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Articles by Joe Keating
2006

Germany and Waterford
July 26

Return To Wasserfurt: Waterford prides itself on being a bastion of civilization situated halfway between West Virginia and Ashburn (not that there is anything really wrong with them) but on returning from Germany there is a realization that we are still only a Thomas Kincaid like light in the wilderness of the eastern deciduous forest. Waterford has only the intellectual heights from which to look down on the disparate sprawl, a forest of reality that has replaced the trees.

Ludwigs IIs' Dreams: 1300 meters on the top of the Falkenstein, near Fussen in Bavaria, King Ludwig II once sat watching the construction of Schloss Neueschwanstein. He had a dream of a castel on the peak on which he was sitting with its' spectacular 360 veiw of his world. The dream had reached the planning stage and from the artists' and architechts' drawings of what Ludwig was planning it is obvious that Schloss Neueschwanstein, one of the scenic wonders of all the world, would have been an inconsequential shack by comparison. This dream was one of the reasons he is labeled the Mad King and was probably responsible for his death under suspicious circumstances. Suspect were the 19th century Bavarian equivalent of our Board of Supervisors who did not share his dream and were more concerned with the cost of construction of Ludwigs' many other dreams. Subsequently they finished many of these projects of Ludwig and are today reaping the benifits.

GrossVateren: With our Supervisors decision to emasculate an attempt to control the sprawl that infects our wildeness by delay and then Grossvateren the bitter fruits of that delay they will have murdered the dream, Loudouners have in general and Waterfordians have in particular, that we are capable of taming the wilderness in which we live. Loudouns' governing council will have missed adapting an attitude that evolved in Bavaria. This is, when it comes to protecting the quality of life of its citizens, and even our visitors, other considerations are not the most important concern of an elected government.

First Parade, Out of the Pool, Fireworks Last Glimmer
July 12

First Parade: The first 4th of July parade in Waterford left Saturday from the back yard of the Wisteria Covered Cottage on Main Street. The Cottage, long time home of Mary Elizabeth Wallace, is the site of traditional picnics including her childrens', grandchildrens' and her sister Vera Louis' families. The parade left in the late afternoon toward its destination, the Waterford Mill Dam. The mighty Catoctin was mightier than usual due to recent rains and so the music was provided by the ripple of rushing water to the snare drum beat of swishing grass. The marchers followed an honor guard of poles bearing fluttering fishing lures. Ranks broke only to ford and jump the creek, still high enough to cover the well remembered stepping stones. They arrived at the Dam destination to the thunderous applause of tons of water plunging over the now submerged centuries old cataract.
Out of the Pool: In the pool below the dam no one ventured out to find the boulder in the middle that forms an invisible resting place halfway across. Instead, poles and lures were employed, in a mostly catch and release program, to determine how long it would take to catch a fish dinner at Waterfords most venerable fishing hole. It was determined that it is still possible but at some other state of water flow and season. Comparisons were then made to other highly touted and nationally known waterfalls that are now judged less impressive than ours.
Fireworks Last Glimmer: As darkness began the marchers retreated to the starting point in the back yard at the edge of the Phillips' Farm meadow. The fireworks, faintly seen first in distant towns, grew brighter and brighter until the entire meadow was ablaze in an inferno as millions of fireflies each blinked their own little spark. Then the day was over. After a jump start for a car with a long burning trunk light, all headed to other homes no longer in the village. The last glimmer of another historic celebration went up Main Street, blinking in a jar held by the youngest here on that now historic day.

 

Dampened, Undampened, Flooded
July 5

Dampened: Catoctin Creek is running red, but still within its banks. If the rain continues like this for a remaining forty days and nights Waterfordians will pair up all the animals and began to dimension building material in cubits preparing for a down the county trip.
Undampened: The benefit at the Old School for the Taylorstown Store Sunday was attended by an enthusiastic crowd treated to the professional artistry of Mercy Creek after a dinner of olive and chickpea miso spreads, gazpacho and potatoes. Before the performance of Mercy Creek a warm up by Barry Charlton and Allen Kitselman featured Allens' songs about growing up in New Jersey and Waterford.
Flooded: Mercy Creek, with Jim Ball on drums and Cheryl Nystrom on guitar and vocal, is an Orchestra packed into two people that flood the Old School with sound. The thumping bass of Balls' djembe sub-woofs pulsingly up through the floor as Nystroms' clear voice flows out the roof. All the spaces in between jump with Jims' complex drum rythems stacked four and five deep as you look into the swirling melody for all the guitars and instruments pouring out. You can only find the one Cheryl holds, and that is all of them. Amazing. To close the evening Allen and Barry returned to the stage for a rousing finaly that left the crowd wanting more and Allen saying he had played every thing he knew. Fans of Barry know that versitile Barry knows all those Allen does not know and a few more besides. The plans for the renovation of the Taylorstown center landmark by Main Street Architects un-veiled at the concert showed that Allens' day job must have been making inroads on his repertoire.
Downstream in DC: Waterford not only has music coming in but also has music going out. Saturday, Christian Mercker (vocal and guitar) and Main Street neighbor James Hayden on drums journeyed to Bladensburg to capture second in the DC Blues Society Regional. Their repertoire was composed of original Blues written by Christian. The only Blues in Waterford must be the ones that cause music.

