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Hillsboro Farm Marks 250 Years In Family’s Ownership Margaret Morton
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aura WalshCopeland and Patric Copeland and their children have a rich piece of family history to celebrate this weekend. They are marking the sestercentennial—the 250th anniversary—of owning the Copeland Homestead Farm. The honey-colored stone farmhouse sits on 115 acres just south of Hillsboro. That’s quite an achievement, and one of which the Copeland parents and their children, Sean, Jameson and Caitleen, are very proud. The three are the great-great-greatgreat-grandchildren of David and Deborah Copeland, who built the original stone house in 1765. The family shares this heritage with more than 1,000 Copeland descendants spread throughout the country, many of whom come to visit the property. Patric Copeland is the seventh generation of his family to own the farm. The property has a colorful history. George Washington surveyed there, including what is now the western boundary of the farm on the northeast side of Short Hill Mountain.
According to a history compiled by Maura, the original farmhouse was expanded with a two-story addition by Revolutionary War soldier James Copeland in 1803. The property also has a stone spring house, stone meat house and barn. James Copeland and his brothers after the Revolutionary War used to gather with other former soldiers each Fourth of July on the farm for barbecues. The depression of the old fire pit can still be seen today. Like so many farms during the Civil War, the Copelands were left by marauding Union forces with only “one chicken, one cow and one old rooster.” And it was the heroic actions of 17-year-old Melissa Copeland that saved the barn from being burned during “the Burning Raids” in 1864. The farm ownership became divided among children, including Dr. James Edward Copeland, who went on to become a well-respected doctor in Round Hill. When he died in 1937, he was believed to be the last surviving Confederate soldier in the county. It was his sister, Melissa, who in her will in 1905 requested that her brother Craven Presley pass on her share to any member of the family who would most appreciate the “old Homestead” for its having
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From left, Patric Copeland, Caitleen, Jameson, Sean, and Maura Walsh-Copeland on the steps of their family’s Copeland Homestead Farm.
been handed down generation after generation in the Copeland family and to one who would live on the place and keep it up. In 1940, Maria Copeland returned to make her home there.
Fast forward to current owner Patric Copeland. Before his father, Edward Virgil, died in 2002, the coowners granted a permanent conservation easement to The Land Trust of
Continued on Next Page
Hamilton Council To Buy Former Firehouse Margaret Morton
mmorton@leesburgtoday.com
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Virginia. Patric did not live at the farm, even in childhood, but he recalled visiting on weekends, including one time at age 12,
Leesburg Today/Norman K. Styery
The Town of Hamilton has agreed to purchase the former Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department building and neighboring house. The Town Office is at right.
TownBriefs
• The Waterford Concert Series is bringing one of the world’s most noted pianists, Angela Hewitt, to the village Sunday, Oct. 25. This will be the fourth concert of the Waterford 2015 series, now in its 21st season. The 4 p.m. concert is sponsored by the Betty McGowin Charitable Trust. Hewitt performs all over the world, either in solo recitals or with major orchestras and chamber groups. Earlier this month, she performed solo at London’s Royal Festival Hall. After Waterford, Hewitt is on to a dizzying schedule that includes performances in New York, Aberdeen, Scotland, Vienna, Rome, Istanbul, New Orleans
and Shanghai. Noted for her performances of Bach’s music, her repertoire is wide reaching— from Baroque to contemporary. Her Waterford concert will include music by Scarlatti, J.S. Bach, Beethoven, Albeniz and DeFalla. For the full program and tickets, go to waterfordfoundation.org. Early ticket purchase is recommended because seating is limited. Single tickets, also available by calling 540-882-3018 Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., are $40 for adults or $30 for students. • Catoctin Presbyterian Church will hold an apple butter fundraiser this weekend to celebrate its 250th anniversary next month. Visitors to the Art Harvest festival throughout Waterford are invited to stop by the church at 15565 High Street to watch the traditional apple
he Town of Hamilton has agreed to terms on the $700,00 purchase of the former Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department building. The property includes several parcels, including open land at the back of both the Town Office and the firehouse, with extensive space for parking in between the two buildings and a house. Hamilton Mayor Dave Simpson said the council’s main objective was to provide more parking for the town’s office, but the property holds a lot of options for the future, including the possibly of moving the office operations to the building, turning the current office into a town
hall, and developing more public parking. The town had been eyeing the property ever since it came on the market several months ago. “We had no parking, and that is one of the main reasons we wanted it,” Town Finance Committee Chairman John Unger said. Councilman Craig Green agreed, noting there is quite a bit of land behind the two buildings, which could provide more parking areas. “There are a number of options,” he said. The council had set aside excess cash, but closing on the property will have to wait until the council amends its budget to accommodate the $700,000 purchase, Simpson said. Discussion is likely when the council meets Monday. “We need a bit more to write the check,” Simpson said. n
butter making, and take home some of the delicious goody—$5 a jar. For more information, call 540-882-3058.
informal name of “The Vault Building.” Valley Energy owner Bill Murphy bought the landmark brick structure in 1997.
• Purcellville residents, customers and business associates gathered Oct. 10 to celebrate the centennial of Valley Energy’s distinctive yellow brick building at 115 E. Main St. The structure was built 100 Purcellville years ago as the Purcellville National Bank, to replace a PNB building across the street (the site of today’s Catoctin Creek Distillery) that burned down leaving only the bank vault. When the bank was rebuilt the vault was moved to the new location and the bank built to replicate its design—hence its
• One of Purcellville’s best-known residents was commended by the county supervisors last week. During its Oct. 7 business meeting, on a motion by Supervisor Janet Clarke (R-Blue Ridge), the Board of Supervisors honored artist Betty Hammers Wiley for more than 50 years of service to the community. The wife of former councilman and retired dentist Jim ‘Doc” Wiley, Betty Hammers Wiley created a “legacy of civic involvement,” according to the supervisors’ resolution. Her service included a presidency of the Loudoun Junior Woman’s Club, and participation in founding the Blue