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We are pleased to announce that Locust Grove has been registered as a Virginia Historic Landmark and Listed to the NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES!
Here is an outline as to how the process worked for us from start to finish...you will find copies of letters, our PIF, and various information that may help others considering this designation.
When first purchasing the property, December 2004, the thought of the House and outbuilding having any historic value was questioned in my mind. After interviewing the previous owner, Darleen Lowery, it soon became apparent that there very well could have been some type of Historic relevance. I contacted the Regional office of the Virginia Dept of Historic Resources and was pleased at how willing they were to help. And although the enthusiasm was there, 10 days later, a HUGE envelope came with what seemed like 10 lbs of Paper enclosed. I opened it and within minutes I realized this was going to be similar to filling out tax returns for the first time. I needed Help.
I looked around on the net, and the DHR Regional Office referred me to a few people that can help with historic research and the designation process. I came across Scott Smith with the Antiquaries (www.wscottsmith.com). He is based in Lynchburg but has spent his career doing such things. After a few e-mails we decided on him coming up to visit the house. On that one day, much was revealed. Mostly from my lack of expertise, but he showed me hints, signs, and markings that could help date the house. After that visit, the decision was made to go ahead with the project and see what we could find. Scott hired out a professional Historian that did extensive research of records dating all the way back to the 1700's when the property had been granted to Lord Fairfax. Scott then took that information, and searching endless periodicals, obtained enough history of the house to feel confident that the House and its Outbuilding could be considered.
July 2005. Having a buddy from College move to the house, and being a coin collector to boot definitely is a good thing. On July 6th, he decided to do some metal detecting in the front yard of the house. Approximately 50ft from the front door in about 4 inches of dirt he found a 1796 English halfpenny. At first it looked like just a piece of metal that had a bunch of rust and debris on it, but latter to find out really what it was. Finding a coin of that date in the front yard made us even more vigilant to find out more about the house. After looking into some of the history of the coin, we soon realized that this coin very well could have been used in the early 1800's. Around that same time, Scott Smith, found some old documentation where it stated that the corner of a house stood approximately "3 poles" from the roadbed in this location. Another visit to the house from Scott verified that the Roadbed in front of the house was approximately 18 ft from the Northeast Corner of the house. The date of that documentation was 1817. We now know that the first section of the house was standing in 1817, but could have been built several years earlier.
September 2005. A garden party was held on the property where Scott Smith was in attendance. Scott had been able to gather additional information about the house and shared that with those in attendance. Town Councilman Tom Priscilla stated that if the house was to be listed in the National Registry, that it would be the first structure in the town to achieve this status.
Winter 2005. Since Scott had experience with the process, we then started working on our Preliminary Information Form (PIF) that is the first step in achieving State and National Historic Designation. More Pictures were taken and various details of the Structures were documented. By spring 2006 we had it ready for submission.
Scott felt that Architecture was our best bet for securing the designations. The house shows a typical Quaker Built Home, and how that home adapted to various architecture trends in the region over the years. First built as a two floor, two bay, stone structure. Then adding a Federal style stone Structure in 1835, with the addition of an Italianate/Victorian bump out, with porches etc in the late 1800's/early 1900’s. Finally adding on the current kitchen and additional room on the east side of the house in the early 1900's.
After submission of our PIF, we received a reply from the DHR. They had approved our PIF, and had added Archeology with Architecture to our Nomination process. We felt this was a nice enhancement for the eligibility by adding that category to our submission. What is ironic is that originally I had thought we would be using the Nichols name with the project. The Nichols Family, of Nichols Hardware, owned the proper from 1893 until the early 1970's. The Nichols Family played a very important role in the town of Purcellville and we did include this fact with our submission.
September 2006. Scott and I met in Richmond for the hearing at the DHR headquarters. Locust Grove was on the list for final approval as a Virginia Historic Landmark. At that meeting the Board that represents the Virginia Historic Landmarks and the Department of Historic Resources both voted that Locust Grove be listed as a Historic Landmark and further recommended that it be listed to the National Registry of Historic Places.
Click here to see our application:
Application
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