A-closing In 2007; A-drying Since 1970; A-fourthing on 03
June 29

A-closing In 2007: Route 662, Clarke's Gap Road, will be closed between Route 9 and Doe Run Lane during road construction work in the summer of 2007. The deadline for comments from those concerned is today. The likely scenario involves only one way southbound traffic on Route 662 to be allowed from Doe Run Lane to Route 9 for 60 days. Also three weekends are needed when Route 662 may be completely closed to all traffic for laying a 6' pipe across the road. Northbound traffic would use Rt 704 that will have the stop light at Route 9 in place by then.
A-drying Since 1970: Until the 1970's the marshy area on the west side of Clarkes' Gap supported a lot of cattails and other water plants that tempered and cleaned the tributary furnishing water to Peacock Farm and on. As the impervious surfaces increased and the marshy areas were filled in, the stream changed from one that furnished a continuous flow to one that hurriedly carried off the water before it could soak in. Now wider pipes are required to speed that water into the stream. This is happening throughout the Catoctin watershed and is the reason why massive amounts of money will be needed to replace a natural system. The clean water for wells and a Catoctin Creek that once flowed through well watered farms are the reason Waterford is here and the reason for the beauty of its natural setting. Since the Federal wetland protection laws are being considered inapplicable we might be better off if Clarkes' Gap Road is eliminated and all the cattails replanted.
A-fourthing on 03: The Waterford Citizen's Fourth starts on 3 July at 6:30 pm at the Old School with the Potluck Dinner. Bring an entree, salad and desert to share. There will be music (One Horse Town Live with Waterfords' Janet Garbe), kids games and kickball. After dinner at dark there will be the Schooley Mill Field Fireworks. The next day will be; beginning at 10 am, The parade registration at Factory Street, 11am the Parade to the Bond Street Field, 11:45 Songs and Awards, 12:30 pm Hot Dogs, Drinks and Watermelon and all afternoon the Greystone pool opens with the non members fee.

 

Pan Ends, Roads Reach Out, The Roads Reach In
June 21

Pan Ends: Peter Pan closed its scheduled run with rave reviews from all who saw it. The talent exhibited went beyond the students as shown even in the excellence of the set. The stage in the cafeteria was for a too brief two nights transformed into; a leafy bower tree house for a hiding Peter and a reviving Tinker Bell, the bedroom in the Darlings' London townhouse, the forest of Never Never and Native American camp, the ship of Captain Hook and crew, the cave of the lost boys and back to The Waterford Elementary School. Congratulations to the cast and crew who once again prove Broadway is but a brief candle to Waterfords' walking shadow. The stages of the past are merged into the walls of the cafeteria and a boy called Christmas hears the sound of music flying off to Peter Pans', now historic, Never Land.

Roads Reach Out: Waterfords' roads, though heavily traveled, are still reaching the far corners of the earth. A wedding celebration starting in Thailand reached Waterford Sunday as Michael Anderson and his bride Thaneeya (Ae) Pientong were introduced to his home town crowd. The brides parents, Mr. And Mrs Pientong, along with the brides two sisters and brother were also honored by the celebration at the Shawen House. As the sun set behind the Blue Ridge in the west, to the best Bluegrass music east of Catoctin Creek, country and western star, and mother of the groom, Ann Mathews, rose from her long and distinguished day job to her rightful place on the stage to the delight of all her fans once again.

Roads Reach In: A wedding on Saturday at the John Wesley Church of Kathy Fahey to Neal Golden is another example of the widely spreading influence of Waterfords' art and culture. The brother of the bride, John Fahey, recently began working at the Seattle Times in the other Washington. He was recruited into his position by Waterford Elementary School Alumnus Ann Tiller, who is now an award winning journalist for that other "Times".

 

