July/August Newsletter 2018
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A Message from the Executive Director
Greetings from the Old School!
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For my first newsletter, I’d like to begin by sharing a little bit about myself. I am originally from Georgia, born and raised in Marietta and Kennesaw to two Michigander parents. Growing up in the shadow of Kennesaw Mountain, I have always been interested in history, particularly the history of ordinary people who lived and worked in the very same places I lived in. While studying Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech, I met Bob Thompson, an aerospace engineering student from a little place called Waterford, Virginia. Since the first time I visited Waterford over winter break in 2000, I’ve enjoyed quiet strolls down our tree-lined streets, appreciating the varied architecture of a village that grew over time. We moved to Waterford in 2009 while finishing up our graduate degrees. One house and three kids later, I couldn’t be happier living in this special place.
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Stephanie Thompson,
Interim Executive Director
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I joined the Board of the Waterford Foundation in 2013, serving as chair of the Education Committee before being elected President of the Board in 2016. I have served on the Development, Finance, Properties, and Craft School committees during my time on the Board, as well as ad hoc committees for strategic planning and governance review. As I begin this new role as Interim Executive Director, I am so grateful for the many Board members, committee members, volunteers and staff people that have worked so hard to bring the Foundation to where it is today.
When Tom Kuehhas resigned in June, the Board was faced with a difficult situation. With only a few months until the Fair, the busiest time of the year was now at hand for our staff. Someone was needed who could step into the role quickly to keep things in motion so that the rest of the staff could remain focused on preparations for the Fair. When members of the Executive Committee asked me to take on the job, I was honored and happy to be able to say yes. After all, it’s hard to beat the commute living right next door!
The Board and I expect this interim position to last around six months. During that time, I will be focused on three things. First, I will do my best to keep things running smoothly in the office to support our Fair Director and our many volunteers as we put on a great Fair in just two months. Second, I will work with staff and the Board to continue the work of the ad hoc Governance Committee to review, document, and improve our policies, procedures, and operations. Third, I will work with the Board to prepare for the hiring of our next Executive Director by reviewing and revising the Executive Director’s job description and the policies and procedures associated with that role. I expect to stay busy during my time in this position, and I am excited to put my organizational skills to work for the Foundation in this new role.
I hope you’ll enjoy this issue of our newsletter. Our main article celebrates the 15th anniversary of our purchase of the Phillips Farm and the preservation and education work of our Phillips Farm Committee and volunteers. Look below for a recap of our 2018 Waterford Craft School sessions, an update from Fair Director Tracy Kirkman, and our volunteer spotlight. We’ve also included at the end a new feature: Stories from Waterford. We plan to share snippets of our history in this new column, and we welcome your suggestions on stories to highlight in future newsletters.
Enjoy!
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Stephanie Thompson
Interim Executive Director
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Celebrating 15 years of Phillips Farm
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“
The Phillips Farm, adjoining Waterford on the west, is central to the preservation and interpretation of the history of the village. The U.S. Department of Interior, in establishing the Landmark, included the village and the surrounding farmland in recognition that the agricultural setting and the village are both integral to the history of the area.
“ (Phillips Farm Management and Land Use Plan.)
The WF purchased the Phillips Farm in 2003 and soon after conveyed a conservation easement on the property to the Virginia Outdoors Foundation. This Deed of Easement restricts the uses of the farm in perpetuity so that the soils, water quality and the National Historic Landmark are forever protected and remain as we see them today. This year marks the 15
th
anniversary of the farm’s purchase by the Waterford Foundation.
The stewardship of the farm is something the Foundation takes very seriously. The bulk of the property is leased to the McIntosh family for the production of hay. Loudoun Center Apiaries tends a bee yard just as the original owners of the farm did. The
Phillips Farm Management and Land Use Plan
along with the Forest Service’s
Virginia Stewardship Plan
are tools the Foundation uses to guide land management on the farm. The South Fork of the Catoctin Creek flows through the farm requiring constant vigilance to ensure that the waters of the creek are protected. The 100 foot riparian buffer on each side of the creek has been enhanced with 1,200 native trees planted in partnership with the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy (LWC). LWC has provided the Foundation not only with plantings, but a great deal of guidance on how to deal with invasive materials, erosion and beaver. Volunteer groups have helped with planting new material including LWC, Institute of Building Technology Safety, villagers and Foundation members.
