The Mosby Heritage Area Association Newsletter - April 2008

Statement From The President
When MHAA started the Aldie Triangle program 4 years ago little did I know that we would expand from the starting number of 80 students and 3 schools to 9 schools and 500 students. We survived the three day event largely in part to the military precision type planning done by MHAA’s executive director Judy Reynolds and our Director of Education, Rich Gillespie. My thanks go to our partnering sites, Aldie Mill and Mount Zion Church and to the countless volunteers who guided our young friends through the program.

Spring looks as though it has finally arrived and MHAA has two events planned to take advantage of this wonderful season. The first, a celebration of Mosby Ranger Descendants on June 10, and later in the month our Ride with Mosby cycling event on Sunday June 15. Details of both these events are listed below.

And finally it’s not too late to register for the Land Conservation workshop being held at Oatland’s on April 30, give Oatland’s a call to reserve a spot, 703-777-3174. There is a $10 fee to cover printed material and a light supper after the program. We hope we’ll see you on several of these occasions.

Gayle DeLashmutt
President MHAA

Exploring Olde Loudoun Bus Tours - Seats Available
This year’s Exploring Olde Loudoun bus tours have been a great success.  Each Sunday in April, Rich Gillespie has lead 20 to 30 individuals on a four and one-half hour trek through Loudoun County history.    The bus trips have explored Loudoun’s history chronologically, helping participants make sense of this important Northern Virginia County.

Part history lesson and part field trip, the series is aimed at those who don’t know much about Loudoun, including newcomers, but also is open to longer residents who’ve never had the time or chance to explore the county’s past.  MHAA hopes that participants will include families, teachers new to the area, groups of neighbors with an urge to explore, senior citizens who moved here to be with their children, and those from the new residential communities.

Richard Gillespie, the Director of Education for MHAA, leads the series.  “Loudoun means so much more as you drive its roads and walk its streets when you know the history of the area,” Gillespie says.  “It’s hard to feel like a Loudouner if you don’t know its history.”

Thus far, the tours have included Colonial, Antebellum, and Civil War Loudoun.  Participants have raved about the experience.  Even those who thought they knew Loudoun County history are surprised to discover small interesting places and facts.   The tours take participants to places they may not have the opportunity to see on their own. 

One tour remains on Sunday, April 27th.   This last trip will explore Loudoun County after the Civil War.  Reconstruction sites, turn-of-the-century small town Loudoun, the W&OD Railroad, the birth of public schools and segregation, and the advent of Hunt Country will be considered. 

Trips begin and end in Leesburg at Loudoun County High School at Dry Mill Road and Catoctin Circle.  Participants should meet the bus at 1:45 for these 4½ hour tours.  Reservations are required.  Trips are $25 per person.  To reserve a seat or ask questions, call the Mosby Heritage Area Association at 540-687-6681.

Conservation Easement Workshop Set for April 30
A conservation easement is a simple land preservation agreement between a landowner and a government agency or a non-profit conservation organization that places permanent limits on the future development of a property.

By limiting development, the agreement is designed to protect the property’s conservation values—its natural, scenic or historic features—that contribute to making the property, and the larger Piedmont landscape, such a special place.

While the concept sounds easy, many landowners miss the opportunity to take advantage of conservation easements because they either don’t understand the value or feel that the process is too daunting.

To help both new and long-time landowners understand the importance and value of conservation easements, the Mosby Heritage Area Association will co-sponsor “An Introduction to Conservation Easements” at The Oatland's Carriage House on Wednesday, April 30, 2008, from 6 – 7:30 p.m. There is a $10 fee per participant. A light supper will follow in the garden, weather permitting. 

Other co-sponsors are: Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Goose Creek Association, Loudoun Restoration and Preservation Society, Marshall International Center at Dodona Manor, Oatlands, Piedmont Environmental Council, Preservation Society of Loudoun County, Snickersville Turnpike Association, Unison Preservation Society, and the Waterford Foundation. 

Please make checks payable to “Oatlands, Inc.”

RSVP by April 26th to:
   Oatlands
   20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane
   Leesburg, Virginia 20175

Ride with the Mosby Rangers - On Bicycles
The Mosby Heritage Area Association will sponsor a bicycle ride through the Mosby Heritage Area on Sunday, June 15th.   The ride will begin at 9:30 a.m. and end around 3:30 p.m. at Green Garden, near Upperville.  The ride will include history and scenic Virginia byways.

After receiving a little history about Green Garden, bikers will leave for Ayrshire Farm, where Col. John S. Mosby’s made many stops for coffee.  From here, participants will head to Ebenezer Baptist Churches.  The history of the churches and their Mosby connection will be interpreted for participants.  Then the bicyclists will trek down to Unison for lunch.  The Unison Preservation Association will host the lunch and relate the significance of the village and the Battle of Unison.  The afternoon will end with a trek to Wellbourne, another Mosby site, before returning to Green Garden.