The Trees That Please, Polls and Plays, 48 Graduate
June 14

The Trees That Please: Many Waterfordians headed down Loyalty Road last Sunday afternoon to The Land Trust of Virginias'"Garden Party to Save Virginia's Countryside" at Birchwood Farm, the home of Dean and Linda Linderman, just on the Waterford side of Taylorstown. The weather was perfect and the setting in the garden among the almost 4000 collected trees exceeded all perfection this side of the Garden of Eden. Strolling among the tree boxes and beds containing 7,500 bags of mulch on a carpet of plush grass while gazing at historic Furnace Mountain to the north and the distant second rise of the Blue Ridge vanishing away to the south from the west made it easy to realize what a special place our part of Loudoun is in our most beautiful Virginia.
Polls and Plays: Waterford Elementary Schools ends the year with a highly successful presentation of Peter Pan that drew audiences from as for as Houston Texas to see the performance. To add depth to the school use a Democratic Primary was scheduled to share the venue with the 5th Grade Farewell on Tuesday 13 June.
48 Graduate: Congratulations to Waterfords 5th Grade graduates who leave the nurturing nest of Waterford Elementary School to the broader less civilized seas of academia this Tuesday. They Are, from Mrs Tinsman's Class: James Charlton, Sam Ganis, Jan Gustafson, Jared McIntosh, Paul Meed, Mark Roberts, Evan Smith, Samuel Weber, R.J. Warfel, Emily Beisler, Haley Bullen, Lyndsey Caldwell, Bailey Carver, Sophia Dutterer, Kendall French, Austin Fust, Emily Huebner, Delaney Hunter, Alexandra Juzbasich, Caitlin Manson, Kathryn Nachajski, Bailey O'Gara, Kendall Reulein, Courtney Tibbetts, Deborah Trader. From Ms. Rhoads class: Eric Almon, Robert Burke, Corbin Dunn, Gus Erickson, Jimmy Lambert, Hunter Madison, Evan Meyers, Tyler McMullen, Brent Reinertson, James White, Ford Wyatt, Jake Yates, Taylor Bonenberger, Carolynn Boutivas, Alexa Fetterly, Kayla Harrell, Kelly Hart, Jessica Hutchison, Mackenzie Kelly, Katie Reeve, Morgaine Smith, Rhiannon Smith, and Madelaine Williams.

 

Thai restaurants in Ashburn; Help at The Corner Store
June 6

On The Road to Ashburn: Reports of a burgeoning of Thai restaurants, both good and bad, have been coming down the sea reach of Clarkes' Gap Road for about a year and so a small group of Waterfordians rode the ebb of the tide last Friday, outward bound, for darkest Ashburn. Conducted by Tara Linhardt and Danny Knicely, who as world wandering minstrels had lived in Thailand and had actually even been to Ashburn, we thought it best to caravan for protection, given the editorial hostility of the natives. We found ourselves disembarking at The Burapa Thai at 44031 Ashburn Shopping Plaza in the heart of darkest Ashburn. Advised on what to order by Tara we spent a delightful two hours sampling and lunching on a range of treats from the familiar Satay and Pad Thai, through the curries Panang and Green and into the authentic Asian Ginger chicken.
Our Thai dinning debut was a tastebud marathon ranging form the soothing milky sweet Thai tea and coffee to the smooth richness of peanut and coconut sauces, the tang of limes and lemon grass and into a range of pepper heat from slightly nippy up to exceeding the upper end of most Mexican cuisine. Tara advised us not to go to true Thai hot as was an acquired taste that only Henry Mercker, at 8 months, the youngest among us, could acquire after 30 or forty years training. A good hint from Tara was to order on the mild side and ask for Prik Bone, an epergne of hot condiments, to work up. As we left Ashburn, happy and well fed, the natives seemed amazingly indifferent that we had been among them and though they never venture as far as Waterford we felt the risk of venturing to Ashburn was worthwhile if you are going to the Burapa Thai.
Help at The Corner Store: The Waterford Foundation would like to keep the Corner Store Sunday afternoons to welcome and educate visitors and residents new to the area about the historic significance of the village, but it needs your help to do so. If you can spare as few as 4 Sunday afternoons from 12 to 5pm between now and November 19, please email Edith Crockett at edith@waterfordconnection.com or telephone: 882.3801.

Schadenfreude; Snakes Down; Rabbits Up; Living Easy
June 1

Schadenfreude: Wednesday morning Waterford woke with a jolt to the rumblings of Schadenfreude heard above the wail of a power outage. This was necessitated by the installation of a new transformer by Virginia Power to accommodate all the new houses. Waterford struggled to read, by only the dawns early light, the news about the lack of state transportation funding this year. The realization also dawned that the rush hour roar through the village will continue to worsen and the Schadenfreude comes when you realize that what is bad for Waterford is even worse for the rest of Northern Virginia, especially Ashburn.
Snakes Down: The Brocks by the Mill alerted us to the presence of a seven foot blacksnake that had descended from the top of the large maple tree beside the Tannery Branch. The snake had been feasting on birds and bird eggs and, after pausing for a frog snack at the branch by the alligator, was seen later going to ground in a south-facing stone wall two houses up.
Rabbits Up: The spring rabbit population seems to be up this year as Waterfords cat community has began to harvest the crop. Three different cats have been seen bringing home the bacon from the fields on the western edge of the village. The rabbits maybe drawn to the Tree and Leaf CSA, that is already sold out this year, or perhaps pressure from the coyote has driven the rabbits closer to the village just as the dog dominated development has driven the deer into the more spaced out parts of the Catoctin Valley. The activity at last Saturdays' Gardeners Club Plant Exchange indicates that rabbits and deer may soon come even closer in as many gardens are being started.
Living Easy: Summertime hits this month and as usual the living is getting easy in Waterford, especially if you are a blacksnake, cat, coyote, vulture or vegetarian. It is not getting much easier if you are a bird, rabbit, deer or driver.

