Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States West Virginia Shepherdstown Shepherdstown Public Library
AO Edited

Shepherdstown Public Library

The "All-Seeing Eye of God" symbol on this library is a clue to one of the many former lives of this building.

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Added By
Ian Hall
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Shepherdstown Public Library   Ron Cogswell / CC BY 2.0
Shepherdstown Public Library   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Shepherdstown Public Library   "2013.04.28-IMG_1926" by martin_kalfatovic is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Circa 1800 sign.   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
D.A.R. plaque   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Though it is now a library, this small white building in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, has had a number of other uses over the last 200 years. Constructed in 1800, this building was originally a one-story farmer's market known as the Market House.

In 1845, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) petitioned the town to build a second story to hold their meetings. The rituals of the IOOF required a room on the second floor with opaque windows in order to keep their gatherings secret. The request was agreed upon and a second floor with a stairway in the rear of the building to keep their portion separate from the market was added.

Other improvements included a façade resembling that of the German Reformed Church, a new roof, and the addition of their insignia on the front of the building. The work was completed in exchange for a 999-year lease on the space. Over the years, the market served as a hospital during the Civil War, home to the fire department, town council offices, a butcher shop, a school, a jail, and most recently, the public library.

The second story served as the meeting place for the IOOF until 1962, with the "All-Seeing Eye of God" and "Heart-In-Hand" symbols remaining to this day. That same year, the Shepherdstown Women's Club expanded the library to the second floor by purchasing the lease from the IOOF and converting the upstairs meeting space into a children's area. In 1971, the Women's Club handed off stewardship of the library to the state of West Virginia.

Related Tags

Secret Society Oddities Architecture History & Culture Libraries

Know Before You Go

Shepherdstown Public Library is the longest continuously occupied library building in the state of West Virginia. 

Community Contributors

Added By

blimpcaptain

Published

February 25, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.sheplibrary.org/about-us/our-history/
  • https://www.inspirock.com/united-states/shepherdstown/shepherdstown-public-library-a1450972791
  • https://librarycommission.wv.gov/library_map/Pages/LibraryDetails.aspx?Title=Shepherdstown%20Public%20Library
Shepherdstown Public Library
100 E German St
Shepherdstown, West Virginia, 25443
United States
39.430746, -77.805907
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Little House

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

miles away

O'Hurley's General Store

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

miles away

Birthplace of the Steamboat

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Shepherdstown

Shepherdstown

West Virginia

Places 3

Nearby Places

The Little House

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

miles away

O'Hurley's General Store

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

miles away

Birthplace of the Steamboat

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Shepherdstown

Shepherdstown

West Virginia

Places 3

Related Places

  • Pembroke, Maine

    Reversing Hall Agrarian Library

    An agricultural research library housed in a former Odd Fellows Lodge.

  • Kadokawa Musashino Museum

    Tokorozawa, Japan

    Kadokawa Musashino Museum

    This airy five-floor library and museum houses thousands of books and rotating exhibits on Japanese monsters and anime.

  • Kenneth Dike Library

    Ibadan, Nigeria

    Kenneth Dike Library

    Not only does this library house unique Arabic manuscripts, but it was also designed to keep the building cool during warm days.

  • Renton Public Library

    Renton, Washington

    Renton Public Library

    This unique library spans a mighty river.

  • Decorative drainpipe on the former Waring home (Chippewa Square).

    Savannah, Georgia

    Dolphin Drainpipes

    These ornate, fish-shaped water spouts guard Savannah’s historic facades.

    Sponsored by Visit Savannah
  • Castillo de Gillow.

    San Lucas el Grande, Mexico

    Ex-Hacienda de Chautla

    A historic Puebla estate featuring a striking castle.

  • Face of Nakpil-Bautista house

    Manila, Philippines

    Bahay Nakpil-Bautista

    A century-old ancestral home was home to some of the key figures of the Philippine Revolution.

  • The Tomioka Silk Mill.

    Tomioka, Japan

    Tomioka Silk Mill

    The World Heritage-designated site of Japan’s industrial revolution, once mistaken as a den of vampires.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.