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Welcome to the website dedicated to the Locust Grove House in Purcellville Virginia.
We have just added a page showing our process for listing on the Virginia and National Historic Registry. Click below for the story and a copy of our application.....
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A Story From the Loudoun Times Mirror November 18, 1954
Locust Grove Farm, homestead of W Harvey Nichols and his sister Miss Mary E Nichols, of Purcellville, was the Loudoun Mystery Farm featured in an airview picture in the Times Mirror last week. The 24-cow dairy farm is on of the old and more interesting properties in the Purcellville section.
The farm was purchased by Jesse Nichols (grandfather of the present owners) from Lydia Taylor, widow of Jonathan Taylor, in 1870. The farm has been in the Nichols family since that time.
Bernard Taylor came to Loudoun with his family a little before 1800. His Son, Jonathan, settled on this part of the Taylor tract and soon after his marriage, sometime in the 1820's, built the present house. The Taylors were grandparents of the late Harry T Caroline and Lula Pancoast.
During the War between the States when the Northern soldiers came through this section burning barns, the barn on this place was spared on the earnest solicitation of the Taylor girls, who pointed out the grave danger because of its nearness of setting the house on fire. As a result, the old barn with its hand hewn timbers, as continued to serve as shelter for stock and a storage place for hay and grain, as well as play place for the children who grew up on the Farm.
Building have been added as needed-cow barn and dairy, silo, chicken houses and various sheds. The house has had a kitchen, bay windows and porches to meet the needs of a growing family. Those who built these houses a hundred years or more ago are thought to have put into them during the many months it took to build them, some of their own rugged strength to withstand the wear and tear the years have brought.
They put into them beauty too, nowhere more is evidence than in the mantels. It's interesting to know that the reason each mantel in the house is different because each carpenter was given one to design and carve.
The Farm took its name from the many Locust Trees which used to grow along the lanes and fences and during blooming season made it a flower bower of sweetness. The farm was noted too for its Cherry Trees, many of which grew of their own accord-light ones and dark ones and in between, with tangy flavors longed of but not found in our modern sprayed Cherry Trees.
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An article in the September 19th, 2005 issue of Leesburg Today (of Virginia) reports that "Earlier this summer, the county lost five colonial coins that were stolen from an archaeological display at the Loudoun County Courthouse. But a part of that loss was made up yesterday when a Purcellville homeowner donated a rare 1774 half penny coin, minted during the reign of George III, to the county to start a new coin collection.
Under blue skies late yesterday afternoon in a shaded garden in the Locust Grove community of Purcellville, Loudoun Supervisors Jim Burton (I-Blue Ridge) and Jim Clem (R-Leesburg) accepted the coin from Don Kraper, owner of the historic Locust Grove house after which the subdivision is named. The earliest part of the house dates to 1817."
"Kraper bought the house last December and moved in late
February. He managed to persuade a longtime friend, dating back to college days, David Chicelli, to relocate from Rocky Mount, NC, to Locust Grove, where he is “staying in the service quarters,” Chicelli quipped yesterday. A coin collector, Chicelli was doing a spot of metal detecting in the front garden, only a few feet from the walkway to the front door of the stucco house. The halfpenny was the first thing he found, in less than 30 minutes, about four inches
below the surface. Since then, Chicelli noted wryly, the only items he’s found are modern coins."
"Burton said after the ceremony, as guests toured the redecorated house and well-established garden, “it’s great to see a newcomer in the county who’s willing to show his appreciation for the county’s history.”
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A color enhanced photo of the property when it was a working farm. Photo courtesy of Ed Nichols. An article from the Washington Post:
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An old photograph with Nichols relatives Pictured next to the house. Date unkown. Provided by Ed Nichols.
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Another old photograph provided by Ed Nichols.
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