News from Hillsboro, Virginia

Church Restoration Underway

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 09:40:37 GMT

Restoration Underway at Historic Church

Crews work to rebuild fire-damaged roof on the former Methodist Episcopal Church in Hillsboro. (Photo by Chip Beck)

Restoration Begins on Fire-Damaged Former Church

Fifteen months after the former Methodist Episcopal Church (South) was gutted by fire, crewsthis week began restoration of the historic building in downtown Hillsboro. The building, used as a private residence, was damaged in a December 2022fire caused when a spark from a saw ignited insulation inside the wall during renovations. The building sat empty and open to the elements until earlier this year when Hillsboro residents Mike and Kristin McLaughlin purchased the property. After the roof is repaired, they plan a methodical restoration of the interior over time.

The church was built in 1854 and remained in service until 1971, after which it became first an antique shop and then a private residence.

Ellis, Kershner Meet in Hillsboro Debate

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 15:29:53 GMT

Ellis, Kershner Meet at the Old Stone School for Catoctin Supervisor Debate

By Renss Greene, Loudoun Now

Incumbent Catoctin District Supervisor Caleb E. Kershner (R) and independent challenger John Ellis debated their competing visions for preserving the county’s rural west during a debate Sept. 21 at Hillsboro’s Old Stone School.

Ellis and Kershner fielded questions on a wide variety of topics, but their answers returned tocompeting visions for protecting Loudoun’s farms and green spaces. With the potential for thousands more homes in western Loudoun under current zoning, Ellis argues that the county board should use its zoning authority to restrict development in the west, while Kershner argues for encouraging conservation easements and programs to allow rural landowners to sever and sell the development rights from their land, either to the county government or to eastern developers.

“The main difference between us, between your two candidates here, is that I think the only way that we can ensure that we preserve this area the way we want it—that we keep the traffic from overwhelming our rural roads, that we make it safe, that we preserve our gravel road system, we preserve our farms and things like that—the only way to do that is to reduce the number of houses that you put in new rural subdivisions in western Loudoun,” Ellis said. He pointed to rural zoning in Loudoun which allows more houses than surrounding jurisdictions—“you are allowed to put three times more houses in a cluster subdivision than you can if you’re in the Middleburg area, or in Fauquier, or in Clarke, or in Prince William in their rural areas. Why on earth does Loudoun say, ‘’come here because we'll give you three times more houses for the same acreage?’”

Kershner said a potentially years-long process to change zoning would take too long, and pointed out that a future board could change zoning to allow more development again. He pointed to a recent decision by the Prince William County Board of Supervisors to eliminate its 80,000 acre “rural crescent,” clearing the way for tens of thousands more homes and new commercial development.

“What happened in Prince William should wake every single person in this room, it should shake you to your knees,” Kershner said. “… There is incredible pressure right now to build anywhere and everywhere. So the only way we are going to permanently preserve western Loudoun is not to say, ‘oh, let’s use our zoning ordinance’ and these sorts of things, it is to accelerate preservation programs."

But those programs may rely on the market value of the property, which is typically higher if the land can be sold to a developer to build up. On conservation easements in particular, land buyers have said limiting residential development through zoning, including the push to restrict development on prime agricultural soils, would undermine the tax benefits of setting up conservation easements.

“When Caleb talks about preserving easements, it's important to be aware that when he's talking about is maintaining the highest possible development density in western Loudoun in order to incentivize easements,” Ellis said. “The thing about that is it also incentivizes development,which is the problem.”

But both agreed the county should pursue both Purchase of Development Rights and Transfer of Development Rights programs. The first would allow the county to buy and retire development rights from landowners—both agreed revenues from taxes on data centers should fund that. The second would allow landowners to sell the development potential to residential or potentially commercial or data center developers in other, targeted areas of the county. That may allow increased development density without going through a legislative zoning process.

“Our eastern supervisors have been really resistant to that, because they lose a certain level of control over how data centers are developed,” Kershner said.

