History of the Inn
The geography and history of the town are unique and rich beyond description.
The geography and history of the Inn are likewise interesting.
The Heritage House (179 Highs Street) was the residence at the "end of the town" when it was built in 1840 by the Robert Doran Family, who purchased the land from the Wager Family in 1839. How providential that the "Towns-end" Family should purchase this property almost 170 years later!
Furthermore, the great-grandparents of local resident Lynn Vaughn resided in this house in the early 20th century. This was the William Oliver Towns Family! Mr. Towns was the publisher of the Harpers Ferry Times newspaper and a photographer. The Towns Studio and Publishing Establishment was across the street in what is now the "Secret Six Tavern/Sundries" building. Lynn provided to us photographs of the Towns Family and their residence, which we enlarged and placed in the entry to the Inn. Together, the Townsend Family and descendants of the Towns Family welcome you to the Town's Inn!
The geography and history of the Inn are likewise interesting.
The Heritage House (179 Highs Street) was the residence at the "end of the town" when it was built in 1840 by the Robert Doran Family, who purchased the land from the Wager Family in 1839. How providential that the "Towns-end" Family should purchase this property almost 170 years later!
Furthermore, the great-grandparents of local resident Lynn Vaughn resided in this house in the early 20th century. This was the William Oliver Towns Family! Mr. Towns was the publisher of the Harpers Ferry Times newspaper and a photographer. The Towns Studio and Publishing Establishment was across the street in what is now the "Secret Six Tavern/Sundries" building. Lynn provided to us photographs of the Towns Family and their residence, which we enlarged and placed in the entry to the Inn. Together, the Townsend Family and descendants of the Towns Family welcome you to the Town's Inn!
History of the Towns Family: Former Residents of 179 High Street
William Oliver Towns was born on May 24, 1850 in Wardensville, Virginia (Hardy County), now West Virginia. As a young man, he moved to Mount Jackson, Virginia and married Clara Virginia Walters. They moved to Winchester, Virginia for eight years, then to Lewistown, Pennsylvania, then to Toms Brook, Virginia, and in 1900 to Harpers Ferry, where they resided with their family at 179 High Street. Their children were Clara May, Lillie Irene, William Garnett, and Earl Cleveland Towns. Mr. Towns had a photography studio and print shop in what is now the Secret Six Sundries/Tavern building across the street from the 179 High Street. He was the editor and publisher of the Harpers Ferry Times, a weekly newspaper in the early 1900's. He was active in the Camp Hill Methodist Church as well as in the Prohibition Movement. He died on August 14, 1924 and is buried in the Harper Cemetery.
