Hometown Fridays - Leesburg

LEESBURG, Va. - FOX 5 Morning news is taking the show on the road every Friday in July!

For our first ‘Hometown Friday’ stop: Leesburg, Virginia!

MORE VIDEO FROM LEESBURG! >>>

Websites:
www.tuskies.com
www.corcoranvineyards.com
www.breauxvineyards.com
www.redskins.com
www.dodonamanor.com
www.morvenpark.org
www.leesburgva.gov
www.momsapplepieco.com
WWW.THEWINEKITCHEN.COM

FROM
http://www.leesburgva.gov/index.aspx?page=527

HISTORY:
Established in 1758, Leesburg is the seat of government for Loudoun County. The town's rich history spans three centuries. The following history provides an overview of the town's development through the beginning of the twenty-first century with interesting historical tidbits of local color. Early Settlement and Founding: "indifferently built … tho' very advantageously situated" (1722-1813)

Following the 1722 Treaty of Albany, in which the Iroquois abandoned all lands east of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the colony of Virginia, colonists and new immigrants of a wide variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds began settling the lands that would become Loudoun County. In 1730, Thomas, the 6th Earl of Fairfax, granted 4,054 acres, including what would become Leesburg, to Francis Awbrey. At the intersection of the major north-south Carolina Road (now U.S. Highway 15) and the east-west oriented Potomac Ridge Road (now Virginia Highway 7), a small settlement emerged.

In 1757 the Assembly of Virginia selected this settlement for the location of the Loudoun County courthouse. The land was then owned by Nicholas Minor, who hired John Hough to survey and plat his 60 acres into 70 lots to form a town, which he called George Town. The name was changed to Leesburg the following year: the act establishing the Town of Leesburg by the General Assembly was signed 18 February 1813, providing for elected officials to pass laws governing the town and manage town affairs.

Antebellum Leesburg (1814-1860)
By 1850, Leesburg had grown to 1,688 residents. From the earliest settlers, Leesburg's residents had included slaves. Unlike slaves in rural Loudoun County, Leesburg's slaves were often skilled artisans, worked in shops, or worked in their owner's homes. Mixed with the diversity of the religious and political opinions on slavery held by its white residents, Leesburg's relationship with the institution was complicated and sometimes contradictory. Many of Leesburg's Quakers, Methodists and Presbyterians were active in the Loudoun chapter of the American Colonization Society, which sought to send freed slaves to the new colony of Liberia, in Africa.

Leesburg and the Civil War: "A perfect sneering nest of Rebels" (1861-1865)
Leesburg was a prosperous southern town of about 1,700 at the outbreak of the Civil War. It was strategically (or uncomfortably) near the border, located just two miles south of the Potomac River, which then divided the United States from the Confederate States of America. Loudoun County's two delegates to the Virginia Secession Convention in April 1961, Leesburg attorney John Janney (whom the convention elected its president) and John Armistead Carter, voted against secession. The Ordinance of Secession passed nonetheless by a vote of 88 to 55.

The next month Leesburg men overwhelming ratified the Ordinance with a vote of 400 to 22. By war's end, Leesburg changed hands about 150 times and suffered not only from the frequent raids and combat in its streets but also the disintegration of civil authority. Leesburg 50¢ note. Leesburg Municipal Currency ("Dog Money") (SC 0034)Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA.

Reconstruction through World War II (1866-1945)
Following the Civil War, Leesburg's proximity to Washington speeded its economic recovery. Loudoun's farmers contributed goods to both sides of the war effort, and had endured the scorched earth tactics of both retreating armies. But because these problems were common throughout the south, local farmers could send what little crops and stock they had to markets in Georgetown and Baltimore at lower transportation costs than farmers further away from markets and capitalize on the inflated prices. Leesburg, as the economic hub of Loudoun, facilitated and benefitted from this recovery. Leesburg ca. 1900. Town of Leesburg Records, Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA.Leesburg became a main stop for the railroad traveling westward through Loudoun, which facilitated Leesburg's growth as the social heart of Loudoun, host to traveling circuses, baseball and Confederate spy Belle Boyd. Leesburgers served their country in many ways during two world wars, and Leesburg was home to Governor Westmoreland Davis.

