Inside of Second Street School

Photo by Jack Herold

A Message from the Executive Director

Stephanie C. Thompson

Executive Director

p.s. I hope you’ll join us for our Back to School Community Happy Hour on August 23 ^rd at the Old School. It’s an evening to reconnect with old friends and meet new neighbors. Find more details below. I hope to see you there!

For 35 years, fourth graders from Loudoun County and surrounding areas have come the Second Street School to recreate the experiences of African American schoolchildren who attended the school in 1880. The new short film above depicts a recent program at Second Street School. Many thanks to Tom Edmonds and Stephen Kobren for their help in producing this new video!

Below is a quote by Ms. Gerri Davis, who recently reflected on her time as a former volunteer who portrayed "Miss Nickens."

"I recently retired from many years as 'Miss Nickens.' I miss the experience and feel so fortunate to have played this role at Second Street School. I learned a lot and met wonderful people. ...

I always felt that SSS was an important potential for healing the past educational conditions and opportunities lacking in the  African American community. I am sure we are all aware of the value and contribution this experience provides. One of the later class photos of the school groups shows the increased diversity of nationalities among the young scholars. Second Street School is a great example of the healing and educational value of such a program for the young and the old! I was blessed, learned a lot, met great new friends and feel fortunate to have participated in your program."

- Gerri Davis, former "Miss Nickens" at Second Street School

75th Waterford Fair Update

Fair tickets are now on sale at  https://www.waterfordfairva.org  or purchase at the Foundation office Tuesday through Friday, 9am - 4pm. We have several special tickets available this year. Foundation members received their free ticket(s) and, new this year,  preferred parking at the Blue (Huntley) and Red (Water St) lots.  As always all children 12 and under are FREE! General admission tickets remain the same as last year. 

IN ADVANCE (through 10/3/19):

75 ^th  Anniversary Ticket  $75 (limited to 100)

Early Bird Ticket  (Friday, 10/4/19, only; limited to 100) $40

Waterford Foundation Members  (email with order instructions to go out in August) 

Adult  single day $16

3-day General Admission  (adult) $30

Senior  (65+) single day $16

Groups  single day (min. order 20 adults) $12

Students  (13-21) single day $12

Kids  (12 and under) Free

_____________________

AT THE FAIR

Adult  single day $20

3-day general admission  (adult) $35

Senior  (65+) single day $18

Students  (13-21) single day $15

Kids  (12 and under) Free

The Waterford Foundation is accepting application in the following categ ories: Photography, the Mill, Fine Art, Dried Flowers, and Baked Goods. The Waterford Fair offers artisan consignors a venue to reach a wide audience of people seeking one-of-a-kind, made by hand, items in a lovely setting that promotes history and creativity.

Click here to apply to the category of your interest. Each category has its own application and process. Have questions? Call us at 540-882-3018.

In Memory: Ann Mathews

The Board and staff of the Waterford Foundation were saddened to learn of the passing of Ann Mathews on July 12, 2019. She was 83.

Ann Mathews was instrumental in preserving Waterford as a National Landmark to be treasured by generations to come. Back in the early 70’s, when conservation easements were a relatively new concept, she helped launch a concerted effort—as the Foundation’s first chair of the Open Spaces Committee—to persuade property owners throughout the village to place their homes under permanent easement. Without her pioneering efforts, Waterford would be a very different place today. Indeed, she helped define the true mission of the Waterford Foundation. She served on the board of directors from 1975-1978 and from 1997-2002 and was active during the 2009 to 2012 Raise the Roof of the Old School capital campaign which has brought us to this shining new auditorium today. In 2012, she received the Waterford Foundation's annual Lifetime Achievement Award, in large part for her significant work in increasing historic easements in Waterford.

A resident of Waterford since 1969, Ann Mathews shared her former home, the Mendenhall House, which she placed under easement in the early 1970s, and her later residence, the Shawen House, during many a Waterford Homes Tour. She also served numerous times on the Fair Review Committee.  

Ann and her late husband Tom provided invaluable fundraising and public relations advice and actively engaged in preserving the Waterford National Historic Landmark they helped to establis h. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7 at St. James Episcopal Church in Leesburg .

Fairgoers enjoying the Art Barn at the Waterford Fair

As we prepare for the upcoming 75th Annual Waterford Fair, we look back to the service of a wonderful volunteer, Gene Riddle, who saved the day as we prepared the art barn before last year's fair! It was just after all the rain. (You might recall all the mud we had last year!) There was one beautiful day of good weather for the artists to drop off their creations, but the road to the Schooley Mill was already washed out into deep ravines!

That's when Gene showed up in her rubber boots to direct traffic, with her farm-girl sense of safe places to park the cars. After two days of artwork drop-offs, she was back again to help hang the show, wielding her little red hammer and to get done any work necessary! In fact, she was even seen later pulling weeds on Second Street.

We are so appreciative of Gene's "get it done" spirit and much needed help!

