It feels like home to me
After a recent emergency visit to the hospital, my 90-year-old grandfather spent a few weeks in Williamsport Nursing Home regaining his muscle strength. And, for possibly the first time, he felt comfortable enough to start talking about his family history.
Our family history.
He and my grandmother moved to the Eastern Panhandle over 50 years ago, after growing up in Hagerstown, Maryland, and Binghamton, New York, respectively. I always assumed we were transplants to the area.
But then he started talking about Shepherdstown, shocking me with the news that we had several family members buried in Elmwood Cemetery beneath the Crowe family gravestone, some of whom were actively involved in the community during their lifetimes.
One of them was a reporter for the Shepherdstown Register.
Knowing my family has already been part of creating and documenting Shepherdstown’s history has given me an extra dose of excitement to become The Chronicle’s new editor. I hope it will also help me understand the importance of local people and organizations, like the Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association Inc. and the Historic Shepherdstown Museum, both of which endeavor to preserve the town’s history and landmarks.
But since I’m still learning and new to The Chronicle, I know I have a bit of a learning curve ahead of me. I look forward to meeting more of you, and covering the events and personal experiences that make the Shepherdstown community so complex and vibrant.
Come by and visit me in The Chronicle office – I’d love to learn about you and any story ideas or new information you might have about people, organizations, events or businesses in Shepherdstown.
Feel free to call me at 304-876-3380 or email me at edit@shepherdstownchronicle.com or tjohnston@shepherdstownchronicle.com.
I’m hopeful this experience will not only be enjoyable for me, but also for you, and that despite saying goodbye to the amazing Vanessa McGuigan, you’ll be excited to say hello to me.