Post-War Boom and Sustained Growth (ca. 1946-present)
The pace of change in Leesburg and Loudoun County accelerated after the end of the Second World War. With the end of war-time restrictions on fuel and rubber, and new with government programs like the GI bill, which enabled returning veterans

to pursue higher education opportunities previously out of reach, a life dominated by the cycles of agriculture was challenged. Leesburg experienced growing pains as the population grew and Leesburg became increasingly integrated into the greater Washington area. Nonetheless, many residents advocated measures to retain Leesburg's historic character. The civil rights era further changed the town, although racial integration in Leesburg was not marked by the violence seen in some southern towns: high schools began desegregating in 1962 and were fully integrated by 1968.Courtesy of Jeffrey GreenbergLeesburg was also home to George Marshall, architect of the plan to rebuild devastated Europe after the Second World War, and Arthur Godfrey, a national radio and television personality who was also a Leesburg aviator and philanthropist.

Loudouns Destination Restaurants:The Best of DCs WineCountry
Region: Northern Virginia
Locality: Loudoun County
Leesburg, VA 20175 Let your taste buds do the touring in Loudoun! In a nomination and juried process, five restaurants were identified as its best. They offer a unique, authentic, and cultural experience, are committed to quality, use locally grown produce, and are local favorites. Lightfoot Restaurant in Leesburg is housed in a turn-of-the-century bank, turned polished dining space adorned with a rare and striking collection of 1920s original French posters. From fried green tomatoes to atomic crab cakes, and prime rib, the food is imaginative and does not disappoint. The English pub atmosphere in Uppervilles Hunters Head Tavern is inviting and informal. Order at the half-door opening at the bar, then choose a table in the 1750s cabin or on the stone patio. The entrees make excellent use of the certified humane and organically raised meats from the owners farm nearby. Magnolias at the Mill is housed in a restored 1905 mill in Purcellville where wheels and pulleys are still suspended in the ceiling. The vibe is as upbeat as the open kitchen and the menu is inspired both by the chefs Italian background and by Southern traditions. Try the Mediterranean shrimp and white cheddar stone-ground grits. Seek Tuscarora Mill Restaurant out for the same reason the locals do - great food, a comfortable atmosphere, and welcoming service. Tuskies (as the locals call it) is also housed in a restored mill. The cuisine and wine list are nationally recognized. Try the steamed Thai mussels, hearty lamb trio, or the salmon club. The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm is a 1,000 star restaurant in an elegant glass conservatory situated on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River. It offers a farm-to-table experience, and the five-course meals are not rushed. It received the 2007 Sante Award for its excellence in culinary hospitality and sustainable cuisine. These restaurants, and Loudouns 22 wineries, are described in the Touring Guide to DCs Wine Country: Loudoun, Virginia.

HISTORIC HOME: DODONA MANOR HISTORIC HOME
A History of the Property
In 1805, John Drish purchased eight acres at the top of a knoll just east of Leesburg on land that had originally been owned by Landon Carter, son of Robert "King" Carter. Although not mentioned in the deed of sale, it is likely that an early 19th-century two-story, two-bay-wide brick building already stood on the property that Drish purchased. Between 1805 and 1826, Drish constructed an elegant two-story Federal-style residence that adjoined the earlier building. The Federal-style structure is noted in the 1826 deed to Wilson J. Drish and in the 1829 deed to Fayette Ball, whose elder brother, George Washington Ball, was a nephew of George Washington. Both the 1829 sale price and the building's footprint, identified as the 'G. W. Ball residence' on 1856 Yardley Taylor map of Loudoun County, clearly indicate the presence of a substantial building. However, by 1859 the residence had undergone two major alterations: a two-story brick service ell had been added on the east side, and on the north side the early 19th century building had been encapsulated. An advertisement appearing in the 1859 Democratic Mirror of Leesburg announced that the residence, then known as Oak Hill, was for sale. Describing a 16-room house with good cellars, the public notice also mentioned several outbuildings including carriage, ice and meat houses, cow shed, stable, and a building for servants.

