Check out the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Division of State Archaeology for more information.

1865: “Great God! Take Care of Us Now!”

with Rich Gillespie

The Fifth in a Series on the Civil War in the Mosby Heritage Area

SUNDAY, JANUARY 25, 2015 at 3 o’clock P.M.; Goose Creek Friends Meeting, Lincoln, Sponsored by the Lincoln Community League

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 8, 2015 at 2 o’clock P.M.; St. James United Church of Christ, Lovettsville, sponsored by the Lovettsville Historical Society

SUNDAY MARCH 22, 2015 at 3 o’clock P.M.; Mt. Zion Church, Mt. Zion Historic Park, Aldie, sponsored by Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority and the Mosby Heritage Area Association.

One hundred fifty years ago during the Civil War, Loudoun, Fauquier, and Clarke were nearing the end of Civil War. If 1864 was about frustration on both sides leading to the use of “total war” tactics that would leave the Loudoun Valley of Fauquier and Loudoun a shambles–burning wagons, burning farms, burning crops, and burning hatred—then 1865 was the year when all of those burning changes came to roost. While the War came to an end in April, the results and impacts of those cataclysmic four years would now take effect with a vengeance. Surprisingly, local fighting lasted until after Appomattox, which we’ll examine.

The Mosby Heritage Area Association in the winter of 2015 will offer the fifth installment in a series of Sesquicentennial glimpses of the local experience during the Civil War featuring MHAA Director of Education Richard Gillespie. The program will use area historic sites and landscapes to weave a tapestry of civilian and soldier experience during the final months of the South’s ill-fated bid for independence, including a glimpse at the first months of Freedom for the enslaved. Richly illustrated with photo and anecdote, this glimpse of 1865 shows a Loudoun sliding into devastation after four years of War. Programs will be held at Goose Creek Friends Meeting in Lincoln on Sunday January 25 at 3:00 p.m. (sponsored by the Lincoln Community League), St. James United Church of Christ in Lovettsville on Sunday February 8 at 2:00 p.m. (sponsored by the Lovettsville Historical Society), and at Mt. Zion Church at Mt. Zion Historical Park in Aldie on Sunday March 22 at 3:00 p.m. (sponsored by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority and Mosby Heritage Area Association as part of their Conversations lecture series. Admission or donation will be charged.

This weekend, John King, the  National Park Service’s First World War Material Culture Expert & Collector, will be presenting on the following, very interesting topic.  Please see the attached flier for more details.

“1914: Viewing the Great War from Northern Virginia”

Sunday, November 9  at 3:00pm at historic MOUNT ZION CHURCH

40309 John Singleton Mosby Highway (Route 50), ALDIE, VIRGINIA

1914 lecture

Women in Preservation Special Event:

Architect Barbie: The Debate and Discussion 3 Years Later

Greetings Preservation Enthusiasts,

This is just a quick reminder that NOVA’s Fall semester begins on Wednesday, August 20 and that we’re offering Prof. Clark’s HIS 180- Historic Archeology, Prof. Gillespie’s HIS 187- Interpreting Material Culture, and Prof. Kincheloe’s HIS 281- History of VIrginia, Part I, as well as the debut of Prof. Sprinkle’s online version of HIS 181- History and Theory of Historic Preservation.

The College no longer allows any students to register for classes once a session has started, so you have until the end of the day tomorrow if you haven’t yet signed up.  Don’t delay, and have a great semester!

This Spring marked the publication of our own John Sprinkle’s latest book, Crafting Preservation Criteria: The National Register of Historic Places and American Historic Preservation by Routledge.  This work examines the evolution of the criteria used by the federal government to identify historic sites worthy of preserving, and serves as a pretty excellent history of historic preservation in modern America more generally.  I’ve read it already myself and found it fascinating, and heartily recommend it to everyone involved in our program, whether or not they’ve been lucky enough to be enrolled in one of Dr. Sprinkle’s courses.  You can order it from your favorite bookseller, and it’s even available as an e-book.  Happy reading!

There will be a workshop on 18th century foodways hosted by Gunston Hall on May 16-18, 2014.  Among the presenters will be our own Dr. David Clark discussing what archeology can reveal about dietary patterns during the era.   It sounds like a fascinating event which will be well worth the while of anyone interested in historic preservation.  Details can be found at:

http://www.boicehistorieacademie.com/may-2014-program-flier.html