The Farm has become a wonderful resource for the community. An Interpretive Trail was installed so that visitors could learn about the farm, the old mill race, native flora and fauna and its agrarian history. LWC hosts bird counts and butterfly walks there. Dog owners take their pets for walks. Parents take their children for walks. Birdwatchers enjoy the birdlife on the farm. Butterflies take advantage of the many native plants and flowers on the property. There is a Blue Bird trail with nesting boxes to encourage the return of Eastern bluebirds to the area. The boxes are monitored by volunteers each year. Eagle Scout candidates have built bridges and benches for the public to enjoy.
During the past 15 years, the farm has been enjoyed by visitors from near and far. We ask that everyone continue to join with us to ensure that the farm will be here much as it is today for future generations to enjoy and learn from. Rules of the Trail (below) have been developed so visitors know just what is, and isn’t, permitted to protect everyone’s health and safety and protect the farm’s resources.
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Rules of the Trail
Please Help Us Protect the Farm’s Resources
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- For your safety, please stay on the posted trail.
- Pets are welcome but must be kept on a leash. Please remove their waste.
- So that others may enjoy this special place in the future, help us protect all animals, plants and cultural resources. Please do not collect or distribute plant or animal life or feed the wildlife. To protect archaeological resources, metal detecting is prohibited.
- Honor the prohibition against: camping, smoking, firearms, fires, fireworks, drugs, and alcohol.
- Protect public safety by not swimming, trapping, hunting, horseback riding, biking or using recreational vehicles of any kind.
- Carry out what you carry in.
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Please leave no trace of your visit.
Take only pictures, leave only footprints.
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Loudoun Wildlife Conducting Butterfly Count on the Phillips Farm – Saturday August 4
th
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Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy on Saturday August 4
th
for their annual butterfly count. The count will take place at sites across the county, including our Phillips Farm.
All experience levels are welcome. Let them know in the comments field if you’d prefer to participate in Waterford.
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October is fast approaching and the Fair will be here before we know it! Please help spread the word — like us on Facebook (
@waterfordfair
) and share our posts.
A few updates and reminders…
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Tickets
Member and villager tickets and parking passes will be available in the office or online.
Office pickup hours:
Tues - Fri, 8/31 - 9/28 (9am - 5pm)
.
Please watch for an email to come out mid-August about retrieving your online tickets.
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Street Closure and Vehicles
Streets will be closed during the Fair. We greatly appreciate you moving your cars off the streets during Fair hours (10am – 5pm).
Parking is available at Water Street Meadow or behind the Second Street School if you will not need your vehicle during the day. If you need to go in and out, please park at Phillips Farm or Huntley Farm.
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Save the Date!
The Varnishing Night Preview & Sale will be
Thursday, October 4
th
.
You are invited to shop early at the Old Mill, Dried Flowers at Bond Street Barn, the Red Barn Photography Exhibit and at the Fine Art and Art Mart at Schooley Mill Barn. This year the venues will have staggered openings so our volunteers also have the opportunity to shop and relax at the party.
Varnishing Night Schedule:
5 – 6 pm:
Old Mill Shop & Dried Flower Barn
5:30 – 7 pm:
Photography (awards at 6:30 pm)
6 – 8:30pm:
Fine Art & Art Mart (awards at 7 pm)
Light refreshments will be served at each venue. Parking is available at Schooley Mill Barn but be aware of where artisans and vendors are set up.
Remember to bring a flashlight if you are walking. The alley from Schooley Mill Barn back up to Second Street is not lit.
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Want to help out?
As the Fair is put on solely by volunteers, your contribution is greatly appreciated! As a thank you for working a min. of 4 hours you will receive an additional Fair ticket.
you can help with...
