Shenandoah County Seal

This seal is the first official seal of Shenandoah County. Shenandoah County was formed from a part of Frederick County in 1772. The original name was Dunmore County. In 1777, by an act of legislature, the name was changed to Shenandoah. The original spelling varied. It is found in the records as Shenando, Shenandoh, Shannando, Shannandoah, Shenandoah. The spelling on this seal is Shanandoh. There was additional lettering on the seal, which was partially filed off. The remaining letters were filled with lead or pewter. It has not been determined exactly what these letters were. The figure on the seal corresponds very closely to the figure on the present compression seal used by the County.

On November 25, 1773, the first Clerk of the Court was designated to get the seal for the County. The Shenandoah County seal is composed of two concentric circles. The words within the outer circle are SHANANDOH COUNTY * INDUSTRY WITH PLENTY *. Representing the original colonies are thirteen stars overarching the figure in the center circle. Legend has it that “Shanando” is the Native Indian’s word for “Daughter of the Stars”, and the woman’s figure is symbolic of that legend. She is holding a horn of plenty and a sickle, further symbols of plentiful harvests through industriousness.

The original seal was used by melting sealing wax on the document to be sealed and an impression was then made by the seal while the wax was soft.

This seal was found in the back of the book compartment in one of the old wooden book cases which were removed from the Clerk's office and sold many years ago when they were replaced by steel cabinets. This particular wooden cabinet was purchased by the late M.W. Magruder and used in his insurance office by him and his son until 1926 when the business was sold to Jacob Haun. Dr. Haun found the seal wrapped in a piece of homespun linen, and has preserved it with the intention that it be returned to the Clerk's office or be placed in a museum once a fire and theft-proof place is provided.