 

A Time on the Trail; The Best are Back; Correct to Coyote
May 17

A Time on the Trail: Saturday afternoon friends and family gathered to surprise sagacious Phil Paschall in his own back yard for a celebration of a blaze on the trail of life. The one that no 12 year-old ever plans to participate in and views those who achieve that age as a kind of alien species. For years the dominant feature in the back of the Edward Dorsey House was the bamboo grove that furnished several generations of Waterfordian anglers the means to fish Catoctin Creek. Now, thanks to years of jungle control by Phil and Betty, the bamboo is cleared to reveal a spectacular view shared by all the west side Big Hill houses stretching all the way across the Catoctin Valley to Phils' beloved Appalachian Trail.
The Best are Back: When one wakes of a morning in Waterford now, there is an ambiance of intense activity. Pick-ups and service vans arrive early and stay late. It seems that new house construction in the rest of Loudoun so intense that even the worst workers were fully employed is ending and once again the most skilled workers have come back to their regular jobs in Waterford. Mother Nature has finally began to cooperate with ambitious gardening plans and the abundant rain in recent weeks has permitted the dividing not only of perennial plants but the relocation of sizable boxwood and bushes without taxing always tentative household water supplies.
Correct to Coyote: Several weeks ago mentioned the fox in Phillips Farm but the alliterative attempt was premature. As the "fox" came to within a hundred yards of our vantage point and better binos were brought to bear. it was discovered that it was a 35 pound adolescent coyote. This made sense as the cats had always seemed to know. They would perch in trees and their gaze was like a weather vane pointing the direction of the coyote. The coyote is just as aware of our presence as its ears are up and is looking our way when we go to the back yard. To avoid scaring it in an unplanned manner we only observe it from cover.
Watch your cat.

Katherine Chamberlin; Pool Prepped
May 17

Living History: Vivacious Katherine Chamberlin, surrounded by family and friends at Greystone Sunday afternoon, celebrated nine tenths of a century since arriving as a stranger in our midst. The crowd ranged from friends met when both were 9 years old eighty one years ago to grandchildren still in their teens. Bluegrass music was provided by the Loudoun Travelers with Katherine' nephew Robert Chamberlin performing as guest artist. Robert is recovering from two dislocated shoulders acquired while pushing a pickup truck someplace.
Pool Prepped: Meanwhile across Clarkes Gap Road ,Greystone Pool, the oldest surviving community pool in Virginia, and perhaps the world, is being prepared for its thirty second opening in the modern era. Patty Hess explained the techniques used to return the spring tadpole crop to the wild being released subsequent to the pools early season use, frog hatchery. Ann Belan was busy power washing the surrounding deck as the portraits of Octavius the octopus squiggled on the shallow wall and Free Willy the killer whale dove on the deep. The waters of Greystone Pool are proported to be magic as children who have been immersed in its waters have never been known to drown. The reason for this is that David Copperfields' caul was once floated on its surface.
Free-Will: And speaking of Free Willy, reminds us of the donation that is asked for by the Bethel United Methodist Church on the Stumptown Road. The first Ham and Turkey Dinner of the 2006 season gets under way 5-7 pm this Saturday 20 May. These suppers are now accompanied by live music and, in keeping with the ecclesiastical surroundings, also deviled eggs and angel food cakes. Just as revelations were made to Peter on the road to Appia and Paul on the road to Damascus, who knows what may occur on the road to Stumptown?

Garage gone; Correct to Coyote; Cordelias' Day
May 10

Garage Gone: Coming home after a few days helping an aunt in Woodstock adjust to a new elbow we surprised to see the Pink House garage gone. We knew it was going and it was admittedly an unattractive friend but it was a friend it seems to be a characteristic of Virginians, of which Waterfordians are an archetype, to morn the loss of the old or at least the former, We can only console ourselves in hopeful anticipation of something better in its place.

Correct to Coyote: Last weeks column mentioned the fox in Phillips but the alliterative attempt was premature. As the "fox" came to within a hundred yards of our vantage point and better binos were brought to bear, it was discovered that it was a 35 pound adolescent coyote. This made sense as the cats had always seemed to know. They would perch in trees and their gaze was like a weather vane pointing the direction of the coyote. The coyote is just as aware of our presence as its ears are up and is looking our way when we go to the back yard. To avoid scaring it in an unplanned manner we only observe it from cover. Watch you cat.

Cordelias' Day: Friends gathered late Sunday in tribute to Cordelia Chamberlin in light of her many years of many faceted service to the village. At the height of the festivities in the Goods back yard overlooking the Phillips Farm pasture a denizen of the Greystone Community Pool appeared in the form some what belying a begoggled and floatated Robbie Smith. And then, to add greater dimension to the occasion, a bald eagle, instantly identified by Neil Hughes, soared into view as it followed th coarse of the mighty Catoctin Creek. An aerial display followed as this noble visitor was attacked by two of Waterfords resident crows. As the sun set the our American symbol glided back toward the Potomac.