- Art at the Fair (Fine Art & Art Mart)
- Tickets sales
- Artisan set-up and/or breakdown
- Artisan runners (perfect for tweens and teens)
- Beer & Wine in the Meadow
- Photography Exhibit
- Old Mill Shop
We are also looking for local residents to host an artist (or two) in their home during the Fair. Artisans are very appreciative of staying in or close to the village. This is a unique opportunity to get to know an artist on a completely different level. Many Waterford families host the same artist every year, while others choose to host different artists. Please consider hosting – it makes a huge impact on the artisan’s Waterford experience and their bottom line.
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A final note…
Help our staff maintain their sanity in the weeks leading up to the Fair. Please call or email to schedule appointments if at all possible. Thank you!
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Artisan Spotlight:
John Bestwick
Jumbo Bottom Barrel Works
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American Craft Week’s 2018 artist competition,
Metamorphosis
, was a search for exceptional craftspeople who are creating wonderful work with recycled and re-purposed materials.
We are excited to announce that Fair Demonstrating Artisan and local Lovettsville resident, John Bestwick is one of the winners of this competition. See his furniture made from reclaimed barrels and learn about how he goes about making during the Fair. He will be set up in the John Wesley Churchyard.
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Water Fountain by John Bestwick
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Craft School concludes 2018 sessions
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July marked the end of Waterford Craft School’s 2018 sessions. For one weekend each month in April, May, June and July, the Old School was bustling with activity as students and instructors worked through the basics of basket weaving, Turkish marbling, rug hooking, lime mortar masonry, splint seat weaving, hand woven cane, brick path building, and herbal medicine. Of our 43 students, many were returning for their second, third, or fourth class!
Our Waterford Craft School committee is busy now preparing another four weekends of craft classes for 2019. Plan to stop by the Craft School demonstration tent near the Old School during this year’s Waterford Fair to see instructor demonstrations, see the 2019 schedule, and enter our raffle. In the meantime, find Waterford Craft School on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates and information about new evening mini-classes planned for later this year.
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Volunteer Spotlight: Village residents to the rescue!
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Jeff Bean playing the organ
at the John Wesley Church
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Flowers by Susan Honig-Rogers
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For this month’s volunteer spotlight, we’d like to recognize a couple of village residents who have come to our aid in the past month. During a recent private event at the Old School, the event organizers needed specialized audio-visual assistance that our staff were not equipped to provide. Jeff Bean wasted no time jumping in, procuring the necessary microphones, cables, and speakers, and making sure everything was operating properly. This event included many guests from all over the County, many of whom had never been to Waterford before. We are so grateful that Jeff was ready and able to help us show off Waterford and our great community center facility to these guests!
Another village resident jumped in just last week to help us prepare a welcome at the Old School for the family of a dearly departed friend. Susan Honig-Rogers gathered blooms from all over to create two beautiful arrangements to grace the auditorium for the family’s reception. Many thanks to both Susan and Jeff for helping us to make our visitors feel welcome!
Volunteers are a critical part of achieving our preservation and education mission. We have all types of opportunities available, including ongoing positions and short-term projects. Contact us or visit
https://www.waterfordfoundation.org/volunteer/
to learn more about how you can help.
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Join or Renew Your Membership Today!
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August is the perfect time of year to join or renew your Waterford Foundation membership in time to get your free tickets to the Fair.
Individual memberships include one Fair ticket, and Family memberships include three Fair tickets.
Visit our website to join or to renew now!
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Today’s residents of Waterford lament the rush hour commuter traffic through our historic streets, but did you know that traffic problems are not new to the village? In a chapter entitled “Manure and Other Traffic Problems”, J. M. Souders lists the great lengths taken by the Town Council to remedy the situation, including this 1875 ordinance:
“Article No. 9. Sec. 2. Hitching horses to gates, fences, or trees is hereby prohibited and each offender shall be fined not less than Twenty-five Cents nor more than One Dollar for each offence.”
Please help us share your favorite Stories from Waterford in future newsletters. Send in your favorite anecdotes from any period of Waterford’s history. In our next issue, we will focus on the Waterford Fair. What is your favorite Waterford Fair story? Email us at
oldschool@waterfordfoundation.org
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