Purcellville Historical Society

10/19/2023

10/09/2023

Indigenous Day isn’t just for a distant past but for a present that continues to thrive!

https://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/virginia-indians/state-recognized-tribes/

https://www.mattaponination.com/

https://www.pamunkey.org/

https://www.chickahominytribe.org/

https://www.cied.org/

http://www.rappahannocktribe.org/

https://umitribe.org/

https://nansemond.gov/

https://www.monacannation.com/

https://www.cheroenhaka-nottoway.org/

http://nottowayindians.org/

https://patawomeckindiantribeofvirginia.org/

http://www.piscatawayconoytribe.com/

https://www.piscatawayindians.com/

http://nanticoke-lenapetribalnation.org/

http://nanticoke-lenape.info/confederation.htm

The PHS apologies if any regional Indigenous, Native and Tribal peoples were not included above. Please amend in comments with links.

The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Indian Tribe (headquartered in Bridgeton, New Jersey) and the Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware (headquartered in Cheswold, Delaware) and the Nanticoke Indian Tribe of Delaware are in an intertribal union, "The Confederation of Sovereign Nanticoke-Lenape Tribes." The purpose...

10/09/2023

10/08/2023

Lester Gordon, Purcellville’s first Black Volunteer Firefighter!! (Thank you, Lester! ) is out and about at Celebrate Purcellville! Come out and join us today until 5pm Dillon’s Woods.

10/04/2023

Did you hear it??? Did you have your phone on you? The first nationwide cellular alert! Those of us old enough to know- we’ve graduated! 😃 A tiny bit of seemingly inconsequential history that is so deeply important on so many levels. So much nerdy excitement!

09/30/2023

Collecting local tales through oral history lore.

The Loudoun Museum wants to hear the stories that haunt your neighborhoods and communities. Come share your spirited encounters or hair-raising rumors you have heard about mysterious happenings.

We are recording stories on the following dates:

First Friday: October 6th at 6:30 pm 14 Loudoun St. SW Leesburg, VA

Waterford Craft Fair October 6th, 7th, and 8th https://www.waterfordfairva.org/

We have a couple of guidelines: Your story must be based in or connected to Loudoun County (through people, places, and/or events). We request that stories are kept to a PG-13 rating as we plan to make these available to the public after recording!

Can’t make it to a recording? Email us at [email protected] with “Loudoun Lore” in the subject line.

09/20/2023

Can't join us for the Waterford Fair this year? Our next walking tour is on September 30th! Join us as we stroll the gorgeously colorful streets this time of year learning about the National Historic Landmark! Grab your tickets for this or another future tour --> https://www.waterfordfoundation.org/events/

09/19/2023

check this out!

News Release: Local Historian to Discuss Clarke County’s Architecture Town of Leesburg, Virginia sent this bulletin at 09/18/2023 03:08 PM EDT Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Town of Leesburg, VirginiaNews Release For Immediate ReleaseSeptember 18, 2023 Media Contact:Leah...

09/08/2023

On this day in Arlington history: September 7, 1846 Despite the objections of those living in Alexandria County—what is now Arlington County--President James Polk issues a proclamation to transfer what is now Arlington County and Alexandria back to Virginia out of the District of Columbia governmental control.

This map shows what is now Arlington, the way it was: as part of DC. Read more about it here
https://blogs.weta.org/boundarystones/2016/07/08/alexandria-retrocession-1846

You can read “Retrocession: What If” an article in the 2013 Arlington Historical Magazine by James Hughes, the 2013 Arlington History essay contest winner. (http://arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2013-3-Retrocession.pdf). He wrote about what Arlington might be like today if we had not been retroceded back to Virginia. What do YOU think?

08/29/2023

Now you know!

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1000199804500569?fs=e&s=TIeQ9V&mibextid=0NULKw

08/19/2023

Ever wanted to work for a privately-funded, statewide historic preservation leader founded more than 100 years ago, that works to ensure the relevancy of the Commonwealth’s historic places? If the answer is yes, then you're in luck- Preservation Virginia is hiring! Find the details on our open position, Preservation Field Services Manager, at our website: https://preservationvirginia.org/about/jobs-internships/.

08/19/2023

Don't forget to update your calendar!

08/19/2023

A historic former wheat mill located in the village of Waterford was recently restored after a decades-long effort led the Waterford Foundation and Loudoun County.

08/14/2023

08/02/2023

Join us on the National Mall

07/25/2023

Save the date! A truly amazing local historian is teaming up with an amazing non-profit right here in Purcellville. Can’t wait!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cu1zoJir55b/?igshid=Y2I2MzMwZWM3ZA==

07/20/2023

07/20/2023

To thank you for attending our programs this summer, we are raffling off four pairs of tickets to the Loudoun County Fair! Take our survey at library.loudoun.gov/feedback and your name will be automatically entered. Winners will be drawn on Friday, July 21 and tickets will be delivered to nearby branches for pickup on Saturday, July 22. Tickets are good for July 25-29.