“This has been portrayed as a favor that eastern Loudoun does for western Loudoun. It is not,” Ellis said. “It’s something that’s beneficial to the entire county. It helps to reduce our future tax burdens. It preserves an area that lots of people in eastern Loudoun value extremely much.”

Both also agreed that trucks over some length should be restricted on Rt. 9. But the two displayed sharp contrast on plans to widen Rt. 15 north of Leesburg and build a bypass around Lucketts.

“This decision is not going to get reversed, I’m just going to tell you that,” Kershner said. “This project is well down the road. We have spent millions and millions of dollars on this project. I have championed this project. This project was onboard when I came on, and I have accelerated this project.”

“I still don't get how speeding up traffic through a rural area, onto an area that then narrows to two lanes, or opens from two lanes to four lanes, is going to improve traffic safety,” Ellis said. “… I would like to see safety improvements like signage and pull-outs for enforcement and roundabouts that will keep traffic moving safely. The cost is really significant, too.”

The debate was organized by the Coalition of Loudoun Towns in partnership with Loudoun Now and the Loudoun Times-Mirror . Early voting began Friday.

Hillsboro Celebrates Its Hope

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 20:06:36 GMT

News from Hillsboro, Virginia

Hillsboro Celebrates Its Hope

- Photo by Roger Vance

Hope Bazaco celebrated her 99th birthday on Aug. 6, officially declared as Hope Bazaco Day in Hillsboro.

The mother of Loudoun winery pioneer George Bazaco was given a preview of the design of the proposed Hope's Garden, a native plant garden and public art venue to be located in the center of Hillsboro and named in her honor. The Bazaco family, owners of Doukénie Winery, were the initial donors for the project.

Planting for the garden is planned this fall behind the 1760 Lawson-Goodrich House, future home the town's new visitor center and museum.

Hillsboro Fireworks Fly Sunday

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 20:32:29 GMT

Hillsboro Fireworks Fly June 25

Hillsboro again gets a head start on America’s birthday celebration with its annual free music festival and fireworks show on Sunday, June 25. This year’s Independence Day the Hillsboro Way! Event on the grounds of the historic Old Stone School kicks off at 3 p.m. with a lineup of musical performances on The Gap Stage, featuring Joey & The Waitress Band, Circa Blue, and Calgary.

Onsite food will be offered by Ford’s Fish Shack, Hog It Up BBQ, Pattie Party and Kovi Kitchen, and Moo-Thru Ice Cream. Beers and wine will be offered by Old 690 Brewing Company, Doukénie Winery, Two Twisted Posts Winery and Walsh Family Wines. Kids’ activities will include pony rides by Dark Springs Stables.

“We expect another large crowd for this year’s event,” said Hillsboro Mayor Roger L. Vance. “As always, it’s our great team of volunteers, generous sponsors and terrific partners that make this such an outstanding and beloved celebration year after year. And, American Fireworks has once again customized another spectacular fireworks display especially suited for the Hillsboro venue, guaranteed to wow.”

While admission is free, some lawn and verandah tables remain available and may be reserved at oldstoneschool.org .

A special Independence Day Eat, Drink & Be Literary! lecture, The Declaration v. The Constitution, will be held on Saturday, July 1, featuring Constitutional scholar Ben Lenhart. Tickets and information can be found at oldstoneschool.org .

New Business Retreat Debuts in Hillsboro

Mon, 08 May 2023 20:53:32 GMT

New Business Retreat Debuts in Hillsboro

Rick Carroll and Tiffany Hundley stand in the main conference room at their new Stony Point Business Center, housed in an 1890s log cabin in Hillsboro.

— Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

After a three-year renovation, a former bed and breakfast will debut this week as Hillsboro’s newest business training and conference center.

The husband-and-wife team of Rick Carroll and Tiffany Hundley purchased the property in October 2020, and worked through the pandemic to transform the home—inside and out. The Stony Point Business Center will double as a corporate retreat and the home of Hundley’s business consulting business, Evolving Enterprises .

The couple fell in love with Hillsboro as they frequently passed through town when they were dating; she lived in West Virginia, and he lived in Falls Church. Later, they lived in Broadlands, but their love of western Loudoun was a factor as they searched for property for their dream venture.

