Preservation of Historic Winchester, Inc. (PHW) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history and architecture of Winchester, Virginia. Our office is located in the unique and historic Hexagon House (c. 1874) on Amherst Street.
In addition to providing preservation guidance, PHW monitors approximately 80 properties bought and resold by the Jennings Revolving Fund, sponsors educational lectures, and hosts special membership events throughout the year. Our signature fundraising activity is the Holiday House Tour, held the first weekend of December. For more information on any of PHW's activities, you may call (540) 667-3577 or e-mail phwi@verizon.net.
Northern Shenandoah Valley Branch Quarterly Meeting
Please note: The quarterly meeting has been postponed because of the snow. Information will be posted concerning the new time when it becomes available.
The Northern Shenandoah Valley Branch of Preservation Virginia will hold its next quarterly meeting on Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at the historic Springsbury Farm in Clarke County, Virginia. Free and open to the public, the meeting will offer a rare opportunity to tour this historic former plantation along the Shenandoah River. Following a short business meeting, Barbara Shea, president of Casey Trees Farm, will provide a tour of the property and light refreshments will be served.
Directions to Springsbury Farm from downtown Berryville: Take East Main Street to John Enders Boulevard. Turn right onto John Enders Boulevard. Turn left onto Springsbury Farm Road. Continue on Springsbury Farm Road to its end at Springsbury Lane. Go down the hill. The Trooper House, where the meeting will take place, will be on the left, before the barns. Address: 543 Springsbury Lane, Berryville.
Charles Broadway Rouss Day will be celebrated this year on February 13. In the case of inclement weather, the events will be rescheduled for February 20.
Events include:
11:00am- Rouss City Hall, 15 N. Cameron St, 4th floor Exhibit Hall (former City Hall Auditorium), "Illustrated History of Rouss City Hall" presentation by Tim Youmans
Noon - Guided tour of Rouss City Hall (begin at Rouss Statue in the Main Foyer)
12:50pm- Lunch downtown (on your own)- Ask for restaurants featuring Rouss Day specials.
1:00pm-3:00pm- Charley Rouss Fire Company, 3 S. Braddock St, Open House, including view of upper floor where annual Rouss banquets were held
3:00pm- Mt Hebron Cemetery Chapel (in the Gatehouse), 305 E. Boscawen St- Brief Q&A about the Rouss' contribution to the Cemetery by Will Johnston
3:30pm- Rouss Family Mausoleum open for viewing, Mt Hebron Cemetery, 305 E. Boscawen St- Mayor Minor and reps from Mt Hebron, Rouss Fire Company, WMC, and WFCHS invited for Wreath Laying
Also consider . . .
10am-5pm- The Handley Library, 100 W. Piccadilly St- View Rouss items on display in Handley Archives show case (Exhibit runs during normal business hours Feb. 8th-19th).
Anytime- View Rouss Spring behind the Winchester-Frederick County Visitor Center at 1400 S. Pleasant Valley Rd. (Visitor Center is open 9am-5pm)
The Holiday House Tour Preview Party will proceed tonight 6-9 PM, regardless of the snow. Please remember to dress for the weather and watch your step! As a reminder, ticket holders for the Preview Party may also use their tickets to visit the houses on Sunday during the Daylight Tour.
If you need Preview Party tickets, a limited number are available at the Bough and Dough Shop at 124 W. Boscawen Street and the other ticket sale locations.
Time is ticking away -- but you can still purchase your advance tickets at any of the ticket sale locations. We hope to see you on West Clifford Street this weekend!
PHW is pleased to announce the houses for the 2009 Holiday House Tour, Clifford Street: Aglow for the Holidays.
309 South Stewart Street, home of George and Margie Sheppard 309 West Clifford Street, home of Richard and Melanie Lewis 403 West Clifford Street, home of Bob and Lynne Caldwell 415 West Clifford Street, home of John and Elizabeth Quinn 419 West Clifford Street, home of Gregory and Steffany Plotts 124 West Boscawen Street, the Frances Barton Event Center, owned by Tom and Christina Chasler
Much like the 2008 tour on Amherst Street, the majority of the homes are within easy walking distance. As an added perk, it has been many years since PHW visited West Clifford Street, and several homes have never been included on a Holiday House Tour before.
Advance tickets are on sale now at the following locations: Kimberly's (135 N. Braddock St.) Celebrate! (1 S. Cameron St.) Winchester Book Gallery (185 N. Loudoun St.) The Country Store (1488 Senseny Road) The Final Yard (33 E. Gerrard St.) PHW Office (Hexagon House, 530 Amherst St.)
