Martinsburg, WV is the county seat of Berkeley County, and it’s the largest city in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. It’s an older city that was established all the way back in 1778.
Route 5
I had driven past it on my previous travels but decided to stop by and check it out this time. I entered Martinsburg on Route 5 via Queen Street.
FAA Records Center
After parking my car, I proceeded toward the downtown area on foot. As I walked down King Street, I passed an old building at the corner of Maple Avenue. It was labeled the “Federal Aviation Administration Records Center,” and the sign above the door read “The Arts Centre.”
Broadwater Federal Building
On the next block, I walked past the Broadwater Federal Building which houses a U.S. District Court. The building appeared to have a utilitarian, federal, modernist style. It was very quiet on a Saturday afternoon.
The Journal Newspaper
As I continued walking down King Street, I came across The Journal which is Martinsburg’s daily newspaper. I also saw Journal newspapers for sale downtown.
Berkeley County Courthouse
The Berkeley County Courthouse is located at the intersection of King and Queen Streets. It’s a classic brick courthouse building with a golden dome. It’s topped by a tower with a directional wind vane.
Martinsburg Public Library
Directly across the street from the courthouse building is the Martinsburg Public Library. It had a small stone courtyard with benches out in front.
Martinsburg Town Square
As I crossed over Queen Street on to East King Street, I noticed an operational fountain in what is called the Martinsburg Town Square. The streets were laid with brick for the small one-block square. A few tiny areas of greenspace were located on both sides, with some concrete tables. A few groups of people were gathered there to enjoy the nice weather.
Civil War Placard
An informational sign summarizing the Civil War history of Martinsburg is placed near the fountain in the town square. It describes how both Union and Confederate troops had occupied the city at different points in time.
A Martinsburg Historic Property
Walking around Martinsburg, some buildings and houses have a plaque affixed to them, which reads, “A Martinsburg Historic Property.” This particular house is located at the bottom of East King Street at Water Street.
South Queen Street
I decided to backtrack to Queen Street which really makes up the most significant portion of the downtown. The first thing I noticed was a GOP Headquarters building which was flanked by a Democrat Party headquarters just two buildings away. Due to their close proximity, I’m sure that they regularly engage in some lively debates.
Uncle Joe’s Barbershop
Uncle Joe’s Barbershop, which according to its sign was established over 100 years ago in 1915, looked like one of the more interesting businesses in the downtown. It had a traditional striped barbershop pole. As I briefly looked at the place, a man from a pickup truck shouted, “Hey, get out of there!” and attempted to make a menacing scowl at me.
DeFluri's Fine Chocolates
DeFluri's Fine Chocolates is a family-owned chocolate shop right in the middle of the downtown. Having an operation that produces homemade candy is a pretty unique attribute to have in a smaller city. I wish I would have stopped inside, but I didn’t have a lot of time to browse around.
North Queen Street at St. John’s Lutheran Church
The downtown area is fairly walkable. The sidewalks are wide and mostly well kept. Unfortunately, many storefronts are abandoned or closed up, a very common sight in cities across America.
Mugs & Muffins Farm to Table Kitchen
Mugs & Muffins is a breakfast and brunch establishment that is set back and sandwiched between two larger buildings. It has an espresso bar and a few tables out front.
Downtown Postal Station
Martinsburg’s main post office is located outside of the downtown area, but a tiny downtown station of the post office is available there. It was closed at the time, but it seems like a place that offers scaled-down services of a typical post office.
MARC Train
At the far northern edge of the downtown area of Queen Street, I saw a MARC passenger train moving slowly across an overpass. MARC is an acronym for the Maryland Area Rail Commuter, and it has three major lines. The Brunswick Line is the one servicing Martinsburg, and it carries passengers all the way to Washington, DC.
Belle Boyd House and Visitors Bureau
After realizing I had reached the edge of the downtown, I turned on to East Race Street and came across the Belle Boyd House. This building also happened to house the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Convention & Visitors Bureau. If you’re interested in picking up official tourism information about the region, this place would be a good start.
Belle Boyd Placard
An informational sign describing Belle Boyd is appropriately placed in front of the house. Maria Isabella "Belle" Boyd was born in Martinsburg and became one of the Confederacy's most notorious spies. She was an alleged informant of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson in the 1860s.
Martinsburg Roundhouse
Just east of the Belle Boyd House, Race Street runs into the parking lot for the Martinsburg train station, and it has a large building known as the Martinsburg Roundhouse. This B&O Railroad building seems to have been preserved for historical purposes, and I was unable to tell if it is still used for anything.
Martinsburg City Hall
Martinsburg City Hall is located right downtown on North Queen Street. In addition to typical government offices, it also houses the police department. It’s a large brick building and easy to spot.
North Queen Street
Queen Street really feels like a classic Americana downtown. There are three-story buildings on both sides of the road, and parking meters dot the sidewalks.
Lewis Hardware and Antiques Shop
Many businesses appear to be empty and abandoned; however, there are signs of life. There are tattoo parlors, coffee shops, a hardware store, and an antique place.
Berkeley Art Works
Clearly, civic organizations are attempting to revitalize an art scene in the city, with some success. Berkeley Art Works had some really cool pictures in its storefront windows. I particularly enjoyed the cat pictures.
The Peppermill
If you look around on some of the side streets, you could find some hidden gems, like bed and breakfasts and family restaurants. The Peppermill restaurant on West Burke Street looked like an interesting place to try.
Berkeley Medical Center
On my way out of town, I passed by the Berkeley Medical Center on Tavern Road. From the outside, it looks like a fairly large, full-service hospital.
Hoss’s Steak and Sea House
On the northern side of the city, a few restaurants are located on Route 9 off of Interstate 81. Restaurants like Laddie’s, Waffle House, and Hoss’s Steak and Sea House are just a short drive off the highway. I have eaten at this particular Hoss’s and really enjoyed the salad bar and my cheesesteak entrée. It was very clean, and the service was great.
Olive Garden Italian Kitchen
Further down Interstate 81, which passes by Martinsburg on its west side, many stores and restaurant chains have locations here. In addition to Walmart and Target, there are several well-known restaurants, like Chili’s, Panera Bread, Chipotle, and Olive Garden, which has a really cool fireplace inside.
City of Martinsburg Seal
Martinsburg, WV is an interesting city to visit. It reminds me of smaller cities in Pennsylvania, and it seems to be well kept for the most part. Many historical landmarks are scattered throughout, and the downtown area does show signs of life. However, it has clearly seen better days like many similar towns in America. Hopefully, it can continue turning things around.
