The Village of Waterford, Virginia
A National Historic Landmark
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A lifetime ago, we found an invitation for dinner from Ann Carter Chamberlain in our door. We had bought the Hollingsworth-Lee House, late in the previous winter and now in the spring were in a race to get things livable while living in house that had a long list of no heat, electricity, walls, plumbing etc. Going through the looking glass door of the Bank House just up Main Street a few days later was to step forward from a Waterford at its worst, ours, to a Waterford at its best, hers. Our life of dust and chaos contrasted sharply with the long established settled grace that Ann Carter presided over in the company of the scholarly wit of Wellman Chamberlin. Due to her influence as Waterford's greatest cheerleader we are still in Waterford at its best 35 years later.
During the years between new Waterfordians joined the old Waterfordians who had instantly appreciated her enthusiasm on her arrival as a bride from Alexandria during the midst of the Great Depression. The Depression must have flown with her arrival. Since then, Ann Carter was always at the fore of all celebrations. No play, performance or concert issued from the Old School without her on or before the stage, a necessary presence for an evening of joy. No public meeting every passed without her comments and encouragement. This even took the form of being the first Waterford Columnist for this paper.
All through the years, no matter how wintry the weather, a few days before Christmas we would shuffle around to all our houses or stand in our doors while our white mittened leader coaxed carols from us. Civic projects of planting, picking up or fixing up always had her imprimatur and support. No New Years passed without her instigating the singing of Old Lang Sine and no Fourth of July passed into history without us all getting stars and being urged by her though God Bless America one last verse.
It is inconceivable that she is not still with us, still urging us onward to fill our hearts with the joy of living in the village of Waterford at its best.
Historic Simms's House doomed
July 21, 2004
The historic Lizzie Simms's House was oozed closer to its ultimate death Monday as the Historic District Review Committee turned down the application for inappropriate change/bulldozing. This enabled the owners Paul and Malarie Madison to slide the unfortunate house one slippery step closer to its inevitable destruction by proceeding with an appeal to the Loudoun Board of Supervisors. Now you may wonder why are the Madisons persisting in their efforts to disregard the supposed protection of historic properties, the overwhelming wishes of the community and the recommendations of the counties professional staff. It is because they are assured that their wishes will prevail because of a decision made by those foreign to historic districts, the Loudoun BOS Finance/Government Services Committee members.
The Madisons are acutely aware of the rules that govern events in Loudoun. They know the deductive logic shown by dripping slime. If a blob of slime falls to the to the ground and so does the second, third, etc. you can be reasonably assured that the next blob of slime will fall to the ground. In the case of the Simms's House, if a new housing development project can jump from 162 houses to 500 houses, if a public facility can be named after President Reagan then the destruction of a historic building that is part of fabric of the Waterford Historic District is a piece of cake.
If you have enough naiveté to believe that you could deter this slimy glide to destruction to your Catoctin BOS supervisor Sally Kurtz or any Supervisors who have historic districts, Jim Burton or Jim Clem or the Chairman Scott York, forget it. They are not members of the Loudoun BOS Finance/Government Services Committee.
It is seldom that we have an opportunity to see something that is to be ripped from our midst. It is like the difference between talking to a person who dies suddenly the next day and talking the condemned person who we know is about to die the day. First the black citizens of Waterford and now even their homes that were uniquely black historic homes are being banished to be fading images in all our hearts and minds.
Schadenfreude fraughts Fourth
July 14, 2004
Waterford's Fourth was fraught with Schadenfreude as a wonderful red, white and blue jigsaw puzzle of events fell into place without a drop of rain falling on our parade or anything else. However, before, between and after there was plenty of rain that fell with exquisite timing for us and to the inconvenience of all around who were not in Waterford this historic day.
Once more Paige Cox herded a host of volunteers involving almost everyone in the Waterford Citizen's Association, and then some, through the day that in many ways surpassed all previous efforts. The length of the parade, from the first speeding scooters that always rush to the finish line once Main Street slopes down from the Post Office, to the last bedraggled red white and blue bunting beribboned dog, was longer than any other military event in Waterford since the Army of the Potomac passed through Waterford a few days after Gettysburg in 1863. The weather this year would be correct for a reenactment of that event of the Army trying to stay between the enemy and the capitals.
"Chili Man" Robert Farr of Loudoun Valley Foods, speaking from the Tannery lot, delivered a plea for the use of sustainable agriculture to preserve the farms of Loudoun. The use of his hot sauces and salsas had become a tradition by the time the potluck started.
Barry Charlton showed us his versatility and talent during the potluck supper on the Old School outdoor stage. Playing non-stop for over two hours he was a one-man concert displaying an excellence seldom heard even on the largest of stages.
Also special this year was the fireworks display. The grand finally was a classic crescendo of sound and fire that combined all the senses. No TV even with Tivo can duplicate the flash of heat on your face the tickle to your throat, the punch in your paunch and the tingle in your toes you feel from the real thing. The air around the Schooley Mill Barn burned with hundreds of glowing lights that froze as the final fountains of fires boomed on and on against the backdrop of surrounding clouds that throbbed with the pulsing explosions of the surrounding towns not so fortunate as us. Immediately after the last spark blinked out a misty drizzle descended on the end of another wondrous day in the life of our wondrous village.
Catoctin Creek needs a treat
July 7, 2004
Catoctin Creek was first reported as exceeding the state standards for E.coli bacteria pollutants in 1994, well before Goose Creek and Limestone Branch were similarly reported in 2000 and 2002. The reason for this pollution that makes the creek unfit for recreational uses is suspected to be the large numbers of drain fields in the watershed coupled with the removal of the protective buffers of trees and wetlands in the immediate proximity of the creek that purified the water naturally.
Those of us who have lived in the Catoctin Watershed since the late 1960's can remember the wetlands around the intersection of Route 9 and Route 7. Last month the reports dealing with a traffic light at this former marshy area denied that they exist and said that no wetlands were affected. More was affected besides the view when the bulldozer destroyed the areas containing the marshy grasses and cattails that are the sign of pollutants incidental to wild life and agriculture are being processed with out the need for the expenditure of labor and equipment involved in a treatment plant. The clearing of brush and planting grass and the tons of landfill dirt have almost erased the wetland.