“We were like let's look for a place where it can be our home, but we can also do more intimate workshops. And when we found this. We looked at it and we knew this is the spot,” Hundley said.

Carroll, who has backgrounds in the military and in project management, set to work on the renovations. The core building is an 1890s log cabin, which had undergone a series of renovations and expansions—all adding to the challenge of converting the space into an intimate, but functional, conference and training center.

On June 9, the center opens for tours to the general public, with a grand opening celebration that will feature catering, team-building exercises and local wines.

Learn more and register for the grand opening at stonypointbc.com .

Hillsboro Community Awards 2023

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 20:46:06 GMT

Hillsboro Honors Community Members

Volunteer of the Year was presented to Inez and Stephen Morgart in recognition for their efforts to support the town in a wide variety of ways—from decorating for town events to serving as bartenders during the summer concerts.

Photos by Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

The Town of Hillsboro held its annual community celebration Saturday morning, providing residents with updates on its long list of infrastructure upgrades and upcoming events, and recognizing individuals for their special contributions.

Mayor Roger Vance led the State of the Gap program in the Old Stone School auditorium.

Last year the town completed work on its Rt. 9 sidewalk and traffic calming project, brought a new public water system online, and extended broadband connections to homes. While those improvements have been transformational for the small town, the work continues.

The town is wrapping up construction on another multi-modal trail—bringing its pedestrian network to two miles. It is about to embark on another project, to restore the truss bridge over the North Fork of Goose Creek, after landing a grant for the work.

The town’s first wastewater treatment plant is expected to come online by June, and crews are being lined up to begin the process of hooking homes and businesses into the new sewerage system in the coming months.

“Bringing modern wastewater water treatment to Hillsboro and really eliminating the biggest public health concern and environmental hazard in Hillsboro—it's really huge,” Vance said of the project. “It's a huge accomplishment and we should all be very proud for what everyone here has done.”

He said the utility upgrades will offer benefits beyond improved public health.

“This critical infrastructure along with our new drinking water system is having a significant positive impact on property values now, and it allows for the type of economic development that we've been talking about—the ability for businesses to operate here in town will add and really make Hillsboro sustainable in the future,” Vance said.

Next month, the town is expected to open the new community mail kiosk at the historic Lawson-Goodrich House. The town purchased and restored the building, which now is ready to serve as a visitors center with space to lease for a café or restaurant.

Vance also announced plans to expand the town’s community events. While the spring Gardens in the Gap program and the Friday night summer concert series will return, the town also plans a Sunday farmers market, and to add Ford’s Fish Shack as a regular food truck vendor at the Old Stone School. Hillsboro has joined forces with Round Hill to host the Appalachian Trail Festival this summer and is pursuing designation as an Appalachian Trail Community. Also, Vance said the town has been selected to be a featured community during the 2024 Virginia Garden Club homes and garden tour.

Hillsboro Residents Take the Plunge

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 22:01:10 GMT

Hillsboro Residents Take the Plunge

A New Year’s Day tradition returned to Hillsboro Jan. 1 as town residents gathered at the Stonehedge Pond for the 2023 polar plunge.

— Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

A New Year’s Day tradition returned to Hillsboro on Sunday as town residents gathered at the Stonehedge Pond for the 2023 polar plunge.

In relatively balmy 58-degree weather and with a crew from the Round Hill Fire-Rescue Department standing by, seven hearty souls jumped from the pond’s dock into water that one participant confirmed was both “wet and cold.”

Two dozen others watched from the shoreline, warmed by a bonfire and libations.

It was the first time the New Year’s Day event has been held since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Old Stone Church Fire Closes Rt. 9

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 22:07:12 GMT

Fire at Old Stone Church Closes Rt. 9

Rt. 9 through Hillsboro is closed to traffic Tuesday morning as emergency crews battle a house fire.

— Photo by Claudia Forbes

Hillsboro Rallies to Aid Family after Fire Even as fire crews worked to extinguish flames ripping through the historic former church building on Tuesday morning, town of Hillsboro leaders already were at work to help the Hawkins family who live there.

