Martinsburg Community Hotel stock certificate 1925 (West Virginia)

Martinsburg WV history! Great smaller vignette of an artists rendition of the hotel. Issued and not cancelled. Vertical folds from mailing and storage. Dated 1925. Measures approximately 11.5 x 8.5 inches.

The Martinsburg Community Hotel Company was incorporated in West Virginia on March 20, 1924. The company became the Martinsburg Hotel Corporation in 1926 and operated the historic Shenandoah Hotel in downtown Martinsburg. The company was dissolved in 1934, however the building continued to operate as a hotel into the 1980's.

The former Shenandoah Hotel is the only surviving building of its kind in Martinsburg, West Virginia. A product of a community campaign organized by the Hockenbury System of Harrisburg, PA, The Shenandoah Hotel was financed by local community investors, who raised $600,000 to build the hotel. Opened to the public in February 1926, hotel became a cornerstone of Martinsburg’s social scenes, making it a popular destination for tourists and celebrities.

It notably featured a “Crystal Dining Room” which could seat up to 175 people and a “Gold Ball Room” for dancing and events, as well as a coffee shop and six rentable storefronts that faced Queen Street and two storefronts that faced Martin Street.

The hotel eventually changed hands and became the Gateway Inn during the 1960s, where it remained for about 20 years. Ownership changes eventually led to the permanent closing of the hotel space and limited the building's operations to the first-floor commercial use.

In 2019 the Shenandoah Hotel building in Martinsburg has been sold to an Arlington, Va.-based firm that aims to turn the historic downtown fixture into a mixed residential-commercial asset. The developers pitched a plan to create 40 modern “market-rate” residences on the four upper floors, as well as about 10,000 square feet of leasable space for multiple retail, office and restaurant tenants.

COMMUNITY HOTEL
A community hotel is a hospitality property designed to be a vibrant hub connecting guests with the local area, featuring shared spaces, local culture, and sustainability, often run by locals to benefit the community, offering experiences beyond just lodging like co-working, local art, and unique programs for a deeper sense of belonging.

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