In the marshy area to the north of Purcellville the wetlands protected the creek from the impervious surface runoff from the town. Though they are still there landfill for the industrial park diminished it size. That Purcellville was a factor in the health of the Catoctin became painfully apparent when a " minor chemical spill" killed every fish in the creek to the joy of the Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania vulture population. As the trees protecting the Catoctin gave way to lawns once the zoning regulations were modified, the health of a stream that had been assumed safe since typhoid struck Paeonian Springs in the 30's along with suspicion of polio later on failed. Perhaps all houses having drain fields should be billed for sewer treatment the same way Waterford is. The contaminants dumped into to septic tanks and lawns that are finding their way into our creek are going to have to be dealt with somehow. They just don't go away.
The meeting at the Old School last week to develop an implementation plan to restore the water quality of Catoctin gives us hope that once again children can play along the creek and fishing spots that were favorite places for hundreds of years can be used again.
Sunday is the Fourth of July
June 30 , 2004
The Waterford Citizens Association will be presenting the usual Glorious Fourth of July beginning with the registration for the parade on Factory Street at 10 to 11 a.m. Following the parade, at the Tannery Lot on Bond Street, patriotic songs, this years speaker," The Chile Man" Robert Farr, awards and at 12:30 p.m. hot dogs, hamburgers, watermelon and games for all. For the 4th The Greystone Pool will be open to all starting at noon. To avoid the non-member fee then, now is a chance to become a member, as there are a few vacancies still available. The pool is scheduled to be open all summer, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. 7 days a week. At 5 at the Old School the softball game begins and at 6:30 the Potluck (Don't forget to bring a dish for all of yours and a little extra). During the potluck Barry Charlton will be performing for our dinning enjoyment at the Old School Stage. Of course at dark the traditional fireworks will begin.
Generous donations from Waterfordians and their guests are the only way the WCA is able to present our traditional 4th for the Community. Don't forget to remind yourselves and all our visitors of this and remember to sign up to help with the Waterford Citizens Association Barbeque during the Fair.
Thursday evening al the Old School a meeting was held concerning the water quality of Catoctin Creek. In a report delivered by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality the reasons for Catoctin Creek not meeting the standards for human contact were outlined. Methods for returning the creek to an acceptable standard were discussed. The presentation made obvious the fact that the creek side development has removed the protective woods and grasses that used to line the creek. Since zoning changes in 1993 stripped away the buffers that shielded the creek from failing or non-existent drain fields, diaperless deer and cooling off cows to touch the water in which we used to swim may be hazardous. Fortunately funding is available to enable property owners affecting creek water quality to clean up their act voluntarily before cleanup becomes mandatory.
Accidental tourists need more
June 23 , 2004
An accident blocking Charlestown Pike put Waterford on the Grand Commute Tour a week ago and Waterfordians who were trying to cross Main Street realized that we had become Route 9 for the morning. Those who chose to see cars from exotic places like West Virginia and Maryland mixed in with the usual coterie of Lovettsvillians, Hillsborons and Neersvillagers could stand and watch for hours for a gap to dash across the street. Some cats trying to get home from their dawn patrol had to settle for a late brunch. It was observed that West Virginia cars never give you any warning where they are from as you can only see the license plate as they are leaving the scene.
Discussion as to what should be done so that you can get to your car when this happens brought up the usual suggestion of a traffic light at each end of the village that could be activated to pulse gaps in the traffic flow depending on whether the flow was in the morning or afternoon. Since the Village is a National Historic Landmark it might be nicer to merely accommodate these accidental visitors as accidental tourists.
Last week as the Loudoun Board of Supervisors mourned the passing of President Reagan suggestions were made that perhaps some public facility in Loudoun could be named after our 40th President, Main Street in Waterford would be ideal. The President Ronald Reagan Memorial Boulevard has a lot of characteristics that would suit the purpose. Starting at the top of the Olympian Heights of the Big Hill it descends one way past the President Nixon Jail, the only other public building in Waterford except the treatment plant pump house.
The rainwater trickles down slope after the street becomes two ways, in theory, at the Post Office. Actually it is only one and a half ways being narrow. The gutters are such that only on rainy occasions does the water trickle into the houses. Eventually the water flows into the Tannery Branch and thence to the Catoctin Creek at a point that contains the only wild catchup patch known. The Indian roots and origin of both Catoctin and catchup words are obvious.
Basils bloom and 4th to boom
June 16 , 2004
As the copper basil bloomed in the sidewalk cracks the Waterford Citizen's Associations met Tuesday formulating plans for the traditional 4th of July celebration. Private donations have assured funding and the only lacking element in all the committees is some Waterford teens to provide input from that prospective to the 4TH effort.
The Waterford teen has become hard for us to find recently as the last batch that we were able to catch in the glare of headlights or startle at a feeding frenzy have slid into the nether world of twenty something. If you know of a Waterford teen that wants to provide input to the 4th put them in touch with Paige Cox Stup.
For outdoor eating in Waterford, the 4th is always a focal point for gastronomic excellence. One of the delights to look forward is the Waterford hotdog served after the parade. To our way of thinking there is only one other place to eat this traditional fare of the 4th and that is at the Roanoke Weiner Stand in (duh) Roanoke.
Outdoor grilling in Waterford officially starts on Memorial Day since in Waterford the ground has thawed long before and we do not have to spend the entire day burying as they do further north. A Barbeque run was made last weekend to assemble the ingredients for enough to last us through the summer. This involves traveling The Valley (duh again) of Virginia via 340 from Berryville to Dooms then over to Fishersville. Towns that have the holy trinity of churches, Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian, just like Waterford, populate this stretch. The importance of this route is the location of "Flea Markets" along the road. Hot Sauce, the essential ingredients for outdoor, and indoor for that matter, cookery can be purchase for as little as $1.00 for 4 gallons. The reason for this is shrouded in mystery but might somehow relate to the proximity of large food processors and world-class barbeque stands.
Waterford Sauce Recipe: I bottle of lowest price on sale BBQ Sauce, I bottle coke, 1 cup chopped bush basil leaves (This is the stuff called copper basil that has purple black leaves and is now growing in the cracks of the sidewalks of Waterford.), 1 cup cider vinegar, 1 cup brown sugar, hot sauce, salt and ground black pepper to taste. Simmer.