The Marshalls and Dodona Manor
Except for three signficant changes: a late 19th-century two-story brick bay window, an early 20th century Colonial Revival front porch, and the 20th-century bathrooms - this advertisement from House and Garden magazine describes the manor house as it appeared in 1941 when the Marshalls purchased Dodona Manor from Northcutt Ely as a retreat from their public life in Washington. The Marshalls made certain interior cosmetic changes to Dodona Manor, including new wallpaper for the living, dining, and breakfast rooms, and fresh paint for the trim and walls in other

rooms. On the exterior, they added a stone patio to the rear of the house, a two car brick garage to the north, and a wooden garden shed at the eastern edge of the property. While Dodona Manor retains its early 19th-century architectural details, present day furnishings and decorative arts reflect the tastes of the 1940s and 50s when the Marshalls lived there. General Marshall, a student of history, appreciated the historic character of the fine old building and its location overlooking the Town of Leesburg. Ever the peripatetic career Army officer, Marshall remarked to his wife Katherine upon returning from a trip abroad in 1942: "This is Home...a real home after forty-one years of wandering."

Marshall's Original Belongings
The Marshall Collection is comprised of approximately 90% of the Marshall's original belongings. It includes items such furniture, art, books, clothes, maps, Chinese furniture and artwork, trunks, personal items, and ephemeral objects that support the interpretation of the home during the most significant years of Marshall's career, from his appointment as Chief of Staff of the Army through the post- World War Two years when he served Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense.More than 1000 items were donated to Dodona Manor by Katherine Marshall's grandchildren for display and research. Many of these artifacts were repaired or restored by specialists in furniture, art, book, and fabric conservation, using the book, "George Catlett Marshall: Historic Furnishing Plan," by renowned historian and architectural restoration expert, Dr. William Seale. Following the exterior restoration of Dodona Manor in 2005, the collection was meticulously arranged in the museum in accordance with the room-by-room furnishing plan developed by Seale. The plan provided the basis for the museum's interpretation, in addition to the culmination of 10 years of research and collection of information about Dodona Manor from relatives, visitors and former employees. Information gleaned from these oral interviews is further supported by physical and documentary research.

Saved from Demolition by Local Citizens
Dodona Manor is bound on its east and northeast side by residences dating from the late-18th to the early-20th centuries, and on the south and southeast sides by mid-to-late 20th-century retail development. To the west are former residences converted to office use that pre-date Marshall's arrival at Dodona Manor, and therefore contribute to the Marshall-era viewshed that extends west from the front porch of the museum. The property's close proximity to adjacent commercial development in Leesburg made it an attractive site for redevelopment. By the 1980s a plan to destroy the Marshall house and redevelop the property into commercial townhouse offices was submitted to the Town of Leesburg. The prospect of this fate befalling the beloved home of one of America's most honored heroes inspired B. Powell Harrison, a prominent Leesburg citizen, to establish the George C. Marshall Home Preservation Fund and serve its director. To save the property, the non-profit organization raised monies from public and private sources, particularly from the European Marshall Plan countries where Marshall is still well known. This funding, in conjunction with a significant reduction in the sale price of the property from the Winn family, enabled the Marshall Home Preservation Fund to purchase the property in 1995.That same year, Dodona Manor was placed in Leesburg's Old and Historic District. In the following year, 1996, the property was designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service.

A Part of the Community: Then and Now
Dodona Manor has always been an integral part of the Leesburg community. During the 19th and early 20th centuries the house was known as Oak Hill, and denoted the entrance to the town from its prominent position along a major east-west thoroughfare that bisects Leesburg. Prior to 1860, major alterations to the structure constitute the building one sees today. During the Civil War, the enlarged residence served as a girl's school. In the early 20th-century, the residence was occupied by Yvon Pike, descendant of Zebulon Pike, who sold the property to Northcutt Ely, Executive Assistant to Secretary of the Interior Ray Lyman Wilbur, in the Hoover administration. When Dodona Manor was purchased by the Marshalls in 1941, the property was already a well-known local landmark. As the home of Leesburg's most prominent citizen, Dodona Manor continued in the focus of the community as the arrivals and departures of General Marshall, his wife, Katherine, and their guests were duly noted in the local newspapers. Today, Dodona Manor is situated in a park-like setting of trees and gardens on a knoll overlooking Leesburg. In its unique location on East Market Street, the museum contributes to the character and viability of the town's historic center, uniting the business and cultural interests of this vibrant