Yard sale ; Foxes, herons and hawks 
May 2

Y Day 6 May: Saturday is the Yard Sale Day for Waterford starting at 9 am and going through 2 pm. The flyers have been distributed and if you act right now Mary Kenesson will be able to post your yard on the web site map. For information go to www.waterfordconnection.com/flea. Already we have seen boxes of antiques and collectibles being spread out and priced as they are brought to light in the flurry of spring cleaning throughout the village. Maps will be available at the Waterford Market and at each of the sale sites for the non-internet connected. We are offering an attic squirrel for a very reasonable price at the yard sale. This squirrel has doing an excellent job of keeping the attic and eves free of starling nests but is ready to move on.
New WF Directors: The Membership of The Waterford Foundation met last Tuesday evening at the Old School electing new directors Ed Good, Ernie Smith, Phil Paschall and Ann Goode. The officers were all reelected with Jim Behan as President , Nancy Doan as Vice President, Susan Sutton as Secretary and Mark Clinard as Treasurer. The Foundation is currently searching to fill the vacant Executive Director position.
Foxes, herons and hawks: The Phillips' Farm pasture is a whirlwind of pasture activity. As the foxes have shifted their attention from mice to spring groundhog the red-tailed hawks have taken over the mouse control. In Catoctin Creek the blue herons are keeping the frogs in check. The daily activity peaks about 5pm. And can be observed from the Old Mill patio. Bring your telescope.

Another Pulitzer; Another Star 
April 25

Another Pulitzer: Geraldine Brooks has won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for her novel "March" thus continuing Waterfords' tradition of having a Pulitzer Prize winner every 10 years or so. This tradition was started by 2005 Oscar winner Larry McMurtry in 1986 winning Fiction with "Lonesome Dove"and by Henry Taylor, who was the Poetry Chair at Waterford Elementary School, with the 1986 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry with "Flying Change". The Waterford winning tradition was continued by Geraldines' husband Tony Horwitz who won The Pulitzer in 1995 for National Reporting. Her novel shows her perspicacity gained by her experience as a war correspondent with insights on the nature of war voiced by Captain March, the absent father in Louisa May Alcotts'"Little Women". Given our current war, one wonders how many are now not e-mailing home events too terrible to tell as did Geraldines' character, March, when writing home in 1861-65 .

Another Star: A new thespian star has risen in Waterford as Natalie DeHart is starring as the heroine stepsister Portia in Aurora Studio Theatres' production of Rodgers and Hammersteins' Cinderella.
The musical is about how her character, Portia, is able to cope with the devious inroads on her life being made by a whiney high maintenance family drudge who uses the aid of an alien agent and seeks to bring about an unconstitutional government takeover by enthralling a prince that should belong to Portia. Natalie will be appearing at Hillsboros' Old Stone School 28 at 7:30p.m., 29 April at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.,and 30 April at 3 p.m. The final performances are at Leesburgs' Loudoun Country Day School 6 May at 7:30 p.m. and 7 May at 3 p.m.

Another Meeting: The Membership of The Waterford Foundation met Tuesday evening at the Old School electing new directors Ed Good, Ernie Smith, Phil Paschall and Ann Goode. The officers were all reelected with Jim Behan as President , Nancy Doan as Vice President, Susan Sutton as Secretary and Mark Clinard as Treasurer. The Foundation is currently searching to fill the vacant Executive Director position.

Yard Sale; Vole Patrol; New doors open  
April 19

6 May is Y day: Why keep it when Saturday, 6 May has been set as the day for the Waterford Wide Yard Sale Day. Mary Kenneson is coordinating events so all who will have items out for sale should contact her at Masuke@erols.com to have your location mapped or to get a location somewhere in the thick of things. All that remains for those who are wondering what to do with all those things that have been discovered during spring cleaning is to put a price on them and set them out on the morning of the 6th. As far as customers are concerned, "Put it out and they will come."
Vole Patrol: Microtus pinetorum are exceptionally abundant in Waterford this year as this hemisphere globally warms and they are the favorite spring time tonic for most of Waterford free range cats. The trouble is that as the cats come in from their dawn patrol they like to bring along these critters that provide the perfect combination of an active sport to be followed by a snack. Sometimes even two snacks can be made as half can be left around for later. Also if they are brought in early enough the cat can take them up under the covers of a bed warmed by sleeping owners as a means to start the day off with a bang. Be sure to check what your cat is trying to bring in this spring.
New doors open: Work is progressing on the weighing shed opposite the Old Mill. The Mill side double doors have been replaced by a smaller opening. Also the top cutout that showed that one time high hay wagons to pass through the other set of double doors has been somewhat obscured with the replacing of some of the siding.
Skyta sighted: Paul and Kitty Rose bring us news from Sandy Skyta who has been touring the world from her Georgia based retirement. Our former Postmaster, Sandy, keeps following events in Waterford and is continuing to support the villages essential services, especially fireworks.

July 4th Fireworks; Elementary School; Foxes Hunt  
April 12

Fourth to start on third: Out of consideration of the Fourth of July not being followed by a holiday, the Waterford Citizens' Association at its Tuesday first meeting under the leadership of President Tom Edmonds decided to fire its fireworks beginning at dark on the third of July.
This makes the fireworks the first event of the villages' celebration of Independence Day followed as usual with the traditional parade, speeches, games and feasts. The reasons contributing to this decision, besides following work day, were, after all it is the Fourth in Rome, we have not yet a corps of trained and certified fireworks shooters to replace the retired Bill Beaver crew, and rain is expected on the night of the Fourth. Some thought that the sodden 2005 Fair BBQ sales may have fostered a "more bang for a buck" attitude.