Diversity still surrounds village
June 9 , 2004
Waterford has a diversity in its houses that maintains the diversity of thought and the surrounding diversity of houses continues. Two things in the past have influenced the evolution of housing types around us. One is the zoning as different types of houses are built depending on the zoning and the second is the concepts of the ideal life held by those who would purchase the houses.
With 10 acre zoning the 10-acre horse farm came into existence. The houses that were built tended to be designs that were imported from other locations at the whim of those who bought the land and then made arrangements for contractors to build their concept of a dream house. This led to strange combinations such as a house that was designed for zero lot lines placed in the middle of 10 acres of former hay field. The unsuitability of many of these houses became evident in direct proportion to the realization of the owners that they had chosen a life style that was governed by living on land that was to little to farm and to much to mow. If the ranch ever did get horses what did you do with all the horses and tack once the equestrienne of the household had either discovered members of the opposite (or same) sex or already knowing about it had run off with the person hired to muck out the stables?
Developers immediately seized upon the now traditional 10-acre subdivision and what with a proliferation of divorce lawyers began producing the McMansion. This dwelling was designed to impress. The brick veneer solidly embraces the Styrofoam box that was entered by a lawyer foyer a full two stories high containing the Gone With the Wind winding staircase. In the mean time, at the other end of the housing spectrum, town houses were evolving encompassing the latest advances in building material and small lot subdivision. The name of the game was to get as many single-family dwellings into the least amount of space and serve the dynamic housing concepts of a shifting society.
This resulted in the Vinyl-Sided townhouse.
Only two outside ends had to be built for each row, only the front, back and roof needed to be insulated and fire protection requirements could be met by a double thickness of drywall. The units could also be configured as separate dwellings by conjoining them with a single underground wall called a roughed-in wine cellar. The housing units were small and a deck in the rear could meet the social needs of the community. These were designed as way stations in the lives of the purchasers.
The Ken and Barbie Starter, The Single Mom and Divorced Dad, and the Last Stop Before Assisted Living Model could all be accommodated by the same 2 bedroom one and one half bath floor plan. The design and concept was flexible enough to accommodate both the upward McMansion bound and the downward condo bound portions of society. As the infill sites around the towns filled in and the desire to live on ten acres succumbed to the interest in subdividing the ten into two additional three acre sites a third type of housing has began to evolve and is now appearing on the greater Waterford edge.
This is the McMullet named after the ever-popular mullet-cut hairstyle of the 70's that was business in the front and party in the back. The evolved McMullet has the brick façade of the McMansion designed for the business of impressing in the front and the vinyl sided sides leading around to the deck of the vinyl-clad rear that is the party in the back.
It is an ill wind not that bad
June 2 , 2004
A snapping series of small explosions streamed into the wind from the century old elm behind the log cabin on lower Main Street as a huge limb two feet in diameter dropped across the Brock's patio last Friday night. At first light a blasted butt remained precariously attached in fibrous shreds to the trunk twenty feet above the ground creating what loggers call a dead man or a widow maker. The outer most branches of the limb, formerly seventy feet in the air, had been stabbed into the crotch of the maple tree just above the Tannery Branch alligator who had clung to the bottom like cement as the torrent of water rushed over his concrete hide on the way to the Phillip's Farm flats. This was through a space that used to be the last floodgate protecting the mill. The pulsing wind that had twisted the elm was not yet done with its damage. Behind the Bank House a large maple under full sail with a canopy leaved out from topgallants to mainsail drivers, sailing on a sea of rain soaked soil, healed over on beam-ends. Unlike ships, trees do not right themselves. The intact root system shoved one edge skyward as the driving rain washed the dirt from the tendrils back into the gaping hole left behind and the wind moved on.
Blunted by the houses at the beginning of Second Street the wind went for higher ground toward the Insurance Company but in a parting shot took down a tree along the driveway toward the back of Trouble Enough Indeed. The treetop sprawled across the roof and its trunk blocked the barn.
As it is an Ill wind that does not blow some good and knowing Bill Hunley is the ultimate craftsman, that tree has just begun its life. We are waiting to see what he makes of it.
Strong north winds blowing into the mill gap are not unique and do periodic damage. They also have a cumulative effect as careful measurements of the Mill have shown. The brick top of the Mill leans out over a foot from the vertical, down wind.
Yes we have no cicadas today
May 26, 2004
Very few periodical cicadas have made their way into Waterford even though a short distance away they are abundant. Waterford's wood burning past kept the trees constantly at a minimum in the village as nearby firewood was always being fed into the fireplaces. Proof of this is seen in the relatively tree barren photos taken from the 1860's on. No trees, no cicadas. Only recently has the growth of trees been left undisturbed and even encouraged as the Farbs among us use oil, gas, electricity and imported firewood for heat and cooking.
Cicadas are abundant in the traditionally wooded areas around the village that were between the constantly plowed fields. To establish a big population cicadas have to emerge from the ground and climb trees to eat the leaves. Their survival was assured by the woodlots being constantly wooded remnants of the eastern deciduous forest. If the trees had cicadas 17 years ago, you have cicadas now.
Waterford now has more trees then any period since settlement. Periodical cicadas don't fly far and only fly every 17 years. There has not been enough time for the cicadas to cross in 17-year successive generations the open fields that form the now practically unique setting for the village. Waterford is thus protected by its historic open space. Keeping the historic fields mowed, grazed, plowed, cropped and house free will keep the village cicada free.
Irises are out and a display that should be seen by all is right across from the Post Office at the wall between the Pink House and the Iron Store House. The whole vignette fits so well in its place and time that if you don't live here the view seen by all the daily postal patrons is worth a trip into the village.
Warm days have brought small sporty new cars that are beginning to dot Waterford's Streets in reaction to the need for gas economy and summer travel so important to live truly well. A top down and to the beach mentality is growing as the soil temperature reaches the starting point that pushes tomatoes plants to overflowing abundance.
The Waterford Elementary School is in its final yearly throws of SOL exams before the great escape. When you move to Waterford, as stated in this weeks New Yorker," You're moving into a place where all the parents live well and all the kids test well."
