In a community like Charles Town, the history is rich and the diversity of stories is very deep. The Charles Town Library, which has existed since at least the 1920s, has been a place to gather, learn and find inspiration. This never would have happened without the generations of people whose lives either laid the foundation of the library directly or were part of its earliest history before it was officially organized.
Over the circulation desk, there are several pictures of some of those people. We thought it would be nice to introduce them to you.
- Helena Platt Murphy:
Helena Bogardus Platt Murphy was the mother of Elsie Murphy, the driving force behind the creation of the Old Charles Town Library. Born in Boston, Massachusetts on August 15th, 1858, she was of Dutch ancestry. At the age of 19, she married Simon Jones Murphy, Jr. in Boston on October 17th, 1877.
The couple moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where she served four years as first lady of the city during her husband’s two terms as mayor.
Simon Jr., and Helena had eight children, though only five lived to adulthood, Elsie, Florence, Lorraine, Yvonne, and Temple. The family purchased Claymont Court in 1906 and although it was to be a summer home, Helena and the children spent more time there than elsewhere.
She died in December of 1926, less than three months after her husband. A funeral service was held at Claymont Court and she is interred at Zion Episcopal Church, on Congress Street.
When Elsie Murphy donated the building and land for the library, it was known as the Helena Platt Murphy Memorial Library.
2. John S. Alfriend:
John “Shadrack” Alfriend, a longtime member of the Board of Directors of the Charles Town Library, was born in Pulaski, Virginia in 1898. A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, he settled in Jefferson County and immediately threw himself into civic volunteerism.
Professionally, he was a newspaperman, owning and editing The Spirit of Jefferson and The Farmers Advocate from 1926-1934. After selling both papers, he became a banker. His last job was as Vice-President and Trust Officer of the Bank of Charles Town.
Among his many community leadership positions, he was a Commander of Jackson Perks Post No. 71 of the American Legion, President of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, and President of the Charles Town Kiwanis Club. A devoted member of Zion Episcopal Church, he served in nearly every position within the laity. Interestingly both his father and son were Episcopal clergymen.
John Alfriend died at his home on South Samuel Street on Friday, April 7th, 1972.
3. Elsie Bogardus Murphy:
The most significant philanthropist in the history of Jefferson County, Murphy was born in Muskegon, Michigan on the 12th of November, 1881. Her father bought Claymont Court, a Washington Family home, in 1906 for use as a summer home, though members of the family utilized it year round.
Murphy traveled extensively and spent time living in Connecticut, Virginia, New York, and Europe. Both of her parents died in 1926 and shortly thereafter she purchased the American Legion building and donated it to a newly formed board of directors for the Helena Platt Murphy Memorial Library, the present day Charles Town Library. Throughout the years she was at the forefront of charitable giving for the library and made many personal donations of both money and materials.
Miss Elsie’s generosity wasn’t limited simply to the library. Among her favorite local charities and organizations were the Charles Town General Hospital, Citizens Fire Company, and the local chapter of the Red Cross.
She eventually settled in Charles Town on South Samuel Street. Murphy died in Leesburg in 1965 after an extended illness.
4. George Steptoe Washington:
A nephew of President George Washington, George Steptoe Washington was born on August 17, 1771 at Harewood, his father’s home between present-day Charles Town and Middleway. The fourth of seven children born to Samuel Washington and Anne Steptoe (who happened to be Samuel’s fourth wife), his elder siblings all died before him.
His father died while Washington was still quite young, resulting in him being sent to live with Uncle George Washington. He graduated from Georgetown Academy and then studied law in Philadelphia.
Washington married Lucy Ann Payne, sister of Dolley Payne (who would go on to marry James Madison and become First Lady Dolley Madison). The couple had four children: George Steptoe Washington (1796-1796), Dr. Samuel Walter Washington (1797-1831), William Temple Washington (1800-1877), and George Steptoe Washington, Jr. (1806-1831).
Washington inherited Harewood and the accompanying plantation in 1781. He continued the farming operation and purchased other parcels of land to increase his holdings. Unfortunately, he died at the age of 37 from tuberculous while in Augusta, Georgia.
5. Lucy Ann Payne Washington:
Lucy Anne Payne Washington was born to a Quaker family in 1769. At age 15 she married George Steptoe Washington, a nephew of George Washington. Following their marriage, she was disowned by her family, presumably due to her young age and marrying outside the Society of Friends.
Her sister, Dolley Payne married James Madison, the future president, at Harewood, Lucy’s husband’s family home, in 1794. Her mother eventually reconciled with her and came to live at Harewood as well.
She bore four children with her husband, though only three lived to maturity: George Steptoe Washington (1796-1796); Samuel Walter Washington (1797-1831); William Temple Washington (1800-1877); and George Steptoe Washington, Jr. (1806-1831).
After her husband’s death in 1809, she married Thomas Todd, an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Their wedding was the first to be held at the White House. She died in 1846 at the age of 74.