So you wonder why we put this boat on the front page of our web site!!

Let me tell you a story. Here in Brooke County, Charlestown now known as Wellsburg had a number of boat yards. Away back in 1806 and along down until 1850 those yards were in existence.

Quite a number of flat and keel boats were required to float away the produce gathered at this point.

In the early history of Wellsburg, a number of SCHOONERS were built near the mouth of Buffalo creek and ladened with flour and sailed direct to LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

We are unable to get the date of the enterprise. It is said that when these vessels were in mid-ocean, they were overhauled, and as their clearance papers were from this place, the mariners were sorely puzzled to find any such port.

A map was resorted to and the place pointed out, after which the vessels were allowed to proceed on their journey. They arrived safe in Liverpool.

( This information from the book 'History of the Pan-Handle, West Virginia')