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The above statement is a commonplace news item, and yet it is of more than passing interest because of the fact that it recalls an industry that once flourished in Shepherdstown, but which few persons now living will remember. We refer to the hat manufacturers conducted by George and Philip Fayman many years ago. The Fayman owned property on both sides of Washington Street, and here they made felt hats for a long time. The main building was on the south side of the street and here the family lived and the hats were finished. The big structure later know as the Virginia House, was a busy place - the home of a large family and a prosperous hat manufacturer. The hats were made up and dyed in the little building on the east side of the property just sold, and the finishing touches were added at the main building. The hats had one quality for which they were famous - they never wore out. The styles were not diversified, being all of pretty much the same shape and materials, and it is said that one reason why they industry finally languished was because the proprietors failed to keep pace with the new fashions that developed in men's headgear. Observer very well remembers the big copper vat in which the hats were dyed-used later as a rain barrel and holding almost as much as a cistern. It is also remembered the certain sons of frugal parents were for years and years round topped hats that, being unsaleable, were given to those who would wear them. These hats were made from the fur of rabbits, squirrels, muskrats and similar small game, which abounded in this section in those days. A man could walk all day long in those times and never be out of the woods, consequently a hunter who was a reasonably good marksman and many of them were extraordinary shots - could shoot a big bunch of squirrels in a day or get a heavy bag of rabbits. The marsh just about the Fayman place and the run that meandered through it were full of muskrat, and they were shot or trapped by the hundreds. The pelts of all of these animals were in demand by the hat-maker. Philip Fayman was himself a famous hunter, and he had to make a trip through the woods or meadows at least once a week when game was in season. He often walked through the woods to Kearneysville and stayed over night with is friend Phil Henry.
George Fayman was an exemplary member of the German reformed Church and was not only faithful and regular in this attendance, but a bachelor, was not so pious. Fact is, he was inclined to be a bit sporty, and was celebrated for the fine game chickens that he raised. Philip Henry of the Kearneysville neighborhood was a rival in game chicken raising. There had to be a couple of cock fights each year, on in Shepherdstown, and the other in Kearneysville, to settle the question as to whose chickens were of the best strain. It is said that a good deal of money would change hands as a result of these fights, town and country folks betting on their favorites to the limit.
Mr. Barnhart owned three lots adjoining each other on this street and the town run flowed through the center. The lot on the west side he sold some years ago to Dr. G. W. Banks, who tore down the old building that, had been located there for many, many years. This little frame building was the home of John Fayman who got it from his father, George Fayman. When the war broke out John Fayman entered the Confederate army, and was a member of Company B, Second Virginia Regiment, Stonewall Brigade. At the battle of Kernstown near Winchester, where Stonewall Jackson's men had such a fierce fight with the Union Forces under General Shields. Harris Towner, a member of Company B, fell mortally wounded. John Fayman and two or three other members of the company attempted to carry him to the rear, as the regiment was falling back, but a bullet struck Fayman and killed him instantly. He fell dead upon Towner's sorely wounded body and both had to be abandoned. Towner was later taken to a hospital in Winchester, where he died, and his body now lies in Elmwood Cemetery, Shepherdstown. The body of John Fayman could never be found, and he sleeps in an unknown grave. The battle of Kernstown, which was fought on March 23rd, 1862, was one of the hottest fights in which Company B was ever engaged. Jackson's purpose was to prevent Shield's army from effecting a junction with another large Union force, and he succeeded in doing it, but at a heavy cost. Albert Pendleton and Post Mumrickhouse of Company B were captured by the Yankees in this engagement. The former was a brother of our fellow townsman, B. S. Pendleton, now one of the two surviving members of the company who remembers the battle very well. He says that there was a big pond of water in the rear of his regiment. As the Confederates fell back, those who passed around one end of the pond got safely to their new position, while those who hurried around the other end were captured by the enemy.
George Fayman had a family of sons who were talented in many ways. They left the old home and found their way to various places through the country. Wells Fayman went to Kansas. William Fayman found his life's work in New York, where for many years he was manager of a famous hotel in that city and a large summer resort on the seashore nearby. James Fayman remained in Shepherdstown, occupying the big house, with its large gardens and lawns and its delightful fruit. It may be that Observer's mind mellows as he thinks of the apples that grew there some forty years ago, but he really believes that there never was anything better in the way of apples than those luscious June apples, the summer and fall varieties, to say nothing of the good old pipping and rambos and other winter apples. There was an abundant supply of fruit every year and of every sort about this place and with the many nooks and corners in which to play for the children of a half century ago, and they used it freely, for Mr. and Mrs. Fayman were kind and gentle and their boys and girls imply delightful playmates. It is something of a coincidence that in this year of our Lord, so long after the time of which we write, the woman's club in Shepherdstwon in using it as a playground through the courtesy of its present owner, Miss Helen Pendleton.
James Fayman had four sons and four daughters, and we doubt if ever a family in this town possessed more personal pulchritude than they. The boys were all handsome and the girls beautiful. Fannie, the oldest, was tall and slender and rich in real coloring such as God gives to his favored children, Maggie was of a different type - plump and rosy, with entrancing dimples and a twinkle in her eye that showed the life and fun that just naturally bubbled from her merry heart. Emma was the youngest and she too was beauty, with dark hair and eyes and a liveliness of spirit that added to her attractiveness. But Ella, what a rare beauty she was. A pure blond, with a complexion like a ripened peach, hair as spun gold, eyes like sapphires - bluer than the sky itself - with dimples and soft curves and perfect features, adorable freckles - if there ever was a prettier girl we should just like to see her. Of a merry disposition, smiling and sweet and gracious, she was loved and admired by us all, but her lovely image with not be forgotten by those who know and loved in the long ago. The three other girls still live and one of the boys, but none has a home in Shepherdston any longer. They have married and moved away and the old place has long since passed into other hands.
This was a newspaper item sent to my father by his Aunt Matlie in 1962.
