They Lived In Berkeley County

They Lived In Berkeley County

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June 2025

The Greenfield family of Berkeley County: A story of hardship, survival, and the weight of history
A journey through poverty, parenthood, and perseverance
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Tiffini Theisen
From Frederick to Martinsburg: The story of May Weller and her family
A faithful daughter, devoted wife, and mother of seven, May’s life unfolded across two towns and many quiet acts of resilience.
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Tiffini Theisen
From quarry to prison: The buried story of Norman Barrett
A father’s fatal fall, a son’s deadly rage, and a family shaped by stone and silence
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Tiffini Theisen

May 2025

Spotlight on Bill Rife from the 1941 Martinsburg High School yearbook
"Quiet ... but a worker ... soda jerker down town."
Spotlight on John Reynolds from the 1941 Martinsburg High School yearbook
"A blond Apollo with the voice ... that could move mighty mountains with its liquid notes."
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Spotlight on Catherine Rentch from the 1941 Martinsburg High School yearbook
"Just a peppy little red-head ... with man trouble."
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Tiffini Theisen
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A fascinating glimpse into youth culture in the 1941 yearbook from Martinsburg High School
A moment in time captures a final breath of "normal" adolescence before a national shift.
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Tiffini Theisen

April 2025

Love, war, and legacy: The enduring bond of Dorothy and Jim Salter
Dorothy Virginia Fellers was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia, on April 26, 1915 -- 110 years ago today.
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Tiffini Theisen
A Martinsburg widow’s strength: how Bessie Fellers rebuilt after unimaginable loss
The life of a Martinsburg family offers a poignant glimpse into the resilience, hardship and evolving family dynamics during the early 20th century.
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Tiffini Theisen
A railroad man’s legacy: The story of the Edwards family of Martinsburg
Martin Luther Edwards, a grandson of German immigrants, was raised in the rolling countryside of Hedgesville, West Virginia, as one of at least ten…
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Tiffini Theisen

March 2025

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