Legend of Wizard Clip
Middleway is also noted for its Legend of Wizard Clip.
Many people still refer to the village as Clip.
In the 1770's Adam Livingston, a Lutheran, moved with his family from
Pennsylvania to a farm northwest of present Middleway.
Although they prospered at first, some time prior to 1790 strange events
began to afflict the family. Unusual
noises and voices were heard in the house, crockery was thrown on the floor and
rocks were rolled across rooms when no one could have done these things.
There was a persistent clipping sound and clothes were mysteriously cut
into pieces, boots and harnesses were cut up and the pieces were said to be in a
crescent shape. These troubles seem
to have continued for several years. Adam
Livingston sought help from various Protestant ministers to no avail.
Eventually, Adam had a dream in which there appeared a church and a
figure dressed in a black robe, whom he later identified as a Roman Catholic
priest he saw in Shepherdstown. Following
several visits by two priests, Father Cahill and Father Gallitzin, who said
prayers and celebrated Mass in the Livingston house, the voices and strange
activities slowly ceased. Adam
Livingston later converted to Catholicism, and donated about 35 acres of his
farm to the Church, which is now a Catholic pastoral center known as Priest
Field.