current projects. >>>Read more...
The Jefferson County Fair runs through Saturday. Still time to catch mild weather, plentiful food, and amazing fun! >>>Photos…
The Chicago Bears sign Tyson Bagent to a two-year, $10 million contract extension
Flashback (click image for story): Tyson Bagent throws to teammates during 2022 NFL Pro Day at Shepherd University's Ram Stadium (S Pearson photo).
Charles Town Dedicates African American Cemetery
The Charles Town African American Cemetery was formally dedicated during a brief ceremony on August 17, 2025. A newly-installed monument on the site marks a 19th-century burial ground located at the corner of South Seminary and East Avis Streets.
Linda Downing Ballard recounted some history during the ceremony. “No one knows their names…. What we do know is that these individuals are buried here… [they were] “men, women, and children — with hopes, dreams and aspirations just like the rest of us.”
Ballard, who has compiled extensive research on the Black community in Charles Town, explained that there are no available death records for the community prior to 1853, even though census records indicate hundreds of enslaved individuals lived around Charles Town during the early 19th century. She said that this burial ground was actively used from 1836 until 1875, when Fairview Cemetery was established.
There were no individual burial markers or gravestones for the interred in what was considered a “potter’s field” and its history was soon forgotten. As one participant remarked during the ceremony, “we walked by as kids, it was just a field.”
Research on the Fairview Cemetery by the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission convinced then-Mayor Bob Trainor to establish a committee in 2023 to research this burial location. In addition to the new monument, the committee has installed ground markers above the 48 identifiable burials that were located using ground-penetrating radar.
At the end of the 19th century, the City of Charles Town had built a water tower on the field, with more towers added in the early 20th century. The outline of one of the former towers is still visible adjacent to the large tower that sits on the south end of the field today. Ballard noted that there is no way to know whether the individuals buried in those locations were reinterred at Fairview before the tanks were constructed. She did say that the committee had decided to keep the spots disturbed by the former towers bare as a reminder of the history.
As Ballard concluded, she said “This place will tell a story of America’s history. Let us remember and reflect.”
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This week the Ranson City Council denied a request by landowner Sleepy Hollow Partnership to rezone 160 acres located off North Mildred Street from “rural reserve” to a designation that would ultimately allow for dense urban development.
The site includes wetlands associated with Evitts Run and the Comprehensive Plan calls for those areas to be protected (the application proposed zoning for medium-density housing in these wetland areas).
The future land use map in the Comprehensive Plan shows this area as suburban density residential housing (the zoning application proposed a mix of suburban and urban density housing).
The site falls within a low priority area for development according to the Comprehensive Plan (a reference to the lack of roads connecting it to the rest of the City of Ranson).
One Way In & Out
Cranes Lane is the only access to the proposed development site. That road currently serves only a few houses and several large farms and its only outlet is to North Mildred Street (after it crosses the CSX railroad tracks). Wimer referenced survey documents that show the road right of way at 30 feet — too narrow for sidewalks and turn lanes and well below the state standards for a road that would need to serve as many as the 700 houses expected in the proposed development.
Several adjacent landowners pointed out that bringing the road up to standards and providing a signalized intersection at North Mildred street would require additional right of way — presumably by eminent domain, as none of them seemed eager to give up portions of their property to benefit the proposed development.
Not Consistent With The Comprehensive Plan
Following the public hearing, the Council briefly debated the rezoning request. Mayor Ken Suits pointed out that the rezoning request was only the first of several steps that would be required for Sleepy Hollow Partnership to get approval for a final development plan. Several of the council members expressed concerns that the application was too far afield from the guidelines of the Comprehensive Plan to even proceed with this first step and the Council ended up rejecting the request with only one council member voting to support it.
A message from Freedom's Run
Freedom’s Run Race Series | October 4th – Shepherdstown, WV
Experience the thrill of racing — where history meets endurance! Choose from the marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K, or kids fun run... all set against a stunning backdrop. Take in breathtaking views of Harpers Ferry, Antietam National Battlefield, the C&O Canal, and more. Whether you're going for a personal best or a scenic stroll, there's a distance for everyone — from first-timers to seasoned marathoners.
The ambulance fee invoices that arrived in the mail this week are for the 2025-2026 fee, which is due by September 30, 2025.
You may remember receiving a similar-looking invoice in June, but that was for the 2024-2025 fee, which is due by August 31.
