Shepherdstown in Jefferson County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Belle Vue

1773

Photographed by Karrie Donbergs, November 15, 2013

1. Belle Vue Marker

Inscription. Built by Col. Joseph Van Swearingen
American Revolutionary Soldier
Visited by Lafayette, George Washington, Henry Clay and Wm. J. Bryan
Home of Henry Shepherd V. Descendant of Shepherdtown's founder

Erected 2012 by National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century, Sir George Calvert Chapter, Maryland.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Patriots & Patriotism • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the The Colonial Dames XVII Century, National Society series list.

Location. 39° 26.364′ N, 77° 48.277′ W. Marker is in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, in Jefferson County. It can be reached from Katie Lane 0.1 miles east of Shepherd Grade Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Shepherdstown WV 25443, 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,

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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 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Shepherdstown (approx. ¼ mile away); The James Rumsey Bridge (approx. ¼ mile away); River Crossing (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Shepherdstown (approx. ¼ mile away); Jefferson County / Maryland (approx. 0.3 miles away); A View into the Past (approx. 0.3 miles away in Maryland); a different marker also named Shepherdstown (approx. 0.3 miles away in Maryland); Blackford's Ford (approx. 0.3 miles away in Maryland). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Shepherdstown.

Regarding Belle Vue. The Van Swearingen-Shepherd House, also known as Bellevue, is a Colonial Revival mansion in Shepherdstown, West Virginia that is home to the descendants of Captain Thomas Shepherd, founder of Shepherdstown. The house, situated on a bluff overlooking the Potomac River, was built in 1773 by Thomas Van Swearingen as a single-story

Photographed by Karrie Donbergs, November 15, 2013

2. Belle Vue Marker

Marker is just to the right of the entrance.

stone house. His son, also named Thomas Van Swearingen, was a US Representative. The Shepherd family acquired the house in 1900, when Henry Shepherd III bought the house as a wedding present for his bride Minnie Reinhart, whose grandfather was Thomas Van Swearingen. That year, the Shepherds gave a dinner party on the lawn for William Jennings Bryan during his second presidential campaign. The house remains in the hands of the Shepherd family. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Additional keywords. NRHP Van Swearingen – Shepherd House

Photographed by Karrie Donbergs, November 15, 2013

3. Belle Vue

Photographed by Karrie Donbergs, November 15, 2013

4. Belle Vue

Photographed by Karrie Donbergs, November 15, 2013

5. Belle Vue

The Van Swearingen-Shepherd house, situated on a bluff overlooking the Potomac River.

Photographed by Karrie Donbergs, November 15, 2013

6. Belle Vue

View east from Shepherd Grade Road towards Belle Vue.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 21, 2013, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,697 times since then and 58 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on December 21, 2013, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.