The ride will be approximately 20 miles long on mostly packed dirt and gravel roads with a moderate degree of difficulty.  Riders must be 12 years or older and are required to wear helmets.  The cost is $40 per rider.   Those wishing to participate must register.  Registration forms can be found at area bike shops.   You can get more information and register by calling 540-687-668l.

A Celebration of Mosby's Ranger's Descendants
As part of the 250th Anniversary Commemoration for Fauquier County and the 150th Anniversary of the American Civil War, the Mosby Heritage Area Association is sponsoring a Commemoration of Mosby’s Rangers Descendants in June 2009.  This event will be open to descendants of rangers, servants, and of Col. John Singleton Mosby. 

MHAA will sponsor a descendant reunion on June 10, 2008, on the anniversary of the official organization of Company A, 43rd Virginia Battalion, known as Mosby’s Rangers--June 10, 1863.  This event will be for granddaughters and grandsons only. 

Mr. & Mrs. Jay Zeiler of Green Garden just outside Upperville, the home of Ranger “Dolly” Richards, will host the event at their home.  Our special guests will enjoy a picnic dinner and live music from the Tuscarora Band.  The Gray Ghost Interpretive Group will interpret the events that happening at Green Garden in March 1865.  Descendants will be presented a special badge recognizing the event.

MHAA is looking for granddaughters and grandsons for the June 2008 event.  If you or someone you know is a granddaughter or grandson, please contact the Mosby Heritage Area Association at 540-687-6681 or by email at info@mosbyheritagearea.org. 

Green Garden, Upperville

Civil War Conference Set for Fall
The Mosby Heritage Area Association will present the 11th Annual Conference on the Art of Command in the Civil War, titled SEPTEMBER 17, 1862, ANTIETAM, October 3 - 5, 2008 at the Middleburg Community Center, Middleburg, VA.

Speakers for the 2008 Conference include: PETER CARMICHAEL, GARY ECELBARGER, DENNIS FRYE, Ms. LESLIE GORDON, Mr. KIM HOLIEN, ROBERT K. KRICK, STEPHEN R. POTTER and, JEFFRY D. WERT. Speakers subject to change.

For additional information and the complete Conference Program please visit the MHAA website: www.mosbyheritagearea.org

Cavaliers, Courage, & Coffee Returns
The very popular Cavilers, Courage & Coffee interpretive program has returned for its fifth year.   The first presentation was held on Saturday, April 19th in Front Royal, Virginia at the headquarters of the Warren Heritage Society on historic Chester Street. 

Last year, the Gray Ghost Interpretive Group, decided to take their program on the road.  This presented MHAA with the opportunity to expand our programming into Warren County and introduce participants to the Civil War history of Warren County.  Two other programs will be on the road this year; June 21st at Burwell-Morgan Mill in Millwood, Virginia and August 16th at the Aldie Mill in Aldie, Virginia.  This will be the third year for the program to be presented at the Burwell-Morgan Mill, but the first time for Front Royal and Aldie.

Programs on May 17th, July 19th, and November 1st will be at the Rector House in Atoka.  These family-oriented programs tell stories about the life of residents of the Mosby Heritage Area during the time of the Civil War.  The stories are told by members of the Gray Ghost Interpretive Group in period dress by lantern light.  The programs are entertaining and informative---a good night out with the family.

Programs begin at 7:30 p.m. and last for approximately one hour and forty-five minutes.  Light refreshments are served, including Col. Mosby’s favorite beverage, coffee.  Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for students.  No reservations are necessary.   For directions or more information, call 540-687-6681.

The Aldie Triangle; Impact of War
If you were in the Aldie area on April 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, you might have seen a flurry of activity at Aldie Mill, Mount Zion Church, or Oak Hill.   More than 500 students from nine area schools were participating in our The Aldie Triangle; Impact of War interpretive program.  This program brings local history alive for students.  By hearing the stories from the past and experiencing the sites first-hand, these students come away with a better understanding of the place where they live.

The Mosby Heritage Area Association has sponsored this program for the past five years.  MHAA works in partnership with Mr. and Mrs. Thomas DeLashmutt of Oak Hill, the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority at Aldie Mill and the Mount Zion Church Preservation Association.  During this four hour program, students get a glimpse of life during the Civil War and how that life was affected by the war in this region of Loudoun County in a visit to Oak Hill, Aldie Mill and Mount Zion Baptist Church---the Aldie Triangle. 

Schools participating this year are Aldie, Middleburg, Banneker, Pinebrook, Cool Spring, Hillside, and Lincoln Elementary Schools, The Hill School, and Loudoun Country Day School.  Aldie, Middleburg, Pinebrook (the former Arcola Elementary) and The Hill School were the original four in 2004.

We would like to thank the volunteers who helped MHAA at Oak Hill.  They are Gayle DeLashmutt, Cindy Buck-Thompson, Helen Christian, George Tiedeman, Patrick Farris, Chris Needels, Tracy Gillespie, Merritt Jones, Susan Wallace, and Pat Mountain.   George Tiedeman noted that he learned so much from the interpretations and student questions.  He asked, “Why wasn’t history made this interesting for me when I was in school?” 

