I am admittedly a product of my generation . Growing up in the late 1960s and 70s and living in an old house , I was smack dab in the middle of the preservation movement that was sweeping the United States . It was so exciting then . Historic districts were being formed , and preservation groups were plentiful . The Waterford Fair was a huge event . Bluemont started their own fair , and even little old Lincoln had a “ Dirt Roads Tour ” packing in thousands of people to tour the old homes in the Lincoln area . Almost everyone wanted to live in an old house , and the flagship of this movement was a mere three hours south of here . Colonial Williamsburg gained national attention and really brought preservation to the forefront of popular interest .
Then through the 1990s and 2000s , things started to quiet down for preservation . It seemed it didn ’ t have the same appeal as before . There were the folks that stayed with it , and it still captured the attention of a few . But the real zeal was waning , and now , as we have a good start into the 2020s , the movement has all but stopped . Everyone in the preservation community is feeling it . All the fairs have low attendance . Historical site visits are down , and even our beloved Williamsburg has had to make some major shifts to attract people .
It seems like my generation and the generations before me were interested in the “ What ? and How ?” What year was this built ? What was the mortar they used ? How did they make that mill race ? How did they tan leather ? The younger generations are more interested in the “ Why ? and Who ?” Why did they settle here ? Why was this building built ? Who lived here ? Who were the enslaved people ? These younger folks want a story , the “ real ” history , not some glossy version we were taught . There is a real interest in African American history now that seemed to be conveniently overlooked in the past . Folks are becoming aware of the backs upon which America was built and their
The small victories are plentiful if you start looking for them : the town and county historic districts , the Loudoun Preservation Society ’ s grant program , the traffic calming measures that have been completed in Aldie and Hillsboro , the many barns and farms that have been saved and reused for the thriving brewery and winery business in the county . When , as a community , we can save a small part of a farm , re-use a 19th century barn , protect a view shed , erect a historical sign for Willisville , or preserve documents , we must celebrate these small victories .
historical and cultural contributions . It ’ s so nice to see communities like Willisville and Howardsville starting to be recognized and preserved .
I said to my wife a couple of weeks ago , “ It ’ s hard to be a cheerleader , when nobody ’ s at the game .” With the current climate of preservation , and with everyone fishing from the same pond , it ’ s really easy to feel like “ What ’ s the use ?” Preservation is horribly under-funded and most often takes a back seat to roads , malls , sub-divisions , and general urban sprawl . It really only comes to our attention during our kids ’ field trips , or when a site with which we are familiar is in jeopardy .
It ’ s easy to want to give up , and I felt that way a number of years ago . But I decided that I was not going to focus on the big defeats , but rather the small victories . Remember how we felt when they started to bulldoze the Cole Farm at the corner of business Route 7 and 287 in Purcellville ? I thought all was lost . It was a big defeat . But when they were made to keep the house and barn , that was a small victory , and I savored that . It ’ s a big defeat when any farm is sold . While it is more ideal for these generational farms to remain undeveloped and intact by being placed into an easement , it ’ s still a small victory when pieces and fragments are preserved and not completely erased from the landscape .
The small victories are plentiful if you start looking for them : the town and county historic districts , the Loudoun Preservation Society ’ s grant program , the traffic calming measures that have been completed in Aldie and Hillsboro , the many barns and farms that have been saved and reused for the thriving brewery and winery business in the county . When , as a community , we can save a small part of a farm , re-use a 19th century barn , protect a view shed , erect a historical sign for Willisville , or preserve documents , we must celebrate these small victories .
wander I spring • summer 2023 5