Rats is more than just a book
May 19, 2004
The eastern wood rat is among us. He lives in burrows in the yard and occasionally ventures into the basement. He is smaller than the more urban Norway rat from northern China and has a fur covered tail. He has been known as the pack rat and the trade rat. He has been in Waterford longer than people and began to move in as soon as houses were built. The little piles of stored objects found in hidden places whenever renovation takes place prove this. Old furniture and cabinets often bear the marks of tell tail chewing and the MacCallum family once found a silver spoon that had been carried into the chimney in the early 19th century
Last winter when the hard crust of snow had melted you may have noticed trails all throughout the grass that was underneath. This would indicate how dense the rat population is. The black snakes and cats don't seem to be keeping up their at control as the grass growth last year caused the rat population to zoom. Usually the grass growth provides cover for snakes and they are able to increase and help control the rats. The employment of lawn services that fertilize the grass to increase food for the rat population than cut the grass to decrease the snake population is somewhat productive in increasing our rats.
Now is the time for everyone in Waterford to start watching out for people with weed whackers killing trees. Needless to say it does not do much for the survival of small trees to girdle them with a weed whacker because those with the weed whackers do it anyway.
We are now passed the last frosty day of May 15 so now is the time to plant. Remember nothing tastes better than a tomato while lying on your back with a saltshaker in one hand in your neighbor's garden looking at the night sky.
Loudoun County High School was Waterford's high school in 1955. The class of 1955 is looking for the lost members in preparation for a 50th. The lost should contact mommyfisher@aol.com or call Judy Fisher at 703 777-3156
Violin and mandolin wed at Mill
May 12, 2004
"A peanut sat on the railroad track
its heart was all a-flutter.
'Long came the six-fifteen,
Oops, David Tiller."
Waterford Elementary School music class, circa 1978.
David Tiller got married to his long time duettest Enion Pelta Saturday.
To Quote from their web site;" David Tiller and Enion Pelta have been on their musical journey as a violin and mandolin duet for nearly two years. They met in New York in the spring of 2001, while playing in Brooklyn Browngrass, a Williamsburg, Brooklyn, based band. After spending some time honing their duet act in the subways of the city, they traveled across the country to Portland, OR, to form Taarka, with percussionist Jarrod Kaplan and bassist James Whiton. They still continued to work as a duo, performing original works composed by both musicians, and interpretations of traditional music from a variety of musical cultures - celtic, bluegrass, gypsy, and hungarian and indian folk. Following the example of the powerful duo violin and mandolin of Darol Anger and Mike Marshall, they create a sound that is both compelling in its composition, rhythm, and fullness."
They both plan to continue to perform with Taarka and with the recently reactivated Thamusement that with tour bus visited Waterford from their base in the Southwest several years ago. The musical association with Aimee Curl of Furnace Mountain and other Virginia musicians reads like a Whose Who of original music now evolving throughout North America.
The wedding and reception took place in the Old Waterford Mill with a rehearsal dinner being held Friday in the recently renovated fellowship room of the John Wesley Methodist Church across Main Street. With the use of the Wisteria Covered Cottage in all its seasonal glory as a guesthouse for the Parents of the bride the older part of the historic village has reached a level of use and occupancy not seen for many years this weekend.
We are sure that the life of the newly-weds like all great music and the village of Waterford will continue to be greater than the sum of all the parts.
Purple heralds spring and king
May 5, 2004
Waterford took on a royal purple hue this week as the wisteria, grape hyacinth and lilac all bloomed at once. Purple is one of the Easter colors of spring and this year the timing of the purple came just after Easter here but a week before Easter in the Levant where it first became emblematic as a sign of royalty.
Hercules was walking with his sheepdog along the shore of the Levant about 3500 years ago when he noticed that his dog's mouth had been dyed purple from chewing on the murex mollusk shells. This started a dye industry in Tyre and the color purple became a sign of royalty after a decree by Phoenix, King of Phoenicia, meaning land of the purple. The wisteria at the bottom of Main Street by the Tannery Branch was especially glorious as it hung from the trees as a huge purple drapery.
Linda Landreth has been busy shearing and sorting as Waterford has had its yearly fleecing. Linda says that with 15 fleeces here and eight more at the farm she has, yes sir, yes sir, not three but twenty three bags full.
If we could just get the purple from the flowers we could make "toga picta".
This Saturday starting at 9am and running until 3pm is Waterford's Yard Sale and Flea Market. The event has more scheduled participants with more things for sale and trade this weekend than ever before. In the past the items presented for sale have been furniture, antiques and collectables that suit historic houses such as those found in Waterford.
Waterford water creeps closer
April 28 , 2004
Wednesday when the Shockey family and a few other residents of the area to the east of the Historic Oatlands Plantation asked for water and sewer to be extended into what has been called the transitional zone the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors leapt into action and acquiesced by a vote of six to three. The Shockey family explained the inconvenience of not being able to wash automobiles and conserve water during the dry season even though they had drilled wells as deep as 250 feet. By some strange coincidence the Shockey family has been active in CPR and has been among those persuading the Supervisors to lift the growth control measures in this same area so that thousands of more homes can be built now with water and sewer already provided courtesy of the Loudoun County Sanitation Authority.
The board of Supervisors has not demonstrated the same concern about delivering water to the village of Waterford. That must be because we never wash automobiles and as some wells yielding a quart a minute from depths of up to a thousand feet don't require much effort to conserve water. We do not deserve the same consideration as houses not yet built. Besides why bother with water when more is paid for just sewer in Waterford than any one else in the county pays for both? We have to keep subsidizing growth. After all Loudoun County did not get to be the fastest growing county in the country by making things at all difficult for the developers.
The water quality in Waterford has benefits that no other public water supply could possibly have. We just returned from Istanbul and had been drinking water from the tap with no ill effects. We found out that the Istanbulians don't drink tap water, just bottled water, just before we left. Invitations to the Shockey family of Arcola to visit Waterford last year were never answered. Maybe it's because of the water.
30 April is the deadline for your dues to the Waterford Citizen's Association. Don't forget 8 May is the Waterford Flea Market and Yard Sale.
