land in the area , Gleedsville was a predominantly African American community that began to flourish after the end of the Civil War but gradually declined because of harsh Jim Crow laws . Despite the town ’ s changes , the Mt . Olive congregation was active for almost a century before it merged with Mt .
PHOTO : wib middleton
Unitarian Universalist Church of Loudoun was constructed by people who were formerly enslaved at the Oatlands plantation .
thing that comes to mind when there are so many projects worthy of repair in Loudoun County , but exploring these historic places of worship and their cemeteries made me realize how much history we lose when we allow these places to fall into disrepair . While many white residents purchased marble
When it comes to preservation and / or restoration , local burial grounds may not be the first thing that comes to mind when there are so many projects worthy of repair in Loudoun County , but exploring these historic places of worship and their cemeteries made me realize how much history we lose when we allow these places to fall into disrepair . headstones and monuments during the 18th and 19th centuries , many of the local Black residents marked graves with less expensive stones or even wooden markers that in many cases have weathered away .
Civil War veteran James Lewis , who returned to Waterford after serving with the 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment , is known to have been laid to rest in the Waterford Union of Churches Cemetery , but how many others have lost recognition because their headstones have been lost to time ? Trustees of the cemetery targeted this issue in 2018 when they employed ground penetrating radar to locate unmarked burial plots . Last fall , Boy Scouts and volunteers from Troop 1159 added marker stones to these unearthed plots and conducted a general cleanup of the overgrown burial ground . More work remains to be done , but it ’ s good step towards uncovering more of Loudoun County ’ s past , and those who experienced and contributed to our nation ’ s history .
Many of Loudoun ’ s historic churches , including the Mt . Zion Historic Park , are available for hiking , seasonal guided tours , living history programs , weddings and other events , and perhaps even a ghost sighting or two . Beyond special programs , the Mt . Zion church is open and interpreted on fourth Sunday afternoons from April to mid-November . The church at Gleedsville holds services every Sunday at 10:00 AM , except during the COVID emergency . The outdoor sites of these churches , along with the Waterford Union of Churches Cemetery , are open to explore during daylight hours .
Zion United Methodist in Leesburg during the 1980s . The UUCL purchased the church site in 1998 and the church was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005 .
When it comes to preservation and / or restoration , local burial grounds may not be the first
Sarah Burke lives with her husband , son , and dog in Purcellville . A graduate of Virginia Tech and current government employee , she is passionate about the environment , history , and communications . When not working or trying to keep up with her young son , she can be found in the garden .
28 wander I spring • summer 2022