Virginius Island is a formerly inhabited island of some 12 acres (4.9 ha), on the Shenandoah River in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The island was created by the Shenandoah Canal, constructed by the Patowmack Company between 1806 and 1807, which separates it from the town of Harpers Ferry. The canal was constructed to enable boats to bypass rapids on the river, and also channel water to drive machinery. In the nineteenth century Virginius Island contained Harpers Ferry's industry (aside from the Arsenal) and working-class housing: a boarding house and row houses. Virginius Island is part of the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.
Virginius Island
Virginius Island in 1864, seen from Jefferson Rock. Note the train and roofless building near the center.
Virginius Island was a thriving industrial town in the first half of the nineteenth century. The Shenandoah was a great source of power by which to operate machinery. There was good access to markets via the Potomac, and even more after the Winchester and Potomac Railroad, which ran through the island, arrived in 1836. Its successor, CSX, runs trains along these tracks every day (2021).[1] The following year brought the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, joining Harpers Ferry with Baltimore, and soon Washington as well, via its new Potomac River Bridge. For different periods, there were a cotton mill, a flour mill (the longest lived), a sawmill, an iron foundry, a tannery, a rifle factory, a machine shop, a cooperage supplying barrels to the flour mill, and a carriage shop. At its peak in 1850, upwards of 180 residents lived in some twenty houses.[2]
Impact of the Civil Waredit
Virginius Island suffered greatly during the Civil War (1861–1865) The rifle factory was destroyed, as were some of the mills. The destruction of the Harpers Ferry Armory, the region's largest employer, and the destruction, depopulation, and insecurity of the town of Harpers Ferry itself were factors.[3] Much of the population fled to safer locales. For much of the war, the island was used by Union forces as barracks and stables, workshops, corrals, a hospital, and for storage.[2]
Virginius Island's decline and destructionedit
Inside the ruins of the cotton/flour mill.
Industry only partially recovered after the war. Manufacturers and potential manufacturers faced competition from new steam-powered industry, which could be built in locations without water power. The biggest enterprise during this period was a pulp mill.[2] In 1936 the worst recorded flood swept through the Harpers Ferry area, and the remaining islanders fled, never to return. No structures on Virginius Island remained standing. Today, the ruins of its mills, foundries, factories, warehouses, and homes can be seen on walking tours. Some has been stabilized and signed by the National Park Service as part of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Flooding in 1996 caused the island to be closed to visitors until 2003. It has been said that now what one sees are not ruins but half-completed buildings, strong enough to resist further flooding.[4]: 142
Under the auspices of the National Park Service, the industrial and sociological history of Virginius Island have been studied in depth. Research has revealed the islanders' inadequate nutrition, high alcohol consumption, intestinal parasites.[4]: 144–145 The materials for a study of the evolution of water-powered machinery are in the ruins.[5]
^ abMoyer, Teresa S.; Shackel, Paul A. (2008). The Making of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park: A Devil, Two Rivers, and a Dream. Lanham, Maryland: AltaMira Press.
^Historic American Engineering Record, Waterpower on Virginius Island ca. 1824–1936. Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, from the original on 2021-07-05, retrieved 2021-07-05
Sarles Jr., Frank B. (June 20, 1969). Social and Economic History of Virginius Island(PDF). Washington, D.C.: National Park Service, Dept. of the Interior.
