Near Kearneysville in Jefferson County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
The Bower
Photographed by Roger Dean Meyer, September 30, 2006
1. "The Bower" Marker
Erected 1963 by West Virginia Historic Commission.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Archives and History series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1772.
Location. 39° 21.386′ N, 77° 55.551′ W. Marker is near Kearneysville, West Virginia, in Jefferson County. It is at the intersection of Leetown Road and Paynes Ford Road, on the left when traveling north on Leetown Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12082 Leetown Rd, Kearneysville WV 25430, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in the Eastern Panhandle. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: "Prato Rio" (approx. 0.8 miles away); Johnsontown (approx. 2.2 miles away); John C. Heinz House (approx. 2½ miles away); Kearneysville Area Historic Properties (approx. 2.6 miles away); Shaw Run Wetland Complex (approx. 2.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kearneysville.
Additional commentary.
this page online
1. J.E.B. Stuart and John Pelham at the Bower
In October 1862, the Dandridge house hosted J.E.B. Stuart and his staff for several days. On October 15, 1862, Stuart held a ball at the Bower in celebration of his success in Pennsylvania and Maryland.
— Submitted March 27, 2009, by Robert H. Moore, II of Winchester, Virginia.
2.
For a first hand account of the dances at the Bower see Chapter 8 of Memoirs of the Confederate War for Independence by Heros Von Borcke, Arcadia Press 2017
— Submitted July 26, 2025, by Ted Ware of Vienna, Virginia.
Photographed by E P Dandridge, circa 1995
2. "The Bower" seen from the west in early spring
Credits. This page was last revised on August 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2007, by Roger Dean Meyer of Yankton, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 4,474 times since then and 117 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 17, 2007, by Roger Dean Meyer of Yankton, South Dakota. 2. submitted on May 2, 2009, by E P Dandridge of Kezar Falls, Maine. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.