Cindy Buck-Thompson, as Martha Fairfax Robertson, telling students about life at Oak Hill during the Civil War.

MHAA Introduces New Logo
This month MHAA is introducing a new logo for the Mosby Heritage Area. In planning for some time to support new branding activities of MHAA, the Board of Directors determined that the organization was in need of a logo which incorporated the key visual traits of the Piedmont, the dominant landscape for the Heritage Area.

Joining our famous depiction of Col. Mosby and his horse,     , on the new logo are the rolling farm land, set off by a board fence, mountain ranges and, open sky’s which define the Mosby Heritage Area.

In addition, the Board of Directors wanted to create a logo which would support the organizations new marketing and branding work with local businesses and potential visitors to the Heritage Area.

“The purpose for the adjustment in the logo is to put more emphasis on the Mosby Heritage Area by putting the figure against the backdrop of the mountains.  When you see the logo, there is more presence of the area, not Mosby,” said Lennart Lundh, chair, MHAA Marketing Committee

“The organization has begun a program to partner with local businesses in Clarke, Warren, Fauquier, Loudoun and Prince William Counties in its efforts to build awareness and visibility for the historic Mosby Heritage Area and to the programs of the MHAA. Updating the logo is an important step in this process,” Lundh concluded.

The introduction of the new Logo into MHAA information and materials will be accomplished in a phased in manner.

New MHAA Logo

Site of the Month - Aldie Mill
Charles Fenton Mercer chose the site for the Aldie Mill in the early 1800 ’s because the Little River had sufficient water to operate a mill, there was an established transportation system, and the rich agricultural region would provide sufficient grain supplies for the operation of a mill.  Slaves began work on the site by building a dam, millpond, and millrace to carry water to the mill. Under the supervision of William Cooke, Mercer’s partner, and Matthew Adam, millwright, the large merchant mill, smaller country mill, granary, store, distillery, sawmill, and shops for a blacksmith, wheelwright and barrel maker were constructed.  Mercer sold his interest in the business in 1835 to John Moore, whose family operated the mill until 1971, when the mill closed.  The Douglass family, Moore descendents, donated the mill to the Virginia Outdoors Foundation in 1981.  The Virginia Outdoor Foundation oversaw the restoration of the merchant’s mill and turned the property over to Loudoun County in 2005. 

Aldie Mill

Store Item
The MHAA is introducing its MHAA polo shirts online for the first time.  These handsome shirts come in gray, navy, and pine green with a Mosby Heritage Area insignia on the left front.  The shirts are made by Outer Banks, a noted name in polo shirts.  You can get the shirt in small, medium, large and X-large for $40 each or XX-large for $44 each, shipping and handling included.  Pay by ordering from our website store at www.mosbyheritagearea.org/store.htm using the Pay Pal system or by downloading our order form which allows you to pay by check or credit card. 

If you are a Mosby Heritage Area Association member, you can receive a 20% discount.  You will need to use the order form method of paying and note on the form that you are a member and are getting the 20% discount.

MHAA Polo Shirt - Shown in Navy

Did You Know?
Remember the 1960s Civil War Centennial?  For many of us it was the first time we really got excited about history.  What is absolutely amazing is that the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War is now upon us—not beginning in 2011, but 2009.  The leaders in the Civil War Sesquicentennial are the Commonwealth of Virginia and the National Park Service.  Each of these recognize the first event of the Sesquicentennial as John Brown’s Raid. The preliminaries for that commemoration (not celebration, a pattern with all the Sesquicentennial events) will be on June 25-26, 2009 at Harpers Ferry.  The Mosby Heritage Area will be offering an intensive exploration of the impact of John Brown on our area of Virginia during a Friday evening and all day Saturday John Brown’s Raid field trip on November 7-8, 2008.

Committees have already been formed to grapple with the Sesquicentennial.   At the state level, a legislative commission, headed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, Hon. William J. Howell, will oversee events with working groups dealing with coordination, signature events and activities, and education.  A Quad-State Committee comprised of representatives from West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia is already working on the John Brown’s Raid Commemoration.  County/city committees are already up and running in 36 jurisdictions, including Prince William, Loudoun, Fauquier and Warren counties.  The Mosby Heritage Area Association has representatives on the Prince William, Loudoun and Warren committees, and hopes to be involved in the Fauquier and Clarke committees once they get going.

Emphases for the Sesquicentennial stress inclusiveness of all Virginians,  producing meaning from that time for today’s diverse Virginia population; stressing local history education of both visitors and our own local population, and hoping the Sesquicentennial leaves the Commonwealth with a legacy of interest in local history, with better interpretive infrastructure, more exhibits, more walking and driving trails, and more publications for the future to enjoy.

E-Newsletter Mar. 2008

E-Newsletter Feb. 2008

E-Newsletter Jan. 2008

E-Newsletter Dec. 2007

E-Newsletter Nov. 2007

E-Newsletter Oct. 2007

E-Newsletter Sept. 2007

Archives From News Page