SIGHTLINE stories are collections of resources, references, and articles published by The WV Independent Observer to inform community discussion on key issues. In this story, The Observer explores the history of Hartstown, a pioneering Black community in Jefferson County.
Honoring and Remembering a Community
Appalachia is often viewed through a narrow lens. The stories of Black communities throughout the region are often left untold or simply overlooked. Acknowledging these communities and preserving their stories helps us to truly understand the broad patterns of the cultural landscape in which we live today.
Part I: Building and Remembering Hartstown
For the first article in this series (published in the August 2020 issue), The Observer tells the story of Hartstown, it’s churches, and the large part that key community leaders played in building both.
Part II: Uncovering the History and Reconnecting the Community
The second article of this series (published in the September 2020 issue) explores the history of the Kearneysville Methodist Cemetery through conversations with the descendants of Hartstown’s founders and leaders.
By Staff Contributor