HAER No. WV-83, "Virginius Island Waterpowered Mill Complex, North bank of Shenandoah River 0.5 mile from confluence with Potomac River, Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, WV", 13 photos, 8 measured drawings, 1 photo caption page
Media related to Shenandoah Pulp Mill (HAER) at Wikimedia Commons
December 18, 2023
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Virginius Island is a formerly inhabited island of some 12 acres 4 9 ha on the Shenandoah River in Harpers Ferry West Virginia The island was created by the Shenandoah Canal constructed by the Patowmack Company between 1806 and 1807 which separates it from the town of Harpers Ferry The canal was constructed to enable boats to bypass rapids on the river and also channel water to drive machinery In the nineteenth century Virginius Island contained Harpers Ferry s industry aside from the Arsenal and working class housing a boarding house and row houses Virginius Island is part of the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Virginius IslandVirginius Island in 1864 seen from Jefferson Rock Note the train and roofless building near the center GeographyLocationShenandoah River West Virginia United StatesCoordinates39 19 17 N 77 44 21 W 39 3214898 N 77 7391595 W 39 3214898 77 7391595AdministrationHarpers Ferry West Virginia Contents 1 A thriving industrial town 2 Impact of the Civil War 3 Virginius Island s decline and destruction 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksA thriving industrial town editVirginius Island was a thriving industrial town in the first half of the nineteenth century The Shenandoah was a great source of power by which to operate machinery There was good access to markets via the Potomac and even more after the Winchester and Potomac Railroad which ran through the island arrived in 1836 Its successor CSX runs trains along these tracks every day 2021 1 The following year brought the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad joining Harpers Ferry with Baltimore and soon Washington as well via its new Potomac River Bridge For different periods there were a cotton mill a flour mill the longest lived a sawmill an iron foundry a tannery a rifle factory a machine shop a cooperage supplying barrels to the flour mill and a carriage shop At its peak in 1850 upwards of 180 residents lived in some twenty houses 2 Impact of the Civil War editVirginius Island suffered greatly during the Civil War 1861 1865 The rifle factory was destroyed as were some of the mills The destruction of the Harpers Ferry Armory the region s largest employer and the destruction depopulation and insecurity of the town of Harpers Ferry itself were factors 3 Much of the population fled to safer locales For much of the war the island was used by Union forces as barracks and stables workshops corrals a hospital and for storage 2 Virginius Island s decline and destruction edit nbsp Inside the ruins of the cotton flour mill Industry only partially recovered after the war Manufacturers and potential manufacturers faced competition from new steam powered industry which could be built in locations without water power The biggest enterprise during this period was a pulp mill 2 In 1936 the worst recorded flood swept through the Harpers Ferry area and the remaining islanders fled never to return No structures on Virginius Island remained standing Today the ruins of its mills foundries factories warehouses and homes can be seen on walking tours Some has been stabilized and signed by the National Park Service as part of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Flooding in 1996 caused the island to be closed to visitors until 2003 It has been said that now what one sees are not ruins but half completed buildings strong enough to resist further flooding 4 142 Under the auspices of the National Park Service the industrial and sociological history of Virginius Island have been studied in depth Research has revealed the islanders inadequate nutrition high alcohol consumption intestinal parasites 4 144 145 The materials for a study of the evolution of water powered machinery are in the ruins 5 See also editJohn H Hall gunsmith List of islands of West VirginiaReferences edit Virginius Island and Hall s Island Trail National Park Service 2019 Archived from the original on July 5 2021 Retrieved June 15 2021 a b c Johnson Mary 1995 A Nineteenth Century Mill Village Virginius Island 1800 60 West Virginia History 54 1 27 Horwitz Tony 2011 The toll from the raid on Harpers Ferry Midnight rising John Brown and the raid that sparked the Civil War Henry Holt and Co p 285 ISBN 9780805091533 a b Moyer Teresa S Shackel Paul A 2008 The Making of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park A Devil Two Rivers and a Dream Lanham Maryland AltaMira Press Historic American Engineering Record Waterpower on Virginius Island ca 1824 1936 Harpers Ferry West Virginia archived from the original on 2021 07 05 retrieved 2021 07 05Further reading editShackel Paul A Palus Matthew M 2006 They Worked Regular Craft Labor and Family in the Industrial Community of Virginius Island Knoxville Tennessee University of Tennessee Press ISBN 9781572334441 Bergstresser Jack 1987 Virginius Island Water Powered Industrial Village PDF HAER No WV 35 Historic American Engineering Record National Park Service Sarles Jr Frank B June 20 1969 Social and Economic History of Virginius Island PDF Washington D C National Park Service Dept of the Interior Snell Charles W December 4 1958 A History of the Island of Virginius 1751 to 1870 PDF HF 29 Harpers Ferry West Virginia Harpers Ferry National Monument External links editGilbert David T 2005 Virginius Island Map amp Guide Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Archived from the original on July 22 2010 HAER No WV 59 Shenandoah Pulp Mill Shenandoah Street Harpers Ferry Jefferson County WV 12 photos 10 measured drawings 1 photo caption page HAER No WV 83 Virginius Island Waterpowered Mill Complex North bank of Shenandoah River 0 5 mile from confluence with Potomac River Harpers Ferry Jefferson County WV 13 photos 8 measured drawings 1 photo caption page nbsp Media related to Shenandoah Pulp Mill HAER at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Virginius Island West Virginia amp oldid 1034932094, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
