NRHP Reference # 99000286 Added to NRHP 19 March 1999 | Year built 1775 | |
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Architectural style Georgian, Greek Revival | ||
Morgan's Grove Park is located in the heart of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, United States, and shares a rich history dating back to the 18th Century and Morgan's Grove, from which the historic park got its name.
Contents
The park has a little over twenty acres of trees, meadows, a playground, and spring-fed stream that adds to the spectacular views when families come together for sporting or other live events. The park also has a 1500 square foot covered picnic pavilion with a full kitchen and restroom facilities, and is a place to host family events or corporate functions. The main features of the park include playground equipment, soccer fields, sand volleyball, horseshoe pits, and a 3/4 mile walking or running trail.
History
The park itself shares history that can be traced back to Morgan's Spring. The park goes back to July 16, 1775 when Captain Hugh Stephenson and his company began the famous "Bee Line March to Cambridge." This march lasted for roughly 24 days to meet up with George Washington's Continental Army that was roughly 600 miles away in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Morgan's Grove Park was the starting point of the historic journey, is currently listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1989 was officially designated by the Secretary of the Army as the birthplace of the United States Army.
The picture of the Springhouse is the only remaining structure of Fountain Rock. This is not by coincidence; the Springhouse is the last remaining artifact of Alexander Boteler's family mansion, which was destroyed in 1864 by Union forces. Boteler was elected to the Confederate Congress and served as an aide to General Stonewall Jackson.
Panhandle Earth Day Celebration
Annually, on the last Saturday of April, Morgan's Grove Park is the home of Panhandle's Earth Day Celebration. The celebration is just one of many events Morgan's Grove Park hosts and has been going strong since 2008.
Sports
Although the site has a baseball field, the majority of the park is dedicated to its soccer fields for the multiple leagues that the field can support. At the moment, the following youth soccer leagues play organized games on the soccer field: