Loudoun ’ s quiet repositories of times gone by
BY SARAH BURKE
After moving to Loudoun County in 2013 , my husband and I loved to drive along the gravel country roads without a specific destination in mind . We never knew what we would discover — a new winery , a charming country store , a scenic park , or a polo field . Something that always struck me on these drives was how many historic churches and burial grounds there are throughout the county , and I fell in love with the architecture , the old stones , the ancient trees . I ’ m sure if their walls could talk , they would have so many stories to share . Loudoun has a relatively long history — the first colonists settled in here in 1725 , but it wasn ’ t officially established as a county until 1757 , just 18 years before the beginning of the Revolutionary War and over 100 years before the American Civil War . The Mt . Zion Old School Baptist Church , which overlooks the crossroads between routes 50 and 860 , near the Gilbert ’ s Corner Regional Park and Farmer ’ s Market ,
PHOTO : ROGER LANCASTER
Dating from the early 19 century , the Waterford Union of Churches Cemetery served all Waterford denominations . It was segregated , with Black graves relegated to the rear of the grounds . Both Union and Confederate soldiers are buried here .
26 wander I spring • summer 2022