The report of Shannondale Springs’ death had been greatly exaggerated. In September 1859, a writer for the Free Press noted that the property was now on the market, observing that,

Although the main building was burned some two years ago, the walls are in a fair condition to admit of improvement at comparatively little expense, whilst there are 15 cabins on the Lawns attached. There are two brick cabins, with 8 rooms, all having chimneys, 13 frame, besides Bath Houses, Dairy, Stabling, Ice House, Corn House, etc., etc....

The Lawn occupies about 16 acres, which is in fine sod — a rich garden is also attached. As an evidence of the productiveness of the farm, upon which there is also a tenement, &c., we will state that the farm is now under a rent of $462 per annum.... Hundreds of people even now resort there for pleasure and the benefit of the water, although there are no accommodations offered.

It can now be purchased for about $10,000, not the fourth of its value, because it is owned in part by the heirs of some of its original proprietors....57

Perhaps the hotel would have been restored to its earlier genteel ambiance had a buyer been found at the time. But less than ten miles away, John Brown and his men were gathering at the Kennedy Farm in preparation for his raid on Harpers Ferry. Col. Lawrence Washington, who had attended the costume ball at the Springs dressed “as the English hunter of the 15th century,” had already been identified by one of John Brown’s party as a slaveholder and potential hostage. Andrew Kennedy, one of the members of the Shannondale Springs Corporation, would soon be the prosecuting attorney in the trial of the conspirators. Richard Parker, who had handled some of the financial affairs of the Corporation, would become the presiding judge in the case.

Little information about Shannondale Springs is available for the war years. The area was frequented by Confederate raider John Singleton Mosby and his men and by Federal cavalry responsible for destroying Mosby’s disruptive operations.58

By 1867, Shannondale Springs was once again in use, the Shannondale Circuit of the Methodist Episcopal South holding its First Quarterly Meeting there. Religious services, church meetings, and church picnics were frequently held at the Springs during the summer months even though the hotel was no longer standing. Many attendees to these meetings stayed over night, presumably in the remaining cabins or in tents erected for the occasion. Other private groups on pleasure excursions came to picnic for the day. The Spirit of Jefferson noted that the place had become popular with the “ votaries of the terpsichorean art.” The Free Press, observing that some of the cabins were being renovated that summer, stated that Shannondale Springs “is now an attractive resort for Pic-Nic and Fishing parties.”59

That summer the new proprietors (Samuel Hill, M.D. Wilson, Jr., S.H. Wilson, and J.W. Milton) attempted to revive the elegant festivities that had been held at the Springs in its ante-bellum days. They advertised a “Grand Pic Nic and Barbecue” to be held on August 22. Persons interested in dancing were assured the the services of the best musicians in the state would be procured and “a good floor would be prepared” so that attendees could dance under the stars. Although the ring tournaments were gone for the present, various earlier participants calling themselves the “Knight of Shannondale” represented the Springs at tournaments both near and far.60

In May 1868, the property was advertised for sale. Commenting on recent attempts to revitalize the Springs, one writer observed, “the war itself prevented the company from rebuilding. There are now but two [John S. Gallaher and William Crow] of the original proprietors living, and they are too old to commence the work of renovation. The heirs of others are numerous and prefer selling.” The Alexandria, Loudoun, and Hampshire Railroad was planned to come within a mile of the Springs, providing additional access. The property was still on the market in 1870. In October of that year, the flood that devastated Harpers Ferry and many of the industries along the Shenandoah River also took its toll on Shannondale 19 Springs. The Spirit of Jefferson reported that “The old Ferry-House at Shannondale is no more, but acted as escort to its downstream neighbors, Walraven’s saw-mill and house, in their transit oceanward.” Some of the cottages were renovated in 1872 in an effort to accommodate a few of the visitors that frequented the site. The assessed value of the property continued to decline through the 1870’s, suggesting that deterioration was outpacing the minimal efforts made at maintenance.61

The full extent of the deterioration at the Springs was described by a visitor who had frequented the place in the 1850’s. Returning in 1875, he observed that, in earlier days,

sounds of music were to be heard there, and gay parties of dancers filled the halls, and other lively sports were the order of the day, at this then fashionable resort.— All was life and activity. Now the scene is changed. Herds of cattle, roaming at will, are the only living creatures to be seen, and the voice of the ploughman, and the old familiar voice the passing river, dashing over the rugged rocks, are the only sounds that greet the ear.... Amongst former improvements which have passed away, is the old bowling saloon, to which ladies as well as gentlemen were in the habit of resorting for agreeable exercise, in the edge of the forest on the top of the hill.... Nothing remains now to mark the place [of the hotel], where so many bright eyes glanced and pretty feet danced over the smooth boards, but the cold stones of the foundation — and some barbarous sinner, having no veneration for cherished relics, has run through the centre of this almost sacred spot, a worm fence!62

Of the group that had formed the Shannondale Springs Corporation in 1838, only John S. Gallaher remained. Now 75 years old and living in Washington, D.C., he now lacked the energy, influence, and capital needed to resurrect the once famous resort. He died on February 4, 1877.63

By 1883, Shannondale Springs appears to have dwindled to only eight cottages (Figure 10). Nevertheless, it was still frequented by parties from the surrounding counties who picnicked, played croquet, played music, and danced on the green. The Springs and the natural beauty of the spot remained.64

In May 1885, Mary Crow, widow of William Crow (one of the last shareholders in the Shannondale Springs Corporation), conveyed her interest in the property to Eugene Baker and J. Garland Hurst. Baker and Hurst purchased Shannondale Springs at a public sale in 1888.65 20

Figure 10. Portion of S. Howell Brown's 1883 map of Jefferson County.