Richard and Barbara Brown have roots deep in Jefferson County. They appreciate the way things used to be, and this appreciation is reflected in their home.

The Brown’s home, on a corner lot at the edge of Shepherdstown in the town’s very first subdivision—the neighborhood consisting of Fairmont Avenue, Old Prospect, and the Church Street extension. It’s officially called Trussels Addition but known as The Boom. Richard and Barbara’s house was built in 1909 by Barbara’s grandfather, Henry Maddex, who always said theirs was the first house in The Boom. It looks much as it did when it was built.

“Oh, that’s his fault,” laughs Barbara, referring to her husband Richard. “He restores everything to its original state.” This penchant for restoration comes naturally to Richard. He spent most of his working life doing historic restorations, first as a contractor and then as a National Park Service employee, restoring buildings in Harpers Ferry and at Antietam National Battlefield. Richard was born and raised in Shenandoah Junction. Barbara grew up in Shepherdstown, a member of the Maddex family.

The house, known to Shepherdstown visitors for its deep wrap-around porch, is also known for the old 1940 Ford dump truck parked outside. Local artist Bob Vorel painted the truck several years ago. A limited edition print of the painting is featured prominently in the Brown’s living room, as if it were a portrait of a beloved ancestor. “People ask me if it still runs,” says Richard. “Not only does it still run, its bed still raises, and I use it regularly to haul firewood.”

Richard and Barbara have lived in the house since 1961, when they moved there as a young couple with a growing family. While Richard is proud that there have been very few alterations of the home, he is still continually at work. Last winter he took the stairs and railing apart, and removed years of shellac. He rebuilt the stairs just as they were. Several years ago, he painstakingly rebuilt the wrap-around porch, which was rotting.

“I told him we should just take it off,” said Barbara. “After he recovered from fainting, he explained to me, at length, why the porch had to be restored.” Richard adds, “A porch makes a house; otherwise, you just have a box.” You can be sure the porch, now restored with its original swing, will outlast the houses recently built nearby.

Even additions to the property have historic roots. A large garage, which the Browns call the barn, stands where Barbara’s ancestors had a chicken coop and hog lot. It took Richard eleven years to build the garage. He did most of the work himself, using recycled materials. The wood siding came from a local barn and the bricks were from the old Shepherdstown Elementary School.

Barbara brings the same patience and dedication to the gardens, much loved by the walkers and joggers who plan their route to see what’s in bloom there. And in Barbara’s garden something is always blooming. “I didn’t start until my children were grown, and the yard was mine,” said Barbara. The flower beds grow and contract based on the amount of energy she has to maintain them. The plants are also constantly changing, as Barbara loves to move plants around the yard. She credits much of her gardening know-how to Richard’s mother, who taught her about soils and when plants bloom.

Richard and Barbara Brown see the value in maintaining a relationship with the past. It is reflected in their home, their gardens and their commitment to preservation.