| Middleway | |
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| — Census-designated place — | |
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Middleway
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Jefferson |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 1.123 sq mi (2.9 km2) |
| • Land | 1.123 sq mi (2.9 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Population (2010)[2] | |
| • Total | 441 |
| • Density | 392.7/sq mi (151.6/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | |
| FIPS code | |
| GNIS feature ID | |
Middleway is an unincorporated census-designated place in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 census, its population was 441.[2]
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On January 15, 1786, the Virginia General Assembly passed an act establishing the town of Smithfield on land owned by John Smith II and William Smith. A post office was established in 1806; and since there was another town called Smithfield in the state, a different name was needed to avoid confusion. Because Smithfield had become a center of commerce between several other towns, the post office became known as "Middleway." Middleway remains a small village and retains many of its historic buildings. The Middleway Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
The area where the town grew was apparently first visited by John Smith I and his sons John Smith II and Rees Smith in 1729. By 1734 they had established a grist mill and a hemp mill. In the 1790s, in an effort to increase the town, the Smithfield Promotion was undertaken. This did increase the size of the town, but it stagnated from then on.
The town has also been known as "Wizard Clip" or "Clip", and townspeople as "Clippers". This is the result of a legend from the 1790s, in which A traveler lodged with Adam Livingston and his family. During the night, the traveler died, calling for a priest. After the stranger's burial, Livingston saw coals popping from his fireplace and tried to remove a phantom rope from the road in front of the house. A constant clipping sound, like that of scissors, pervaded the house. Anyone entering the house had their clothes cut into tatters or half-moon crescents. Livingston contacted a priest in Shepherdstown, Father Dennis Cahill, who exorcised the spirit.[3]