A night ride through the past
April 7 , 2004
When you ride the night bus across Anatolia through the blackness of the Turkish countryside the horizon stands hard against the overcast sky that reflects the glow of the lights from thousands of evenly spaced villages. Each light in those villages appears as a speck of gold dust sprinkled on the black velvet of the rolling fields. These fields have been growing wheat and barley and every thing else we eat for as much as six thousand years. The blackness of the velvet is complete only late at night when the last shepherd's tea fire has gone out.
Until a few years ago, even though the night sky was much lighter to the east and there were tears in the velvet darkness caused by farm lights, Waterford had that same scattered gold on black velvet look. Now, looking down on the village from the Catoctin heights, you can only see a dark band around the flash of the streetlights. To the east you see the lights from the drool of houses flowing up from Leesburg. The reflection back from the clouds is harsh. The heaven and earth boundary has gone all soft and you are never sure where one stops and the other begins.
The fields in that dark band grew wheat and corn for less than three hundred years. Now they grow hay and less and less of that each year and no one knows how long it has been since a shepherd last warmed tea over a fire. Some people may wonder why so many Waterfordians travel to other places when many of those who live in other places aspire to be where and what we are. And why do Waterfordians devote so much time and effort resisting or examining any change?
It is because you have to make sure that what we are going to be is worth the price we have to pay in what we lose from what little we have left.
Judith Lane will be appearing with the Loudoun Chorale in their Spring Concerts. She will first be at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Leesburg on Saturday 24 April at 7:30 pm and then at St. Mathews Episcopal Church in Sterling on Sunday at 4:00 pm. She will be singing "Requiem" by John Leavitt and "Frostina" by Randall Thomson (and Robert Frost of course) along with the rest of the Loudoun Chorale.
Taking a turn at the steeple
April 7 , 2004
In the evergreening greenscape of Waterford the missnamed turkey vultures slide down the air currents rising off the roofs of the historic village. When they get to the bottom of the hill they tilt and turn over the steeple of the John Wesley Church at the bottom of the hill. The steeple has lost the shroud of scaffolding that covered it two years ago when the steeple was repaired in the name of hisoric preservation. The setting sun catches the vultures under sides as they tilt and for a brief moment they glow gold in a lapies lasulli sky.They then slide sideways toward Catoctin Creek that also glows gold in the setting sun. You would think that the sun was reflecting off some golden treasure the was thrown in its depths. But then who would throw treasure into a creek beside a village that for most of its one hundred and seventy some years of existance serviced the needs of the surrounding farms.
In the reddening tile roof scape of innermost Istanbul the misnameed mediterainian gulls slide down the air currents rising off the roofs the pre-historic city wedged between the Marbel Sea and the Black Sea at the very edge of both Europe and Asia. When they get to the Sultanhomet they tilt and turn over northeastern mineret now shrouded in scaffolding. The Sultanhomet is in the center of the prehistoric city between the Bosphorus and the Golden horn. The scafolding was inastalled to support the workers maintaining that wich has always been so that it will always be. This is not historic preservatin but the idea is the same. The setting sun catches the under sides of the gullsas they tilt and turn over the minerete and for a brief moment they glow gold in a lapis lasli sky. They then slide sideways toward the Golden Horn that also glows gold as the lights come on in the darkening city. They say that the reflection is from all of the golden treassure thrown into the Horn to prevent it from falling into the hands of invaders such as the Ghengis Kahn or the Greeks or Phillip or Alexander the Great or the crusaders. Istanbul was once a small village that serviced the needs of some farmers of the Thracian Plain for most of the first hundred and sevnty some years of its initial existance, but hen that was three or four thousand years ago.
Waterford has a mineret on the John Wesley Church.
Palms pilot in Easter season
March 31 , 2004
Easter is but a Sunday away with Palm Sunday being this Sunday if you are looking forward past the waving palm fronds for the Easter Bunny coming to the village. The Easter grass has been growing bright green and in clumpy tufts that are perfect for the bunnies to hide their eggs. The palms are not doing well as we lost our last one in the freeze about two weeks ago. Such is the peril ignoring the signs and putting the pots out too early.
Garden guru Doug Lea was seen pruning last week and that indicates that the planting season is in accord with the calendar this year. Based on the natural progression of the seasons Waterfordians know that when Doug prunes it is now time to start seedlings indoors for setting out on the frost-free day of 15 May. We also know that the cherry blossoms around the tidal basin are genetically timed to Doug's activities and they will also be on schedule.
Church schedule sachem Jane Piercy tells us that the Catoctin Presbyterian Church invites the community to Participate in the following Holy Week services: 11 AM on 4 April, Palm Sunday Worship; 7:30 PM on 8 April, Maundy Thursday Worship; 12 PM to 3 PM on 9 April the church will be open for prayer and meditation; 7 AM, on 9 April, Community Good Friday Worship at Zion Lutheran Church in Lovettsville; 7 AM on 11 April, Sunrise Service at the Waterford Baptist Church with The Catoctin Presbyterian Church next door's Rev. David Douthett delivering the sunrise sermon. Breakfast will be served following the service. Then at 11 AM at The Catoctin Presbyterian Church the Easter Morning Worship will be held.You can't say that Waterfordian worshipers are any slouches when it comes to Easter.
By now all have noticed the new décor at the corner of Clarke's Gap Road and Route 9. The former Waterford Texaco is now a Shell. No ownership has changed with the station. It seems that Shell bought Texaco and is changing all signs to reflect this action. Technically the establishment that we have been getting gas and service from has been Piercy's Garage since Ted Dillon stopped operating it as Dillon's.
Listening to the lilac bushes
March 24 , 2004
Saint Patrick's Day along with the fattened buds on the lilac bush whisper to us that spring is here. Those of us lucky enough to walk past the Old Waterford Inn on Main Street can look over the Weatherholtz wall and see that spring has started to shout in Neil Keller's yard. Croci and snowdrops are in full bloom and so thick that they carpet stretches of the garden. Daffodils are starting to get thick headed and the foliage of the tulips is marking beds that promise blazes of color right about now. Further down Main Street, standing on the tannery branch bridge looking toward the pasture, you can see that great clumps of naked ladies will be showing up along the stream bank after a hot summer rain. These are a legacy that has been left to us by Mary Elizabeth Wallace. This legacy has been hiding during the years spent on renovating the Vine Covered Cottage.
