News from the Lovettsville Historical Society

January 2022 Issue

John G. Lewis Memorial Bridge Rehabilitation:

Preserving a Loudoun County
Historical Landmark

By Clare Matheny

If you have driven on Milltown Road, Taylorstown Road, or Loyalty Road, in the past year, you have seen the detour signs for Featherbed Lane. Since early 2021, Featherbed Lane has been closed to through traffic. This is a long time for an existing gravel road to be under construction, so why is the closure so important?

The John G. Lewis Memorial Bridge is a steel truss bridge, originally built in 1889, that has spanned the Catoctin Creek since 1932. The bridge is one of the last of its kind, and until recently it still carried an average of 60 cars per day on the single-lane wooden pier. For years, the structural stability of this historical landmark was in question, and in February 2017 preliminary engineering work on the bridge began. This five-year, 5.6-million-dollar project is set to be completed in Spring of 2022.[1]

The plan is to install the existing truss above a new steel beam and timber deck bridge, add a new bridge pier, and upgrade the bridge railings. On April 9, 2021, a Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crew lifted the bridge off its foundation and set it to the side to be repaired. A video was tweeted on bridge lift day by VDOT Northern VA that shows and explains the process.

But how did a bridge constructed in 1889, end up over the Catoctin Creek in 1932?

The 2021/22 edition of the Bulletin of Loudoun County History is now available, The cover photo is of the July 2021 Patriot Grave Marking at New Jerusalem Lutheran Church in Lovettsville. Articles include: (1) The W&OD Railroad and its predecessors, one of the greatest influences in the development of Northern Virginia and Loudoun County. (2) The Delegates of the 1883 Mass meeting in Leesburg, an effort by Blacks to assert their right to serve as jurors and election officials, (3) The history of Islam in Loudoun County, complete with examples of local Islamic art, (4) The importance of the horse and mule during the American Civil War, (5) Saddlery in Loudoun, an essay on a network of largely unknown artisans in the county's horse industry, (6) History of Quilting in Loudoun County from 1830 to the present day, (7) Preservation of home archives by one of the county's best known experts. The new issue is available on Amazon.com and various local locations, and will soon be at the Lovettsville Museum, where past issues are also available.

Nearby (virtual & in-person) events of interest:

EXHIBITS

Jan. 1 - 31, Thomas Balch Library Exhibit: “The Ashby's Gap Turnpike: A Journey Through History.” Presented by the Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area Association. For centuries, the road once known as the Ashby’s Gap Turnpike carried travelers and goods across the Loudoun Valley and over the Blue Ridge Mountains and into the Shenandoah Valley beyond. Untold numbers have traversed its path, from Native American hunters, Civil War armies, and enslaved workers, to modern day tourists and commuters. It represents a vital historical link to our regional past, tying together communities and people in three counties – Loudoun, Fauquier, and Clarke. This exhibit is a brief exploration of the road’s history, as well as a look at the modern preservation efforts along its route. This VPHA exhibit features photographs and artifacts of life along the Ashby's Gap Turnpike, and will be on display at the Thomas Balch Library in Leesburg from December 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022. Please visit https://www.leesburgva.gov/departments/thomas-balch-library for more information and for hours.

Jan. 15, 2022 until Jan. 2023 – “Contributions: African Americans in the Shenandoah Valley.” African Americans have contributed to the shaping of the Shenandoah Valley for more than 300 years and their influence can be found throughout the MSV Collection. With art, objects, and documents, “Contributions” tells the stories of those who endured enslavement, resisted oppression, and achieved success. More than 40 significant African Americans in the northern Shenandoah Valley’s history—from the 1700s to today—are highlighted in the exhibition. On view through January 16, 2023, “Contributions” will be updated with new discoveries, ongoing research, and community collaborations. Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, 901 Amherst St, Winchester, VA 22601

LECTURES, SEMINARS, TOURS & OTHER EVENTS:

Mon., Jan. 10, at 2:00 p.m. – “Loudoun Heights Revisited” (online presentation). Presented by the Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area. Early in the pre-dawn hours of January 10, 1864, Mosby's Rangers made a surprise attack on Union troops encamped on Loudoun Heights. In the confused melee that followed, the Union men put up a stout resistance and Mosby suffered one of his greatest setbacks of the war. Join us online as we revisit the sites associated with the clash at Loudoun Heights and discuss some of the personalities involved in the fight. This program will be available online at the VPHA Facebook Page as well as on our YouTube channel.

Wed, Jan. 19, at 7:00 p.m. – Webinar: The War for the Common Soldier: How Men Thought, Fought, and Survived in Civil War Armies. Dr. Peter Carmichael looks into the soldiers' own words to find common threads in their experiences and ways of understanding what was happening around them. He argues that a pragmatic philosophy of soldiering emerged, guiding members of the rank and file as they struggled to live with their violent and volatile world. Presented by the Army Heritage Center Foundation. Register here.

Wed., Jan. 26, at 7:00 p.m. – “The Ledger and The Chain: How Domestic Slave Traders Shaped America” (virtual program). Historian Joshua D. Rothman discusses his best-selling book about the brutal business of Alexandria slave traders Isaac Franklin, John Armfield, and Rice Ballard. The Franklin & Armfield slave- trading operation was the largest in our country’s history. Thousands of enslaved men, women, and children – many from Northern Virginia – were forced on a grueling march or boat passage to the deep south where they were sold in the domestic slave trade. Countless people died along the way. Presented by: Afro-American Historical Association of Fauquier County, Black History Committee of the Friends of the Thomas Balch Library, Donation in Memory of John B. Garner, Edwin Washington Project, and Syphax Pastfinders LLC For more information, visit https://www.aahafauquier.org/events-2

The mission of the Lovettsville Historical Society is to foster a sense of place and community by preserving, protecting, and educating about the history and heritage of Lovettsville and the  German Settlement.

   We achieve this by:
    1. Operating, maintaining, and expanding the Lovettsville Museum in order to acquire, display, and preserve artifacts, documents, and records which relate to our local history;
    2. Maintaining and operating a physical and online research library for use by historians, genealogists, and the public;
    3. Educating the public about Lovettsville area history through programs, printed and online resource materials, and events.

Members and volunteers needed

The success of our mission relies heavily upon our membership, which provides the needed resources and also committed volunteers who share our passion for local history. Please encourage your friends, family, and others to join the Lovettsville Historical Society (LHS), or renew their annual membership, to ensure our continued success in preserving and promoting our local heritage.

There are many opportunities for members and others to participate in supporting the Lovettsville Historical Society and also meet others who share in our passion for preserving and promoting our local history. This includes volunteering to help with the museum, fundraising, organizing events, website and social media, and publicizing our activities. We enjoy hosting special presentations for groups such as Scouts, school classes and tourists. Lastly, the donations of local historical artifacts such as family documents and pictures (or digital scans thereof), ensure that we can continue our efforts to expand our presentation of local genealogical information.

The Lovettsville Historical Society, Inc. is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization under the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions and membership dues are tax deductible under Internal Revenue Code Section 170. The Society has been deemed to be exempt from registration under the Commonwealth of Virginia's charitable solicitation law.

Archive of Back Issues

John G. Lewis Memorial Bridge Rehabilitation:

Preserving a Loudoun County Historical Landmark

Preserving a Loudoun County
Historical Landmark