Joseph John “Jack” Snyder of Shepherdstown died May 27, 2025 at the Martinsburg Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Jack Snyder, my friend, was — such an important, quietly impactful person here — examples are restoring and making useful the Shepherdstown train station and the Duffields Depot, which is cited as the oldest, still standing purpose-built freight station. A real B&O scholar, his beautifully illustrated and in depth “Baltimore and Ohio: The Passenger Trains and Services of America’s First Common-Carrier Railroad, 1827-1971” is still available on Amazon.

I’m convinced that his easy, insightful understanding of his topic and the practical aspects of the projects convinced Senator Byrd to fund his work over several work lunches they had. If you go to my Youtube channel and then search for Jack Snyder, you will find six excellent videos of Jack giving the history — easily, notes-free and insightfully — of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.

Jack was also a founding member of the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Sally, daughter Lauren Harr (Seth), son Brian Snyder (Laura Kate), granddaughter Stella Harr, sister Morgan Llywelyn and nephew Sean Winter.

His work on behalf of preserving local history will not be forgotten.

Jim Surkamp, of Shepherdstown