All of these flowers and plants that grow on the southwest side of Main Street from the Camelot School to the mill are part of a cat community that exists juxtaposed with the human community. Currently it has four cats that are permanent residents and three other journeyman cats that exist on the sides or pass through on temporary visas. At times the same area has hosted a cat population in excess of fifty in the same space. This caused the local veterinarians to label Waterford as the source of a cat AIDS epidemic and finally necessitated the great cat roundup in 1992. The cats that live in this part of Waterford are Billy, a black and white Sylvester type, who has his own custom cat door, Rupaul, a gray oyster pattern who is a transvestite and Lula, a gray brindle who is the victim of a botched hysterectomy. Tuffy, who is a big orange, works both sides of Main Street down by the mill. These cats have individual prowls that are carefully marked in an elaborate pipe stem arrangement that resembles the lots that developer's computer generate in order to build the maximum number of houses on the minimum amount of land. A sure sign of spring can be heard at night now as these prowls undergo minor adjustments.
The County and town planning offices are also sounding like spring.
Brock deepens Tannery Branch
March 17 , 2004
The construction season for the spring of 2004 is under way with Caroline Brock taking advantage of the warm days last week to deepen the Tannery Branch and throw a protective levee along the bank in her yard. The state of this small, now vernal, stream has been pretty much neglected since Ory Jones's death about 1972. He kept the streambed clear of leaves and branches and made sure that grass and plants were growing along the banks. He saw that the watercress and duckweed in the stream itself were not disturbed. Woe be it to any of the neighborhood children who started digging in the bank or doing anything to muddy the water. When he came out with his pail to get his water from a deep spot in what is now the Brock's back yard you could look clear to the bottom and see no particles floating or settling out.
If only all of Loudoun Streams could have remained that clear. Fairfax always prized the water from Goose Creek because trees growing along its banks protected the streambed and assures high quality water free of fertilizer. Limestone Branch flowed clear until Beacon Hill and the golf coarse changed it into a Loudoun version of the Red River. Catoctin Creek was classic pastoral creek until the zoning cut the set back down to 50 feet so that developers could get more house sites and chemical spill in Purcellville along with copious deposits of sludge altered the water quality and removed most of the once abundant flora and fauna.
Just in time for spring the 4-H Sheep, Goat and Non-Ownership livestock clubs are selling 3 cubic ft. bags of high quality shredded hardwood mulch at a good price with volume discounts, no taxes and delivered free to Waterford. The mulch sale is to benefit the rebuilding of the barn destroyed by Hurricane Isobel at the Loudoun Fairgrounds. To order call Tricia Virts at (540) 882-4940.
Another sign of spring last week was the arrival of the spring chickens, ducks and rabbits at the Tractor Supply Store in Leesburg. They were sold out of chickens before we could determine if they were suitable for traffic calming but said they were restocking. They still have lots of rabbits and if they remain Non-Ownership are going to have lots more.
Working for the school budget
March 10 , 2004
Over 30 parents from the Waterford Elementary School attended the budget hearings Wednesday at Heritage High School in Leesburg with ten speaking. The hearings were so crowded that shuttle buses had to take people from the Simpson parking lot. So many had signed up to speak that many from the east who wished to speak will never be heard. All who attended wondered where were those who felt the school budget should be reduced. The only people who possibly were in favor of a school budget reduction were the supervisors who had recently taken steps to assure that the number of students served would continue to increase.
Fortunately in the case of Waterford Elementary School the PTO and the community resources can help offset the budgetary restrictions if imposed. All pity the easterners who are going to bear the full brunt of the budget restrictions, barring a loaves and fishes type miracle, as they do not have a PTO with over 60 years experience in school funding and the opportunity to participate in the Waterford Fair.
The PTO even now offsets costs so teachers never have to pay for supplies themselves and the PTO also provides grants to teachers and staff for continuing education and other special needs. This is in addition to supplementing the Artist-in Residence programs and a monthly assembly program (for March the Shizumi Dance Theater) that is the envy of all who find out about it.
The anticipated increase in class size can be off set as it has in the past by drawing on a cadre of parents, many with advanced degrees, who serve as volunteer teachers aids. This cadre of parents also includes world-class lobbyists and fund raisers who have been available in time of crises. There is a down side to the excellence of the Waterford Elementary School and that is the tax assessments on houses in the Waterford School District keep being increased to carry other schools.
The Waterford Gardener's Club is going to The Philadelphia Flower Show Thursday (tomorrow) morning at 7. For information call Joe Keating (540) 882-3217
County Tax Assessor mistake
February 25 , 2004
You must have made some terrible mistake in this year's assessment for our house in Waterford that we received on Tuesday. You said that the assessment increases would be about 12%. This would fit in with the reductions in the tax rate to 99 cents and $1.05 made by Supervisors Delgaudio, Staton and Waters mentioned during their Election Campaigns and still increase our tax bill. The notice you sent us has an increase of more than 25.6%. This is an increase in one year of more than 3 and a half times the total amount we paid for the place.
Some things about our house do make it special but not more valuable. It resembles the Simms's House that has been getting attention lately except it does not have the incomplete abandoned addition. It does have only about 1300 square feet inside but our lot is probably smaller. Like the Simms's House it needs much work, the lot has no well and no substantial improvements have been made recently. The last ones to our house were in early 1960's when the front fell into Main Street and the back collapsed in a snowstorm. These were fixed with the help of a grant from the Waterford Foundation saving the house from being bulldozed. Since the early '60's VDOT has raised the street level in front of the house but we don't count this as an improvement as they do because it caused water to come in the front door.
There are some things here that are different from the Simms's House. For example the property is eased so that changes and additions cannot be built without approval from some state agencies and it currently has only one bedroom. One thing did happen recently. All the neighbors did some renovation and this caused the basement to dry up. This means we can't use it as a root cellar any more. The only way that you could have made such a terrible mistake is to think that since a lot of money has been spent on the Simms's House and its legal fees we did the same. We did not. - property taxes -
We are sure this mistake will get straightened out eventually.