The fire at the home, located on the southside of Rt. 9 at the center of town, was reported at approximately 9:15 a.m. Dec. 27. Crews remained at the scene for more than six hours, with the closed to traffic during that period.

The residents, Don and Cindy Hawkins safely evacuated, along with their pets.

The Hillsboro Preservation Foundation quickly established a fundraiser through its Neighbors in Need program to assist the family with emergency expenses. Within hours, the campaign had raised more than $3,000. Contribute to the Don and Cindy Fire Recovery Fund at gofundme.com .

Koerner Wright Memorial Rededicated

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 20:53:29 GMT

Koerner Wright Memorial Redicated

By Norman K. Styer

nstyer@loudounnow.com

On Dec. 17, 1929, a crowd estimated at 1,000 people gathered in Hillsboro to witness the unveiling of a roadside historical m arker highlighting the birth site of one of the world’s most important mothers of invention—or at least mother of inventors.

Next Friday, 92 years after that ceremony, a new crowd will gather to witness the unveiling of a restored marker that honors Susan Koerner Wright, the mother of aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright, as well as her daughter, Katherine Wright Haskell, who played in important role in guiding her brothers following their mother’s death.

The marker was displayed along the town’s main throughfare for nearly a century, before being removed during construction of the ReThink9 traffic calming and municipal infrastructure project. During its hiatus from public view, the Short Hill Historical Society, Hillsboro Preservation Foundation, and the Town of Hillsboro undertook a restoration of the memorial.

Susan Koerner Wright was born April 30, 1831, on the Hillsboro farm where her German immigrant father, John Gottlieb Koener, worked as a wagonmaker. She left Loudoun County in 1853 to attend Hartville College in Indiana. That year, she met and married Milton Wright and they raised their family in Indiana and Ohio. She is credited with instilling in her boys the skills to create, starting with their own toys and playthings, and the desire to pursue intellectual interests. The marker describes her as “A notable woman who largely guided and wisely inspired her sons to their immortal discovery.”

At the time of her death in 1889, Orville and Wilbur were young men and their younger sister is credited as a close collaborator and vital supporter. The marker memorializes her “sisterly devotion” that “aided in giving mankind access to the unlimited aerial highway.”

The effort to memorialize the birthplace of the Wright Brothers came from an unusual source: the Rivanna Garden Club of Charlottesville. It was only after its members launched the memorial project that they learned Wright wasn’t born in the nearby Hillsboro in Albemarle County—since renamed Yancey Mills—but in the western Loudoun County town. But they pressed ahead with the effort.

According to the account of the unveiling ceremony on the front page of the Dec. 19, 1929 Blue Ridge Herald newspaper, five members were present at the ceremony, along with representative of the University of Virginia, and five members of the extended Wright family.

Hillsboro Mayor D.T. Link formally accepted the marker on behalf of the community. Longtime Loudoun attorney Wilbur C. Hall, then representing Loudoun in the House of Delegates, also address the crowd.

“Today air-minded Americans turn to this modest village to pay tribute to this departed mother of Orville and Wilbur Wright, genii of the twentieth century, who, 26 years ago today, made the first successful flight with a heavier-than-air machine,” the article quoted him as saying.

Nine decades later, today’s Hillsboro leaders plan no less of a tribute.

The memorial rededication program, scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. Friday Dec. 17, will feature remarks by U.S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton, groundbreaking commercial pilot Laura Savino, and historian Eugene Scheel. Also attending will be a representative of the Rivanna Garden Club, Lori Morin.

An extra tribute will come in the form of a flyover of some 20 airplanes being organized by the Leesburg-based Smokehouse Pilots Club.

Mayor Roger Vance said the rededication also is being used in the Hillsboro Charter Academy to promote its STEM programs, and students will be included in the program. “It’s an opportunity to promote to the younger kids that women have a role in aviation as well,” Vance said.