Expansion expounded: Presentations were made concerning the proposed expansion of the Waterford Elementary School By Beth Erickson, Mike Stup and Nick Ratcliffe. The overcoming of the obstacles presented by the overburdened roads and the limited time, space and financial considerations and the uncertain water resources in order to expand the availability of Loudouns' premier elementary school will probably require heroic efforts on the part of the Waterford area residents, the tax payers of Loudoun and all the administrations involved in the county, state and national agencies.

Phillps' Farm fox hunt: The warm weather has impacted the Catoctin Valley and one of the most intriguing aspects that can be viewed almost daily are foxes hunting mice in the Phillips' Farm pasture. The Phillips' fox clan surround an area by Goose Bedroom Bend and belly in toward the center. When one locates a mouse scurrying through the grass the fox takes a great arcing leap coming straight down on the doomed. prey. After a few fore-foot stomping seconds the mouse is seized and sometimes tossed into the air, caught, and wolfed down.
The joy of our lives in a springtime Waterford may only be exceeded by those of our foxes.

Garder's Gather, Waterford Green  
April 6

Gardeners' Gather: The Waterford Gardeners' Club emerged from a winter dormancy at a meeting at the Kennessons' aptly named Robin (no relation to spring) House Sunday afternoon with plans for restoring the Village Green and setting Saturday 20 May from 9:00 a.m. until noonish for the Waterford Plant Exchange.
Green Graveled: The Village Green is the area around the jail and the town pump where Main, Second and Water Street all flow together to form the village and universe center. In recent years the Main Street ditch and drain pipe have become clogged by VDOTs' maintenance deficit so that gravel has formed an out-wash plain, turning much of the Village Green into the Village Gravel. The little Christmas tree there has become more suitable for the Ellipse in Washington and with its top in the power lines likely to be lit at an inopportune moment. Also, parking along Water Street has removed all the grass and the retaining wall is leaning in. The town pump was discussed but its repair is not an option out of fear that some uninformed visitor would actually drink the water.
Green Grassing: In light of the inaction of VDOT and Virginia Power the Waterford Gardeners' is taking steps to recruit a few strong young men to ditch and clear so that the green will again be green with grass and the retaining wall will be protected by forsythia and planter boxes. The Gardeners' are now fervently rooting forsythia and other woody shrubs as well as starting seedling and potting surplus perennials in preparation for the best plant exchange ever.

Saving the Shed, Archeological Gardening, Causi Bellum 
March 29

Saving the Shed: Rich Biby wasted no time in getting the work on the Old Mill weighing shed under way this week. The words "ground up restoration" are evident when you notice that the practically invisible foundation was below the ground, having been submerged by about a hundred years worth of road improvement in front of the Mill. The shed is now suspended on new supports as the bottom foot or so of the board and batten siding is being renovated. The submergence of the bottom of the shed seems to indicate that Waterford is growing up about the rate of a foot every hundred years on average. This should keep us above ground as global warming increases the sea level at a lesser rate.
Archeological Gardening: The fact that Waterford is growing deeper is becoming evident to us all as we began to scratch around in the ground in preparation for spring planting. Things that you would expect to be on the surface are disinterred from just below the ground to a considerable depth that is encountered in deep tilling and fence post digging. We have encountered silver spoons in the yard and have conjured up images of the family silver being hastily buried to save it from the clutches of marauding soldiers of both sides during The War of North Loudoun, 1861-1865.
Causi Bellum: As we have mentioned of the past this was a period in which the Quaker inhabitants of Waterford waged a vicious letter writing campaign to both governments in Washington City and Richmond to desist in their hostilities as it was adversely effecting life in Waterford as well as other places. Both governments responded by periodically jailing the letter writers until reason prevailed. This, as now, took over two Presidential elections to resolve.
Plated Playthings: The silver spoons recovered in spring gardening in the past, having been discovered as being merely silver plate have been returned to the former property owners, some in their 90's, only to find out that the spoons were lost, when they were children digging holes in the yard.

Cookie pins, Litter, Gardening  
March 23

Waterfords' Irish Roots: We are celebrating St. Patricks' Day this year with the wearing of the green shamrock cookies baked by our friend Alise Chaudet. They are practically indestructible and can be worn for years by gluing a safety pin to the back with a glue gun. Also they are available as an emergency snack at anytime once they have been soaked overnight in a pint of Guinness. Alise should do the Fourth of July Stars.

KLBs' Litter Roots: Keep Loudoun Beautiful is looking for a Waterford area chairman for the Spring Roadside Cleanup in April. This county wide effort lets us start the out and about part of the year with clean roads and is especially important in areas like Waterford, renown for our beauty. Interested parties should call KLB board President Brenda MacEoin at (703) 771-4231.

