Boydville Historic District
Roughly bounded by W. Stephen, S. Spring, and S. Queen Sts., including Boydville grounds, Martinsburg, WVThe Boydville District is significant as the affluent residential area of Martinsburg. Many of its architecturally/historically significant buildings were built or became the homes of the military, political, and business leaders who served in the Federal, State, and local governments. -t is significant as the site of the early 1778 Episcopal Church and Catholic Church (1825) and the cemetery (1802) which contains outstanding sculpture work. Also the burial site and monument of Gen. Adam Stephen, founder of Martinsburg. The area also contains an early 1883 architecturally/historically significant Public Graded School.
Located on the south side of originally platted Martinsburg, it was here that the Episcopal Church and cemetery were established in 1778. The church was used until the 1840s when the congregation moved to West King St. Just across the street from the Episcopal Cemetery on W. South St, the Catholics established a cemetery in 1802 and a church in 1825 which was used until the 1840s. Both cemeteries are surrounded by stone walls and have outstanding grave markers. The demure angel, life-size, holding a wreath located near the Episcopal cemetery entrance is an outstanding example. The cemeteries add a scenic view and space to the elegant mansions located east of the cemeteries in the 400 and 500 blocks of S. Queen St. The private Boydville cemetery joins the Episcopal Cemetery on the south side. In the 600 block of S. Queen St. is "Boydville". Its spacious lawn with large trees extends almost the length of a block to the significant Georgian mansion. To the north adjoins the southern corner of the Episcopal Cemetery is the "law office", one of the outstanding dependencies of Boydville. On the west of the mansion are the original smokehouse, ice house, washhouse, and summer kitchen. The 1812 Boydville estate is already listed in The National Register. Known for its fine interior woodwork and original 1812 wallpaper in the hall, it has few equals in the State and Nation. As Martinsburg grew and became more wealthy so did this area of the town.
The west side of the 400 blocks of s. Queen St. Which originally contained the early 1795 home of Elisha Boyd and the home of Gen. Adan Stephen's daughter acquired fine architecture or historically significant buildings the 1883 Public High School, a beautiful High Victorian Gothic style building at 401, the 1880s brick Presbyterian Manse at 407 the brick Alexander Parks, Jr. house, at 409. Alexander Parks was a leading businessman in Martinsburg and built a large brick house. The Sheriff McDonald Miller house at 413 is a frame house with Palladian windows and elliptical windows, and The Link Emmert house at 417 is a very fine Queen Anne house that has wood sheathing and shingle covering various wall planes. Allen Emmert was associated with Emmert and Sons who ran a leading dry goods store in Martinsburg for over 50 years. On the east side of the 400 blocks is the Martin house at 418, one of the oldest homes on the street and the former honor of Clarence E. Martin, born March 13, 1880, and began the practice of law in Martins burg in 1901. Martin was president of the West Virginia Bar Assn. in 1924 and president of the American Bar Assn in 1932-33. In 1927 he was named president of the American Catholic Historical Assn.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.