Although the sign has been on display for more than 90 years, it’s likely relatively few have had an opportunity to stop and read it. Until this year, it was posted on a busy highway with no sidewalks. After the town’s transformational ReThink9 project, that should change.

“Now, people can actually walk by a see it without taking their live in their hands,” Vance noted.

Ukraine Aid 2022

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 14:43:20 GMT

Town Donates $20,000 Proceeds from Ukraine Aid Concert

Hillsboro Preservation Foundation President Amy Marasco and Town of Hillsboro Mayor Roger Vance sign $20,000 in checks, proceeds from the Town’s April 2022 Ukraine Relief Aid Conc ert. Checks will be sent to the two designated charities working on the ground providing relief to the citizens of Ukraine —The World Central Kitchen and Save the Children.

Hillsboro and Bürgermeister Vance featured on German national news broadcast

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 21:45:34 GMT

Hillsboro and Bürgermeister Vance featured on German national news broadcast

Europe’s largest German language television network, ZDF, featured the Town of Hillsboro on a January 12 segment marking the first year of the Biden presidency on its Fo reign Journal news program. A ZDF news crew spent the day in Hillsboro on December 15, interviewing Hillsboro Mayor Roger Vance and local residents about the Town’s recent major infrastructure projects, the recently approved Federal infrastructure bill, the proposed “Build Back Better” bill, and how residents are coping with the ongoing pandemic.

According to Mayor Vance, ZDF Producer Nicola Wenz first heard about Hillsboro in the summer Washington Post article about Hillsboro’s ReThink9 infrastructure projects. “She saw this as the perfect opportunity for ZDF’s planned coverage of President Biden’s infrastructure plans and first year in office,” Vance said. “She was looking for perspectives from the ground level about how investing in infrastructure impacts communities, especially in rural America.”

Interviewed during the Hillsboro segment were Lauren and Luke Markham, who talked about the Town’s water system improvements and how their sons can now walk safely to Hillsboro Charter Academy on the Town’s new sidewalks.

Also interviewed were Paul Hrebenak and James Fraser, who moved to Hillsboro in 2020 and are restoring a signature 18th-century stone house in the center of Hillsboro. The couple plans to open the house as a bed and breakfast—a private investment largely spurred by the Town’s investment in becoming walkable and building critical infrastructure including a new drinking water system, first-ever municipal wastewater system, and high-speed broadband fiber-to-the-home delivered via Town-owned conduit and fiber.

Vance said the ZDF crew was impressed by the projects’ delivery of cutting-edge infrastructure while complimenting the Town’s historic integrity through context-sensitive design and materials. “They remarked” he said, “that Hillsboro’s setting and stone walls and architecture gave it a familiar European feel.”

You can view the piece at loudounnow.com/auslandsjournal . The Hillsboro feature is in the fifth segment of the program.

Lunch served up at Stoneybrook Farm Market

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 12:43:49 GMT

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News from Hillsboro, Virginia

Church Restoration Underway

Restoration Underway at Historic Church

Ellis, Kershner Meet in Hillsboro Debate

Ellis, Kershner Meet at the Old Stone School for Catoctin Supervisor Debate

Hillsboro Celebrates Its Hope

Hillsboro Celebrates Its Hope

Hillsboro Fireworks Fly Sunday

Hillsboro Fireworks Fly June 25

New Business Retreat Debuts in Hillsboro

New Business Retreat Debuts in Hillsboro

Hillsboro Community Awards 2023

Hillsboro Honors Community Members

Hillsboro Residents Take the Plunge

Hillsboro Residents Take the Plunge

Old Stone Church Fire Closes Rt. 9

Fire at Old Stone Church Closes Rt. 9

Koerner Wright Memorial Rededicated

Koerner Wright Memorial Redicated ﻿

Ukraine Aid 2022

Town Donates $20,000 Proceeds from Ukraine Aid Concert

Hillsboro and Bürgermeister Vance featured on German national news broadcast

Hillsboro and Bürgermeister Vance featured on German national news broadcast

Lunch served up at Stoneybrook Farm Market

This is a subtitle for your new post

Koerner Wright Memorial Redicated