Gardeners' Plot: The Waterford Gardeners' Club is having discussions this week to plan for the spring plant exchange. Now is the time to start seed flats and mark those things in the yard that need thinning. The plant exchange is an important part of Waterfords' historics as it enables our gardens to have continuity through the years. The exchange also preserves Waterford heirloom plants such as the Marie Hilton Boxwood, all the Marie Weatherholtz yarbs, the Norman Weatherholtz Horse Radish, the Dick Neuman Lilac, the Mary Elizabeth Wallace Wisteria, the Ruth Bentley Confederate Violet and the Joan Thomas Copper Basil.

Chestnut Cut: We mourn the loss this week of the Chinese Chestnut tree by the weighing shed across from the Old Mill. This tree was planted over 50 years ago by Albert White, famous as a landscaper throughout Loudoun. The tree, whose removal was necessary to protect the shed, was planted as a reminder of the importance the American Chestnut had to Waterford as a timber tree and a supplier of the tannin bark for the Waterford Tannery. Albert White also brought cuttings from the boxwood at Morven Park that formed the basis for the Marie Hilton specter protected boxwood gardens at Hillside.
We are not sure what Marie is going to do about the Chestnut.

Waterfordian Wins Oscar, No Aliens  
March 15

Waterfordian wins Oscar: In keeping with the Waterfordian tradition that once a Waterfordian always a Waterfordian, Larry McMurtry a second Street house sitter and a High Street inhabitant, won an Oscar for the best adaptive screen play writing at the awards ceremony some where out west Sunday. Sharing the award with Larry was Diana Ossana. Larry, long recognized as a world class writer and storyteller had been previously nominated in 1971 for The Last Picture Show. Larry felt the Academy's selection of another film for best picture meant Americans are not ready to accept the concept of gay cowboys.
"Home, home on the range,
where the deer and the antelope play."
Where soon will be heard, the discouraging word,
Americans don't want their cowboys gay.

Jazz: The Rick Whitehead Trio in Concert will be at the Old School on Saturday evening, 18 March. This is a venture to bring jazz to the Old School on a regular basis to balance the Waterford Concert Series that usually has a more formal presentation. The profit from the $15 admission will be set aside toward future events hopefully giving more local exposure of the professional musicians in our midst who are usually performing in more distant and much larger venues.
That the Rick Whitehead Trio was selected to inaugurate this presentation of Jazz is especially apropos given the rather King Kongish titles of the trios' first two CDs, Live in Captivity and Live in Captivity Again .We expect that the Trio of John Previti on bass guitar and Barry Hart on drums led by master jazz guitarist Rick Whitehead will be released from captivity in the Waterford Old School Saturday to be wild in the country.

No Aliens: At first it was thought that aliens had landed a pair of miniature space ships on Clarkes' Gap Road near Schooley Mill Branch coming into the village. Perhaps the little flat mats with beads sticking out the top are traffic sensing devises placed in the road to detect and identify the illegal truck traffic roaring through the village. It turns out they record speed as well as count cars and speed is thought to be a factor when wreaks pollute Schooley Mill Branch.

Bluebirds  
March 8

Scouts about: As the last of the snow has melted except for the flurries dusting around when the north wind blows we have began to see bits of blue darting about the underbrush signaling that the bluebird scouts are looking for nesting sites once again.

Historic Bluebirds: Waterford has been blessed by a plethora of bluebirds since the early 1980's when the Waterford Foundation bluebird nesting box project instituted in the wake of late 1970 discussions to flood Catoctin Creek watershed began to bear bluebirds. The Foundation provided seed money for the construction of 200 nesting boxes bases on plans provided by the Loudoun Times Mirror. All of the boxes were placed in the Catoctin Watershed and by the early 1980,s flocks of bluebirds containing twenty to thirty birds could be seen flying around the Waterford area fields. Though most of those nesting boxes have now fallen into disuse or have not been systematically maintained, the residual is still with us both as above average density of this once threatened species and an increase in the diversity of the bird population around the historic village.

Immigrants to Ashburn: The development outside the National Historic District has also had some birdwise benefits in a kind of quixotic way. One of the threats to bluebirds has always been the usurping of nesting sites by house sparrows and starlings, both non native species. The nesting boxes were placed away from houses and monitored against sparrow use and the design of the boxes precluded entry by starlings. As the development became denser around other parts of Loudoun the sparrows and starlings migrated to Ashburn, are not now so prevalent in Waterford and our windshields are cleaner.
Many places will benefit by the placing of bluebird nestboxes but it has been demonstrated that Waterford and the Catoctin Valley will benefit more.

