WANDER magazine FALL/WINTER 2020 | Page 4

Mt . Olivet , in the shadow of Short Hill Mountain , embraces the flourishing but not always obvious strength and depth of heritage roots still found in western Loudoun today . Built in 1880 , the stone work labor to build the church was contributed by three brothers of the Roller family , who now rest in the adjoining cemetery . Today , the church is composed of 153 community members , most living within the view of this photograph , and many of whom are descendants of the original Mt . Olivet members .

L oudoun ’ s countryside beckons

BY PAMELa lane BALDWIN
The beautiful rolling landscape of western Loudoun County — officially known as the Rural Policy Area ( RPA )— roughly encompasses the expanse west of Leesburg , stretching north to the Potomac River and south to Route 50 . Its more than 300 square miles is a bucolic treasure with so much to experience and enjoy that a small group of residents were compelled to come together to create this new publication you are holding . WANDER has been envisioned and designed to encourage an enthusiastic exploration and appreciation of all that rural Loudoun has to offer .