Existing comment:
Bed and Board:
Rooms for rent were a routine part of Harpers Ferry life. As the armory's operations expanded and new industries opened, overcrowding became chronic. By the 1850s, merchants were living and renting out apartments above stores. Entrepreneurs were putting up boardinghouses to take in year-round renters, many of whom were immigrants from Germany, England, and Ireland.
Many of these lodgings in Lower Town were operated by women from working-class families who needed to supplement the family income. The housekeeper was responsible for providing a clean room and meals, usually breakfast and dinner. |