Driver side sidewalks, Safe hunting, Don't ask, don't tell  
February 22

Driver side sidewalks: Sunday morning saw everyone out clearing sidewalks and digging paths to get cars out of the effects of the blizzard of ought-six. Some chose to back out of the hole left by the car and some chose to pull forward. This type of snow that leaves a walled parking place causes us to reverse entering cleared spaces to put the driver door next to the side walk and avoid the dangerous climb up and down the gutter slope. This may be an ill advised tactic as the Sheriffs department has begun a crack down on driver side parking in Waterford. Getting your car down in the ditch is perilous also as some parts of Main Street are ditched deep enough to keep a car until washed out in the spring floods.
Safe hunting: The snow was also the best packing snow for snowmen that has been seen in years. A classic snowman was constructed in the Marietta Collins Cottage site. Given recent events, the snowman was wearing a carrot orange nose along with its orange hat and orange scarf as a precaution in case of hunters. As the village wags gathered about there was a discussion as to weather or not Virginia should require a lawyer stamp on hunting licenses along with the orange vest requirement.
Don’t ask, don’t tell: Waterford is a national, state and county historic district that is concentric with the smallest county part formed by the pre-1932 Byrd Road act incorporated Waterford. Our Loudoun Board of Supervisors control the destiny and even the very existence of all three of these districts, usually through the Historic District Review Committee. Last week an attempt to give control of the Loudoun portion of “This Hallowed Ground” historic corridor to the Board of Supervisors failed. The reason given by some Board members who rejected this attempt was that they did not want to give up control. Waterfordians are cautioned not to tell these supervisors that it is they who control all our historic districts.

Auctions, hammers and geese 
February 16

Auctions aweigh: The Factory Street Goose was suited up as a Steeler sitting on a terrible towel Sunday as history was made by Waterford's first online auction. With Chuck Anderson of Waterford Real Estate as auctioneer the Waterford Mill weighing station went on the online auction block Saturday morning. As pre-arranged, Chuck had dutifully e-mailed perspective bidders the latest bid all day Saturday. The conditions of the sale were that bids could be submitted by e-mail in thousand dollar increments with a starting bid of $35,000. There was also an undisclosed amount below which the owner of the historic property would not be required to accept. The right to accept the highest bid was reserved.
Hillside haunts: The property being auctioned is across from the Old Waterford Mill. It had been part of the Hillside House and was used to garage Marie Hilton's Carmen Ghia for many years. The property had been a bequest to her from her neighbor at Mill End in the 1960s. The shed has been the bailiwick of the Waterford Weavers and the Waterford Quilters for many years during the fair since Marie's death. The property also served as a nursery for boxwood that formed an impressive part of the gardens at Hillside. She said that she will return and haunt anyone who does not care for the boxwood, but she has not been seen, yet. No bids were received on Saturday.
Drifts and flurries: As Super Bowl Sunday drifted toward the 6 p.m. kickoff no bids were received. Chuck, aware that online auctions are subject to last minute bid sniping, had made it a rule that in the last 15 minutes of the auction bidders could only make one bid each. About 4:15 p.m. he notified interested e-mailers that the requirement for a $35,000 minimum bid had been dropped and this precipitated a flurry of bidding. As the auction hammer fell at 5 p.m. the winning bid was $31,000. The winning bid was more than six times the real estate assessed value of $5,700, but no round of applause was heard. This may be because the assessed tax value is expected to go up on all our houses and most of us realize we cannot afford to live here much longer.
Gone goose: Monday morning the Waterford Goose was resplendent in a Pittsburgh Steelers warm-up suit, the Seattle Seahawks lost and Waterfordians are waiting for the other hammer to fall.

 

Wojak the Waterford groundhog 
February 8

Wojak: Waterfordians are beginning to stir out of their burrows, the foremost being Wojak the Waterford groundhog who emerged from his burrow on Thursday and seeing no shadow began to look around for something to eat as spring is neigh.
Fair pears: He had fattened up on pears last October right after the Fair and emerged with that "Where have all the people gone." look seen on the faces of tourists who have only been previously to the village during the Fair. Henry Mercker, who lives in the Sappington House, is about the same size and weight as Wojak and knows that this venerable beast was named "Grandfather" by the Waterford area Indians sometime before 1607. Henry saw no shadow either.
Triathlon bound: Henrys' neighbor, Alyssa Barker, who lives in the Goodwin House, has been stirring about also as she prepares for the St. Anthony's Triathlon near Tampa Florida on 30 April. This event is a bike 1.5K, swim 40K and run10K event and has served as a qualifier for the famous Iron Man Triathlon.. Alyssa is part of a Team in Training of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Her expenses for the St, Anthonys' Triathlon were a gift from her parents but she is participating in events to benefit the Society such as a pancake booth at IHOP in Leesburg 28 Feb. and a dog wash later on. Alyssa can be seen in training downing malted milk shakes on her website at www.active.com/donations/fundraise_public.cfm?key=aBarker
Biker griper: Last week in this paper the prevalence of cyclists (referred to as bikers) on Waterfords roads was lamented by a non-Waterfordian unaware of the fact that Waterford loves cyclists. This is shown by Alyssas' proving all Waterford women are athletic by her training for world class competition in an event involving cyclists. Furthermore, cyclists have been admired for their traffic calming potential and it has long been hoped that Waterford could be the key to a bike trail connector.
WAOD-C&O connect: This connector would come from the WAOD Trail at Clarkes' Gap to Waterford and then down Old Waterford Road to Nestlewood Road. The connector would then follow the old wagon road that went along the south branch of Limestone Branch until it crosses the Whites' Ferry Road. Thence it goes down to Whites' Ferry and hooks up to the C&O tow path. Anyone so inclined could jump on their bicycle in the morning and make a round trip to DC and be back in time for supper never having had to backtrack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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