07/20/2023

Congratulations Virginia Museum of History & Culture from way up in Loudoun County! Well earned!

07/16/2023

Celebrate Latino Conservation Week! There are a few events in the greater DC area. To learn more, check out links below.

-“Today’s present is tomorrow’s past. Tomorrow’s present is today’s outcome.”

https://www.facebook.com/100064470322749/posts/660336359458702/?mibextid=afzh1R

https://latinoconservationweek.com/about-lcw

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/latino-conservation-week.htm

07/15/2023

Speaking of books, Purcellville’s host to our fabulous Purcellville Library as well as a slew of local Little Libraries. Check out some great reads here!! There may be some history books, too!

https://m.facebook.com/story.php/?vanity=100064606422939&story_fbid=652978473532361

07/15/2023

The PHS Interns have encountered some fascinating reads on the History of Purcellville! Interested? Check out these books:

1. Images of America-Purcellville
Meredith Thomas and the Purcellville Preservation Society.
https://www.amazon.com/Purcellville-Images-America-Meredith-Thomas/dp/0738587559

2. When History Was Made in Purcellville, Virginia: The Story of Josie Murray Linda Sittig, Linda Jackson King, and Whitney Truit.
https://www.amazon.com/Opening-Closed-Doors-Story-Murray/dp/1958754412

3. A History of Loudoun County Baseball 1869-1987
John Kelly Barrett
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0578073641/ref=x_gr_bb_amazon?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_bb_amazon-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0578073641&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

4. Purcellville: A Journey From a Wilderness to a Rural Town Volume 1- John Kelly Barrett
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0578127679/ref=x_gr_bb_amazon?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_bb_amazon-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0578127679&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

5. The Town Of Purcellville: 1910 to 1940 Volume II - John Kelly Barrett

6. Purcellville: A Journey from a Wilderness to a rural town 1940 to 1970 Volume III- John Kelly Barrett

Let us know what you think of these awesome reads!

07/13/2023

Purcellville has a rich baseball history, told in local sources like Jack Barrett’s A History of Loudoun County Baseball 1869-1987. But, as with the rest of the nation, early Purcellville had white baseball, and Black baseball. Here are some notable Pvl Black baseball events:

1952-A baseball field is built on Purcellville’s Emancipation grounds (now Bethany United Methodist Church, at the corner of 21st and A st). The field was laid out by Wilmer Cary of Washington

-Before baseball teams in Loudoun began integrating, PVL was home to the Purcellville Nationals, an all African American team. The PVL Nationals hosted players like John Middleton (second baseman), James “Speed” Campbell (pitcher and third baseman), and Charles Smith (outfielder)

May 1968-The Leesburg Yankees/Leesburg firemen do not want Loudoun baseball integrated. They vote 22-1 to close Leesburg's Firemen’s Field

September 1968- The Round Hill Braves signed the Coates brothers, Wilbur and Ralph, who were Black. The Braves played the Leesburg Yankees in that year's championships. According to Eugene Scheel, Wilbur Coates made the winning run. Afterwards, the Leesburg Yankees threatened to quit the league

1969-Purcellville signed two Black players, Billy Coates (no relation) and Robert Morris, to the white team.

The Coates Brothers https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2003/08/03/young-manager-took-bold-step-toward-integration/89fe528d-4d72-47a5-87c3-e6889e817ffd/

A History of Loudoun County Baseball 1869 to 1987-John Kelly Barrett
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49035380-a-history-of-loudoun-county-baseball-1869-to-1987

Timeline of Important Events in African American History in Loudoun County
Timeline of Important Events in African American History in Loudoun …

Images of America Purcellville-Meredith Thomas and the Purcellville Preservation Association
https://www.amazon.com/Purcellville-Images-America-Meredith-Thomas/dp/0738587559

By the 1968 baseball season, nearly one-quarter of all major league ballplayers were African Americans. Twenty-one seasons had passed since Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby became the first Negroes to play in the major leagues. But no black player had ever played in the all-white Loudoun County Baseba...

07/04/2023

Thanks Purcellville Parks and Recreation for another great parade! see comments for info regarding celebrations this evening.

file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/bd/13/249DF3B8-95E6-4D11-859F-320E7467800F/FOJ.mov

07/02/2023

The 4th of July is one of those rare historical events actively living in the present. Whatever your approach to the 4th, the PHS wishes you a day filled with cultural appreciation, family and friends.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2020/07/01/do-american-indians-celebrate-4th-july/

https://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/united-states-independence-masked-genocide-and-imperialism

https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/nations-story-what-slave-fourth-july

How do Native Americans observe the 4th of July? This year, many people’s plans reflect their concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. But the answer has always been as complicated as America’s history. Perhaps the best-known passage of the Declaration of Independence is the statement that all m...

