Shepherdstown's 4-Way Stop
Turnings From A Former Worthy Sentinel
Representative Gallery
(coming Soon)
About The 4-Way Stop
The pictured tree – Town Tree # 135 - stood like a sentinel upon the southeast corner of Shepherdstown’s iconic “4-Way Stop,” which for centuries has been the focal point of traffic directions given for Town and regional destinations. Established on December 23, 1762 by consecutive acts passed by the Virginia House of Burgesses and approved by the governor, Mecklenburg, later renamed Shepherdstown, is the oldest town in West Virginia. Situated where Duke and German Streets intersect, the 4-Way Stop is the point from which one can travel west to Martinsburg, north to the Potomac River and Maryland, south to Kearneysville, or east, into Town’s Historic District. Over time the intersection has been known by various family names, depending on whomever happened to live there (Byers, Beltzhoovers and Weis’ are examples), and, surprisingly, there have been times during the last century when there was a traffic light there. Tree #135 was removed in August, 2023, as a hazardous tree. As a long time-time fan of its burl-covered appearance, I chased down the discarded wood, which was an afternoon away from becoming mulch, and crafted pieces by which I hope it will be remembered.