Bifurcating budget yeas Fourth
February 18 , 2004
The Waterford Citizens Association met Wednesday night at the Old School, bifurcating by the budgeting process last years Fourth of July and this years Fourth of July. Plans are for the traditional celebration to continue even though there has been a drop in WCA membership apparently stimulated by a burgeoning increase in the surrounding population. Our Catoctin Supervisor, Sally Kurtz, gave an overview of the activities of the present Board along with the likely conclusions and their impact on the village. Some concern was expressed about the lack of attendance of the other Supervisors at Waterford Community meetings such as the WCA meeting as they all collectively are the Waterford Town Counsel since we gave up our charter in 1932. Chairman York and Supervisor Burton along with Supervisor Kurtz have been present in the village fairly often but we cannot recall ever having seen any other members.
Unlike incorporated towns in western Loudoun that have elected Town Counsels and may resent the Supervisors that were not elected by their citizens interfering in town affairs, Waterford would welcome the entire BOS's presence at any public discussion and hope that they would come and take notes so that they could solve the problems faced by our small unincorporated village in a county that had over 720 building starts in the month of January alone. We have no resources except the county budget.
Sally Kurtz spoke of the VDOT criteria that the intersections of Route 7 and Clarke's Gap Road, Hamilton Station Road and Old Wheatland Road needed in order for the traffic lights to be set so that cars from the village could get on or cross. They are evidently criteria that are too horrible to hope for.
It has been observed that when traffic is backed up on Route 15 or more often between Paeonian Springs and Route 287 the traffic increases in the Village. Maryland commuters will bypass Route 15 by going down Loyalty Road and around Furnace Mountain. West Virginians will bypass the 287 intersection by turning toward Waterford and going to Lovettsville on Milltown Road to either take the back road to Hillsboro or cross the river to Brunswick. Main Street residents have no trouble telling that traffic is blocked just by reading the license plates.
Six more as groundhog is missed
February 11 , 2004
Our groundhogs met very early Tuesday morning to decide whether or not spring was six weeks off. The primary way Waterford's boar whistle-pigs decide is to cast lots, what ever a lot is, the winner, or loser, depending on your point of view, journeys up to Clarke's Gap Road. Once there he waits in the pre-dawn darkness of 2 February and at the opportune time hurls himself in front of a car heading toward Route 9. If the car misses there will be six more weeks of winter. The car missed.
Proof that this prediction is accurate came Friday morning as the ice storm began causing the usual pattern of flickering that is the precursor of power failure. Just as the mighty Catoctin overflowed its banks for the second 100-year flood this century the lights went out for an hour.
By now Virginia would have gained brief nation-wide notoriety, as the results the Democratic primary became known and Waterford should have maintained its position as a national bell-whether.
Molly Keating attended the Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner Saturday in Richmond as part of Waterford's " Kids for Kerry" Catoctin Contingent.
This Sunday at the Old School at 3 pm the Waterford Lyceum will have Fred Johnson, author of 19th Century Loudoun County, Virginia, Chair Manufacturing lecturing on Loudoun County Furniture. This will be a chance to join the Lyceum and also get a copy of Fred's book. In case it snows again the program will be same time next Sunday.
Tonight 7:00 pm, 11 Feb. at the Old School the Waterford Citizen's association will hold its 3 Feb. meeting. Agenda items include planning for the Fourth of July.
Prodigal Paeonian returns to poll
February 4 , 2004
Chief of the Waterford Precinct Poll at the new school, Norma Neuf, notified us that during the Democratic Primary election on 10 Feb. we will welcome back Paeonian Springs voters who had been shifted to the Clarke's Gap Precinct that was at the Church of the Nazarene last election but who will now vote in Waterford once again. This change to Waterford only affects the voters who live within the triangle formed by Rt. 9, Rt.7 and Hamilton Station Road and has no effect on the rest of Clarke's Gap Precinct that will be voting now at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Leesburg instead of the Church of the Nazarene. The Catoctin Magisterial District encompasses both Waterford and Clarke's Gap Precincts so no ones elected officials change.
Waterford is bracing itself for the tax assessments on our historic and non-historic homes that usually make those of the rest of the county, expected to be a mere 12%, pale by comparison. Fortunately some of the newly elected supervisors have pledged during their campaigns to reduce the rate to $1.05 and in one case Supervisor Delgaudio mentioned the possibility that the tax rate may be as low as $0.99 per $100 assessed value. This should help us offset the increases wrought by the higher assessments.
We expect that the overweight schools are going to have liposuction applied by the cost cutting conscientious board. Those cholesterol-clogged classes in art and music are a fat that taxes should not carry. Foreign languages are as suspect as if they were a traveler without luggage. If foreigners want to talk to us they should learn good old American English. The thrifty six should attack the steroid swollen extra curricular activities like football, tennis, all sports for that matter, should be the first to go. That is first, right after journalism, long suspected of being a hotbed of intemperance.
And speaking of hotbeds, it is only just that hotbeds of preservation like Waterford be burdened by greater taxes to support the rest of the county. According to Supervisor Snow preservation is only fluff.
The Preservation Society of Loudoun County invites you to its 30th Valentine Membership Reception, " A Renaissance on 21st Street" Sunday 15 Feb. starting at the Purcellville train station from 3 to 5 pm.
Loudoun furniture fans should mark Sunday, 15 February, 3 p.m. on your calendar. Fred Johnson will be at the Old School.
Eggs mar Martin Luther King Day
January 28 , 2004
Monday night of Martin Luther King Jr. Day vandals struck Waterford again when more eggs were thrown at Waterford's historic homes and cars. Each time these criminal attacks are made more and more profiling information is assembled on the perps. Since the targeted cars seem to belong mainly to women it has been surmised that the perps are males with some sort of dysfunctional issues. The use of eggs gives the Freudian analysts a real clue as to the depths of the vandals problems. Some feel that the selection of the day for the attack should cause this to be doubly classified as a hate crime against women and minorities. Sheriff Simpson has submitted a budget increase of $20.6 million over last year that possibly may help the department deal with this problem. Deputy McKeever along with Deputy Scalzo has been assigned the case. Call 703-777-0475.
