2026-04-24T14:38:48-04:00 Zend_Feed_Writer https://shenandoahstories.org/ Shenandoah Stories https://shenandoahstories.org 2018-06-19T16:15:29-04:00 2018-10-19T11:46:22-04:00 https://shenandoahstories.org/items/show/311 Logan Olszewski- Shenandoah County Library<br /> This brick building was built by Solomon Henkel in 1802. It served as his home and place for him to practice his trade as a physician and druggist. A small brick structure behind the home, also built in 1802, was used by Solomon to prepare his medicines. In 1855, Solomon’s son, Dr. Solon P. C. Henkel took over the household with his wife Maria. They added two rooms upstairs and a wooden front to the building. A metal plate currently covers a portion of the front door where damage from bayonets and rifle butts was incurred when Union soldiers attempted to break down the door. Legend holds that they never succeeded in getting in the home because Maria leaned out of the second story window and poured scalding water onto their heads. After the war, Maria and Solon Henkel continued to raise three sons, who all became physicians, and five daughters, four of which married. Later the building served as the offices of Dr. S.P.C. Henkel and also the dental offices of Dr. Shirley. The interior features a fresco painted by New Market resident and regional artist, William F. Rupp. Starting in 1974 the downstairs portion was home to the New Market Library until it moved to a new location in 2008. For more (including 5 images), view the original article. 2018-06-19T16:02:29-04:00 2018-10-19T11:46:22-04:00 https://shenandoahstories.org/items/show/310 Logan Olszewski- Shenandoah County Library<br /> Situated on the southwest corner of Congress Street and Lee Street, the Elon Henkel House, or Henkel Press Building is a familiar landmark in New Market. While the house is most notably known for being owned by Elon Henkel, his grandfather, Reverend Ambrose Henkel, built the home in 1806. Ambrose was the founder of the Henkel Press, one of the country’s first German printing businesses. When he moved into the home the press came with him and operated out of the rear of the structure alongside the Henkel’s store. Ambrose and his family lived in the front section. In 1806 Ambrose Henkel established a German newspaper, titled Der Virginische Volksberichter. This newspaper, translated as The Virginia People’s Reporter, was printed in the home.. Unfortunately, his first paper only stayed in business for two years. Soon afterwards Reverend Henkel gained employment as editor and printer for the Hanover Gazette and the Unparthevische Wochenschrift, translated as The Unbiased Weekly. Ambrose spent the next 61 years working with these popular weeklies. He also published the Shenandoah Valley, New Market’s local newspaper, here starting in 1868. Ambrose died on January 6th, 1870. The house was later passed down to Elon Henkel who operated the printing press and the Shenandoah Valley until he sold it in 1925 to relatives, John Godfrey Miller, Dr. Casper Miller, and Benton Baker. Presently the house serves as a residence. For more (including 6 images), view the original article. 2016-05-13T13:56:23-04:00 2018-10-19T11:46:21-04:00 https://shenandoahstories.org/items/show/50 Shenandoah County Library The congregation that became Emmanuel Lutheran Church began in 1790, when Reverend Paul Henkel founded the Davidson Lutheran Church in New Market. In 1820 Samuel S. Schmucker, a Yale Graduate became the church’s new minister. Soon afterwards the congregation split. Like many other Lutheran Churches around the country members struggled to decide if they would follow more conservative, German speaking traditions or accept new, liberal, English services. Pastor Schmucker led the English leaning portion which remained at Davidson, which eventually became St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church. The German faction followed the Henkel family to form a separate congregation. This group had no church building for almost 25 years. Instead they often met at the New Market Academy, Solomon Henkel’s German school, and other locations. Throughout this time the differences between the two congregations was increasingly heated and confrontations often occurred. In 1848 this congregation built their first church and named it Emmanuel. It was located on the site of the present church. The Tennessee Synod and the effort to translated The Book of Concord, a work defining Lutheran doctrine, began here. The second Emmanuel church was dedicated in 1892. Church subscribers donated the $5,664 needed for construction before it began. The church reflects a Byzantine influence. It features numerous arches and rich, vivid stained glass windows dedicated by Paul Henkel. The ceiling was painted with a fresco of the Apostle’s Creed which was repainted in the 20th century after it was damaged by humidity. Emmanuel also sponsored a parochial school for elementary and high school students from 1913-1926. This organization was originally sponsored by the Tennessee Synod and was named the Shenandoah Lutheran Institute. In 1922 the synod ended funding and for four years the church maintained the school independently. After 112 years of separation, the two Lutheran Churches reunited in 1932. Differences had been bridged during the 20th century when both groups began to adopt portions of the other’s theology. In addition, many of the personal conflicts that had emerged disappeared when those involved passed. Twenty-three years later Reformation Lutheran Church was built at the site of St. Matthews. Today Emmanuel is no longer used for regular services but it is maintained for special occasions. For more, view the original article.