Tavern on 40170 Main Street Waterford, VA

Join the Waterford Foundation for a FREE walking tour before Happy Hour! We'll stroll together through the historic village, see a remarkable variety of early dwellings, ice houses, barns, former shops, 19th century churches and hear lots of great stories about our history. The tour will start at the Old School at 4:00pm and will last approximately 1 hour.  Children are welcome with adult supervision. Please RSVP to  [email protected]  with the number of guests by 8/21.  

The Waterford Foundation established the Waterford Craft School in 2016  to preserve traditional methods used in craft and building arts through hands-on immersive instruction. In addition to preserving "make by hand" skills of yesteryear, Waterford Craft School gives students - many of whom are beginners - opportunities to discover and develop a new passion.

2019 has been our biggest year yet! Over 16 instructors and 111 students came from near and far to participate in classes such as Introduction to Soap Making, Leatherworking 101, Appalachian Broom Making, Rug Hooking, and many more!

We would like to thank all of the instructors, students, and volunteers who made this year's Craft School such a success.

PS: Looking for more Waterford Craft School in 2019? Keep reading this newsletter for information on special fall classes at Sky Meadows State Park!

September 7, 2019, Waterford Craft School is hosting two popular classes at the beautiful Sky Meadows State Park in Delaplane, Virginia. Create healing and immune-boosting tinctures, teas and salves with herbalist Jessie Baker in Introduction to Herbal Remedies . Or, bring a chair frame for the all-day class in Splint Seat Weaving with Pamela Foster!

Registration is limited for both classes, so register early. Questions? Call us at 540-882-3018 ext. 3 or email [email protected]!

On Saturday, August 3, 2019 from 6:30pm-9:30pm, the Ground Beneath Us Fellows will be joined by author Meredith Battle to present a public program at the John Wesley Church in historic Waterford, VA. 

Where: 

John Wesley Church

40125 Bond St, Waterford, VA

When:  

Saturday, August 3, 2019 

6:30-9:30 PM

Suggested donation of $20 to support the Lantern Light Fund of the Waterford Foundation.

Thank You to Our New & Renewing Members!

Memberships provide a vital portion of the Waterford Foundation's funds to pay for the upkeep and repair of thirteen properties protected by the Waterford Foundation, as well as programs like the  Second Street School  living history program, the  Waterford Craft School , the  Waterford Fair , and special programs throughout the year. We would like to thank the following new and renewing members who have joined or renewed in June 2019!

New & Renewing Members: July 2019

Mr. and Mrs. David and Peggy Bednarik

Mr. and Mrs. Aaron & Heidi Bickart

Ms. A. Anderson Bishop

Ms. Elaine Braccio

Mr. and Mrs. Taylor and Cordelia Chamberlin

Mr. Anthony Colucci

Ms. Suzanne Covington

Mr. William Hart and Ms. Constance Eaton

Mr. and Ms. Peter and Elizabeth Hohm

Mr. and Mrs. Neil and Kathleen Hughes

Mr. Isaac Johnson

Mr. Bradish Johnson

Mr. and Mrs. Jeff and Robin Jones

Mr. and Mrs. Travis and Gene Riddle

Dr. Steven Soechtig

Mr. and Mrs. John and Bronwen Souders

Mr. Lee Stone

Ms. Rachel Swann

Mr. Robert W. Thompson

Mr. Christopher White

Our Sustaining Members are: Mr. and Mrs. Goode (Joe and Annie), Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Hale (Bob and Susanne) , Ms. Joan Kowalski, Mr. Ed Lehman and Ms. Edith Crockett, Dr. Stephanie Thompson, and Ms. Wendy Roseberry. To become a sustaining member, click here .

Next month, we will acknowledge our new and renewing August 2019 members!

Stories from Waterford

The Old Quaker Meeting House in Waterford, Va.

"[We'll burn] the cursed Quaker settlement"

From the book "To Talk is Treason" by John E. Divine, Bronwen Souders & John Souders. 1996. Published by the Waterford Foundation.

Because Waterford had expressed itself strongly against secession [in the Civil War] ... the Confederates were inclined to regard the village as hostile territory. There is little evidence of violence between soldier and civilian; nonetheless, a feeling of mistrust prevailed.

The rebels threatened to burn the town when they withdrew. Rachael Means [wife of Sam Means, leader of the Independent Loudoun Rangers, a Union calvary force raised in Waterford] was determined to save the village. Several accounts survive of what happened next. The following, while somewhat embellished, is basically accurate.

" Just before the rebels evacuated the village of Waterford near Leesburg, Virginia, they openly avowed they would burn it to the ground, as it was nothing more than a 'cursed Quaker settlement.' A noble-hearted Quaker woman, whose husband had been chased from his home by the rebels some months before, besought a gentleman of her faith to hasten over to Colonel Geary's camp, some eight miles away, and ask him to send a force to Waterford to prevent the threatened conflagration. He had a fine horse, but declined the duty, owing to the dangers of getting through the rebel pickets. ' Lend me thy horse, then, ' she said. He declined again. ' Then I will steal thy horse ,' she said, ' and go myself. ' She forthwith directed a servant to take the horse to a neighboring wood, to which the owner made no resistance. Thus this pretty little village was saved from conflagration by the resolute conduct of this Quaker lady."

Click here to purchase your own copy of " To Talk is Treason " online from the Waterford Foundation.