The fee is authorized by the Ambulance Fee Ordinance, which was last revised in 2019, when the annual fee for owner-occupied residences was reduced to $39. The 2019 ordinance set the annual fee for non-owner-occupied residences at $50 and the minimum fee for commercial property at $90. The ordinance also set the ambulance fee at $20 for owner-occupied residences that have obtained a “homestead exemption” from the Assessor (owners who are 65 years of age or older can contact the Assessor’s Office to request this exemption, which also reduces property taxes).
The 2019 ordinance specifies the “Jefferson County Emergency Services Agency” (JCESA) as the recipient of the fee revenue. At the time the ordinance was adopted, the JCESA was an independent entity with its own board of directors. When the County Commission voted to restructure the ambulance services in 2023 it intentionally kept the same “Jefferson County Emergency Services Agency” name for what became a county department, allowing it to remain in technical compliance with the 2019 ordinance and other licensing requirements.
Normally the County Commission sends only one invoice to every property owner in the county each year. The Commission was unable to send the bills out on time last year due to a backlog in updating the property records.
Last month, the Commission considered delaying the current year billing to spread out the payments. However, adjusting the billing schedule would require amending the 2019 ordinance and ultimately they decided against making any changes.
The County Commission website has the most current official information about the ambulance fee and options for paying the invoices.
A message from Bridge Gallery
ART BAZAAR THIS WEEKEND, AUGUST 23 & 24, 9-4 PM
Once again The Bridge Gallery will become an eclectic art marketplace with proceeds going to the Jefferson County Animal Welfare Society. The public is invited to purchase donated art and assorted treasures including original paintings, posters, picture frames, ceramics, books, jewelry, rugs and more. Stop by and shop! Help us help the animals!
Highlights of upcoming events around Jefferson County:
Jefferson County Fair – Annual fair featuring rides, livestock, food vendors, and entertainment at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds (1707 Old Leetown Pike, Kearneysville). Runs every day until Saturday, August 23, multiple events and showtimes. $ Tickets & Info…
Dear Persephone: A New Play With Music – Contemporary play by local playwright Heather Wallen presented by the Roving Peregrine Theatre Company (Black Box Arts Center, 113 South Princess St., Shepherdstown). Friday, August 22–Sunday, August 24, multiple showtimes. $ Tickets & Info…
Art Bazaar – A treasure trove of art and electic items for sale to benefit Jefferson County Animal Welfare Society. Saturday August 23 & Sunday, August 24, 9 am to 4 pm both days. Bridge Gallery (8566 Shepherdstown Pike, Shepherdstown).
Concert in the Park: Terry Barbin & The Shenandoah Bluegrass — Bluegrass concert at Shafer Park (37 Park Drive, Boonsboro, MD). Lawn chairs and blankets welcome. Saturday, August 23, 7 pm. Free. Info…
Slabtown Cemetery Cleanup — Volunteer cleanup project hosted by Middleway Conservancy and Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission at Slabtown Cemetery (6884 Leetown Rd., Middleway). Water provided. Bring gloves/yard tools. Sunday, August 24, Noon–4 pm. Free. Info…
Concert in the Park: Harmony Cornet Band — Concert by a 109-year old community band at Shafer Park (37 Park Drive, Boonsboro, MD). Sunday, August 24, 5 pm. Free. Info…
James Newsome Organ Recital — Organ performance at Trinity Episcopal Church (208 West German St., Shepherdstown). Sunday, August 24, 2 pm. Free. Info…
The Music and Legacy of Ola Belle Reed — Documentary about an influential musician, singer and writer of traditional mountain music followed by panel discussion featuring the experts from Smithsonian Folkways, University of Maryland, and Shepherd University. Shepherdstown Opera House (131 W German St, Shepherdstown). Wednesday, August 27, 7 pm. Free, donations accepted. Info…
Auditions: Shepherd Community Orchestra and Sinfonia — Open auditions for Shepherd University’s community orchestra and a strings learning ensemble at the Frank Center (260 University Drive, Shepherdstown). Wednesday, August 27, 6–9 pm. Advance Registration.
Fly Fishing Film Festival — Seven short films will be screened at this annual event hosted by Friends of the National Conservation Training Center (698 Conservation Way, Shepherdstown). Thursday, August 28, 7 pm. Free. Info…
Jazz Workshop — Eight-week performance-based class for jazz musicians of all levels at the Frank Center (260 University Dr., Shepherdstown). Thursday, August 28, 7 pm. $ Registration & Info…
Civil War Center Lecture: Jen Murray — Professor Jennifer Murray, the new Director of the George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War, will talk about her research and meet the community (131 West German St., Shepherdstown). Thursday, August 28, 7 pm. Lecture will be followed by a reception across the street at the George Tyler Moore Center building. Free. Info…