Hey Bluegrass buddies. Waterfordian "International Danny" Knicely will be appearing with David Via and Corn Tornado at the Old School on Friday 30 Jan. at 8 p.m. For the price of a CD that you get to keep you will be able to hear and see "Blues-grass," "Americana," "Roots," "Y'all-ternative," or whatever you want to call it. The music, an eclectic acoustic mix of bluegrass, jazz, blues and funk, is driven by the soulful songs of David Via, three-time winner of the Merlefest Songwriter's Award. Via's songs are real. They tell the true stories of love gone wrong, living off the land, and of hard times and good times.
On Thursday 29 February at 7:00 p.m. in the social hall of the Catoctin Presbyterian Church the Broadlands Regional Medical Center will be giving a short talk and answering questions about their proposed hospital to all who are interested. The presentation of a check for $2000 to the Waterford concert committee and a light supper for all will follow.
Our shortest month is a little longer this year. If you have a birthday this year and you have not had one in the past three years please let us know about it now.
Sky Richardson is collecting books and willing to store books in her garage unless people want to deliver direct to the library on Feb 27. The Rust Library is going to have its annual book sale on 28 Feb from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the library.
Cecelia Hayford is media star
January 21 , 2004
Waterford has a new media star with Cecelia Hayford appearing on national television last Friday morning from somewhere "outside Des Moines." She was on "ABC's Good Morning America" which was reporting in the activates in Iowa in preparation for The Iowa Democratic Caucus. Celia was interviewed and identified as Cecelia from Oberlin, the collage she is attending. During the holidays leading up to the Iowa Primary Cecelia is working for the Howard Dean campaign as one of the so-called "Deanie Babies."
Other Waterford college students were returning to School this week, not without some Apprehension. Robin Smith, snowboard champion, noted the wind chill factor around her school was forecast at 50 below.
"If Winter comes, can spring be far behind?" said Shelly and the Catoctin Presbyterian Church says that they will present The Waterford Gardening Series, 2004. As we are in the grasp of winter you should think warm thoughts of the coming spring. For complete information contact Donna Williamson at PO Box 252, Clearbrook VA 22624 or e-mail at Donna9715@aol.com .
Tuesday 27 Jan. at The Old School the Waterford Citizen's Association will be thinking warm thoughts beginning with fellow ship at 7 pm and the meeting stating at 7:30 The warm thoughts will be thinking ahead about the events that will occur on the 4th of July, the planning of which will begin at this meeting. Input is needed on how to continue the 4th as we have in the past even with rising costs. The new WCA Officers for 2004 will be introduced; committee plans discussed and the 2004 budget will be discussed and approved.
Historic houses and cars struck
January 14 , 2004
Friday night about 8 o'clock vandals struck Waterford's streets once again in the form of an egg attack along Main Street, continuing on Second Street and finally ending half way up Factory Street where the miscreants abandoned their oversized egg carton. Particularly hard hit was the older end of Main Street where the initial attack occurred. JoEllen Keating's van and Neil Keller's car were singled out for extra viciousness as the vandals smeared the eggs all over the sides in order to maximize the damage and with the freezing weather to increase the potential for permanent harm to the paint. The vandals did not restrict their harm to cars, pausing to hurl eggs houses and at the Peaceable Kingdom's sign as well the Lea's car.
Similar events have occurred in the past 4 years especially to our classic SUV, which escaped any damage this time because we hide it when trouble is expected. Villagers surmising a profile of the preps, that is short for perpetrators, deduced that they are wealthy wastrels who are slackers and probably boomerang babies. This was deduced by the fact that they bought an oversize carton of eggs to waste at the time of year when eggs are most expensive. A relationship to the timing of this event and the cusps of the school year were also noted.
The Loudoun County Sheriff's Department was called. They have been most active in Waterford last year efficiently ticketing cars parked facing traffic. Villagers are hoping for a swift prosecution of the vandals responsible for this latest travesty of justice, the second in one week, inflicted on the village. All remember the skill and effectiveness shown by Deputy Michael Cenate when he swiftly solved the great Mary Dudley hit and run in March of 2001. A reward is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the vandals. Your identity will be protected. Call 540-882-3217. Deputy Scalzo has been assigned the case. Call 703-777-0475.
Mad Cow disease threatens all
January 14 , 2004
A speaker at the Board of Supervisor's public comments session last Tuesday spoke of the actions the previous night to be the salvation of her family fortunes because she could not give away her cattle because of Mad Cow disease. She had mentioned that the actions taken by the previous board to lower the density of development in Loudoun had removed value from her families land and that appeals not to do this had fallen on deaf ears. She said she was motivated to speak because the vast majority of the speakers before her had spoken about the disregard shown by the actions of the BOS last Monday in removing the powers of the elected Chairman Scott York, removing the ability of the Catoctin Supervisor Sally Kurtz to appoint a Catoctin member of the Planning Commission, not appointing the Blue Ridge Supervisor Jim Burton to the Purcellville Area Management Planning Committee and taking steps eliminate growth controls, expand density potential by bringing water and sewer to transition areas and eliminate the purchase of development rights.
We are a lonely unincorporated village on the pond of tranquility of the National Historic Landmark that has only the protection given it by our elected officials. This is a slender thread that has been ripped apart. The actions taken appears to be the result of the same combination of greed aided by indifference that enabled the spread of Mad Cow disease in Great Britain and then Europe. The actions of six supervisors are viewed as a threat to Waterford's National Landmark, our economic ability to continue to carry the tax burden of runaway development, the quality of our schools, our roads and all necessary county services and the life Waterfordians have enjoyed until now. The sad thing is that no matter what the impact on Waterford is, the impact on the rest of Loudoun, especially Leesburg and east, will be even worse. The only solution to this " Mad Cow" crises is to appeal to the 72% who did not vote in the last election to have a referendum for Recall, Recall, Recall, Recall, Recall, Recall.
Best and Worst for 2003 Waterford
January 7 , 2004
The nice thing about Waterford is that all of our residents are aware of the potential for everything that is worst on this list to become the best of this list with no diminishment of those that were the best for this year and Candidely, that in this best of all possible worlds, Waterford is the best of all possible places to live.
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