07/02/2023

Walk the monuments in this heat? You say, “hard pass!” Better, arrive in DC around 6:30pm. Get a decent parking spot *then* stroll. Find a good spot, watch the sunset. Head over the Warner theater area and grab food/drinks. Really, the monuments - and DC - are amazing at night!

Walking along the National Mall and stopping in the memorials can inspire a powerful patriotic feeling. The stone, the statues, and the stories are carefully constructed and expressed to connect visitors to the people and events that shaped our history. Join a ranger program to discover the details and get more out of your visit. Dates and locations are here: www.nps.gov/nama/planyourvisit/calendar.htm

Photo by National Park Service.

07/02/2023

Relive the fun of summer camp with Purcellville Library's line-up of free activities for adults happening throughout July:

Thursday, July 6 at 2 p.m. - Colorful Yard Art
Tuesday, July 11 at 6:30 p.m. - Summer Wreaths
Thursday, July 13 at 2 p.m. - Salsa
Tuesday, July 18 at 2 p.m. - Bullet Journals
Wednesday, July 26 at 6:30 p.m. - History Trivia

View our event calendar for details: https://buff.ly/3JDp78w.

07/01/2023

Happy July! The United State’s 247th Independence Day is just around the corner. Celebrations have already begun as people prepare to celebrate and relax. Initially July 4th was a celebratory day, but not a day off. It was officially recognized as a Federal holiday in 1870 but it took until 1938 for it to become a paid Federal Holiday. For more information regarding the history of Independence Day, visit these websites-
https://www.almanac.com/content/independence-day-fourth-of-july
https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/july-04/
Outside its status as a day of work, the 4th has been a day of celebration since 1776, when The Declaration of Independence was signed. Following the start of the Revolutionary War, cannons and muskets were often fired, and readings of the Declaration of Independence were held. Parades and fireworks similar to the celebrations we typically see today also took place during the time of the Revolutionary war and continued to present, becoming iconic Fourth of July traditions.
For information about Purcellville and Loudoun County Fourth of July celebrations, visit https://www.visitloudoun.org/blog/post/4th-of-july-celebrations-in-loudoun/.

What's the best way to celebrate the Independence Day of the United States on the 4th of July. Learn about the history and traditions behind the Fourth of July.

06/30/2023

The information provided with this application is public information and I acknowledge that interviews are generally conducted during a public meeting.*

06/30/2023

Preservation of multiple legacies and the environment!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CuGI4VSrjvn/?igshid=Y2I2MzMwZWM3ZA==

06/29/2023

FREE EVENT!

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ (VMFA) state-of-the-art traveling museum and art studio will be at Virginia Village this Saturday, July 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The 53-foot, climate-controlled Volvo trailer will feature the exhibition, Revealing and Obscuring Identity: Portraits from the Permanent Collection. Learn more here >> https://bit.ly/3r65hwp

06/29/2023

We hope you can join us for the Purcellville Independence Parade on Tuesday, July 4th! The parade will start at 11 a.m. at Blue Ridge Middle School. For more information on the parade route and street closures, please visit: https://www.purcellvilleva.gov/1032/Independence-Day-Parade

06/29/2023

https://www.instagram.com/p/CuBGXQLrUlG/?igshid=MjA3NmNkZWY5Yg==

06/26/2023

We are so excited for the 10th Annual Purcellville Wine and Food Festival! Check out the vendors and entertainment line-up, and be sure to get your admission ticket or VIP table today! https://www.purcellvillewineandfood.com/

06/25/2023

A bright summery welcome to the PHS 2023 Summer Interns! They’re hard at work researching, exploring and learning. Internships for high schoolers available, and partnerships with local school groups to come! Welcome!

06/25/2023

Don’t forget!!

THIS SUNDAY @ the -

INDEPENDENCE DAY THE HILLSBORO WAY
FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR!

Grounds/bar opens at 3 pm; music starts at 3:45, & FIREWORKS at sunset!

FREE to attend - outside food and drinks are permitted, but no outside alcohol - The Gap Bar and Food Trucks will be on-site!

01/22/2023

Welcome to 2023! New Research projects getting underway. Want a particular property researched? Interested in participating in a research project? Send a dm!

Local history is far more layered than we often think.

https://youtu.be/Dixji4Ngo1I

In the early 1930s, the Commonwealth of Virginia removed families from their homes in the Blue Ridge Mountains to make way for the new Shenandoah National Pa...

01/13/2023

Interesting photo and information sent to PHS. Kacey, is there an address they can send these to? Pictures in comments.

11/02/2022

In WANDER you’ll read about Loudoun County, Virginia’s multi-generation farm families, intrepid stewards of the land, captivating profiles of local entrepreneurs, agripreneurs, artists and artisans and their local products. You’ll find out about fresh farm produce markets, how to join a local ...