Berkeley Hotel Marker

Constructed in the early 1840s, the Berkeley Hotel welcomed guests to the city following the arrival of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in 1842. The building is one of only a few remaining commercial structures that predate the Civil War in Martinsburg. At the time of the war, Martinsburg was a strategic objective of both Union and Confederate forces owing to the importance of this railroad connection. The hotel was spared destruction and the B&O Railroad bought the building in 1866. The railroad expanded the building and used it as their passenger station as well as a restaurant, telegraph office, and hotel. In 1877, the trainmen and enginemen began a major labor strike at this location in protest of wage cuts. This local protest spread and was known as the “Great Strike of 1877” nationwide. Railroad and military officials used the hotel as their headquarters during the strike and used force to end the labor conflict.

On May 24, 1861, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnson ordered Stonewall Jackson to destroy the rolling stock here. Beginning in June, and over the next the ten months, more than 400 railcars and 40 locomotives were taken, damaged, or destroyed. The Confederates also stripped the round-house complex of its stationary equipment, tools, and 40-foot turntable but did not destroy the buildings. A few of the locomotives were disassembled, and 40-horse teams dragged them up the turnpikes to Strasburg. Several were transported in pieces to Richmond, reassembled, and returned to use.

In September-October 1862, after the Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg), Maryland, Jackson’s retreating column occupied Martinsburg. The Confederates destroyed almost 38 miles of track and burned the round-house, shops, warehouses, ticket and telegraph offices, company hotel, and other facilities. The privately owned Berkeley Hotel was spared.

The Railroad Raids of Martinsburg, WV

As a major depot along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the town of Martinsburg, Virginia (now West Virginia), enjoyed a thriving economy in the mid-1800s.  For this same reason, the town of Martinsburg was a strategically desired location for both sides during the Civil War.  The town changed hands between Confederate and Union forces thirty-seven times, during the course of the Civil War and was the site of two battles (First and Second Battle of Martinsburg).  After the Union was defeated in the Second Battle of Bull Run on August 30, 1862, General Robert E. Lee turned his Confederate forces to the North.  General Stonewall Jackson was ordered to drive the Union forces out of Martinsburg and then occupy Harper's Ferry.  On the 11th of September, Jackson's men drove a force of roughly 2,500 Union troops, under the command of General Julius White, out of Martinsburg and back into Harper's Ferry_.1  Between 15,000 and 20,000 Confederate soldiers converged in Martinsburg before Jackson and his men moved to capture Harper's Ferry and link up with General Lee's Army in Sharpsburg, MD.

From September 18th thru November 3rd, Martinsburg remained under Confederate control.  Following the Battle of Antietam, the town of Martinsburg was converted into a major hospital center with hundreds of wounded, dying and sick soldiers being transported there for treatment.  On October 19th and 20th, the Confederates resumed their efforts to destroy the property of the B&O Railroad.  The engine house, warehouse, machine shops, ticket office, dining hall, wash house, coal bins and water station were all set on fire and completely destroyed.  "The rails were heated to a white glow in improvised furnaces of cross ties and Confederate workers bent them around trees or stationary objects to distort their shape"._{1 (p. 24)}  Once the destruction was complete, the Confederate forces began to withdraw towards Winchester.  Union forces retook control of Martinsburg on November 6, 1862 and construction crews from the B&O railroad began the enormous task of repairing the tracks and bridges.  By December 25th, passenger and military trains were once again operational from Martinsburg to points west.  Unfortunately for the residents of Martinsburg, their experiences with the Civil War were far from over.

There are several other historical markers and related sites within walking distance of the Berkeley Hotel Marker.  Other nearby markers include the Roundhouses and Shops, the Martinsburg Roundhouse, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Shop Complex, the Belle Boyd House, the Civil War Martinsburg, and the Railroad Strike of 1877 marker.  The Berkeley County Historical Society is located in the Belle Boyd House at 126 East Race Street, Martinsburg, WV 25401.  The Belle Boyd House is open from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday thru Saturday.  They are closed in observance of the following holidays; Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day thru New Years Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day.

1. The Berkeley Journal, Martinsburg, West Virginia During the Civil War. Issue 27. Published in 2001 by the Berkeley County Historical Society. Martinsburg, WV. 2. The Berkeley Journal, Berkeley County in the Civil War. Issue 26. Published in 2000 by the Berkeley County Historical Society. Martinsburg, WV.