Preview Party tickets are $35 for current PHW members, $50 for individuals, and $80 for couples. Please visit the PHW Office to receive the discount for PHW members.
Daylight Tour adult tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Children 12 and under $6. Children under 6 are free.
The PHW Office will have special hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, November 23 to December 4 for Holiday House Tour ticket sales.
The Holiday House Tour volume of PHW's Newsletter is available online now. Click here to read a copy in PDF format.
Information on the House Tour, including ticket sale locations and a ticket order form, may be printed from this newsletter. Tickets for the tour will be available at the ticket sale locations later this week!
PHW's 33rd annual Holiday House Tour is just around the corner! Mark your calendars for December 5 for the Preview Party and Candlelight Tour and December 6 for the Daylight tour. It's a neighborhood celebration on West Clifford Street. We'd love to see you there!
Tickets for the event will be available the week of November 16. Check back for more information on ticket sale locations and the tour houses soon.
Newtown History Center is celebrating annual Founder's Day on October 24 with expanded Civil War walking tours and refreshments on the sun porch of the museum from 10 AM to 4 PM. Tours are $5 per adult; children under 16 are free.
Please join us for the next general membership meeting of the Northern Shenandoah Valley (NSV) Branch of Preservation Virginia. We will be meeting on Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at the historic Andrew Zirkle Mill in Forestville, Virginia. The meeting offers a rare opportunity to see this historic grist mill which is not normally available for tours.
Estimated to have been built in the 1760s by Andrew Zirkle and his brothers, the Zirkle Mill was in operation for more than 180 years, until the late 1940s, and retains much of its original machinery. The mill was not burned during the Civil War, as were most commercial buildings of the era, probably due to its location and the lack of visibility from the main road. The mill is currently under restoration. For more information, visit www.historiczirklemill.org.
Following the meeting, light refreshments will be served and mill owner (and NSV Branch Shenandoah County Trustee) Rob Andrews will conduct tours of the mill building. If you plan to attend the meeting, please dress appropriately for touring the mill building (sturdy shoes!) and, if possible, bring a chair. For more information about the meeting, contact Bob Stieg at 540-837-2790 or Rob Andrews at 540-465-8809.
Directions to the mill from southbound I-81: Take exit 273 (Mount Jackson). At the bottom of the off-ramp, turn right onto Mount Jackson Road. Turn left onto South Middle Road (there is a stop sign at this intersection) and continue to the town of Forestville (about 5 miles). Turn left onto Route 767 (Quicksburg Road). The mill is located on the right, 1/8 mile. Parking lot is across the road, by the historic marker.
Mike Foreman, Board President of Mt. Hebron Cemetery, is providing a tour of Mt. Hebron along with Donald Shade, Supervisor. The tour is planned for Wednesday, Sept. 9th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The tour is free and open to the public. Meet at the chapel at the entrance to Mt. Hebron located at the end of Boscawen Street near the offices to the Winchester Star.
From the famous to the also very interesting not so famous people who are laid to rest at Mt. Hebron - you will gain a true perspective of local and regional history. Did you know that General Patton's grandfather and great uncle are buried at Mt. Hebron. And of course - Daniel Morgan.
Interested in horticulture and trees? There is quite a collection at Mt. Hebron.
The Rouss Mausoleum will be open. Few have seen the interior of this structure and will discover a beautiful Tiffany window there - really remarkable!
Winchester, Stephens City, and Middletown are all offering guided walking Civil War tours from June through October. Click here for the brochure! Reservations are required, and tours cost $5 per person.
Old Town Winchester Tours 1st Fridays, 6:00pm 2nd Saturdays, 10:00am For reservations call 540-542-1326 Meet your guide at the Kurtz Building, 2 N. Cameron St.
Stephens City Tours 4th Saturdays, 10:30am For reservations call 540-869-1700 Meet your guide at the Newtown History Center, 5408 Main St.
Middletown Tours 3rd Saturdays, 11:00am For reservations call 540-869-6998 Meet your guide at the Farmers' Market, 2325 First St.
They're back! Guided Civil War tours will be offered on First Fridays in downtown Winchester from June through October. The tours will begin at 6 pm and guides will meet in front of the Kurtz Building at 2 N. Cameron Street. Reservations are required and should be made in advance by calling 540-542-1326. The fee is $5 per person.
Join us for a tour of the Lovett Building (163-165 North Loudoun Street) on May 9 from 2 to 4 PM as part of PHW's celebration of National Preservation Month. See the beginning phases of this historic tax credit rehabilitation project; subsequent tours will follow the progress of the building. There is no admission cost to this event, but donations will be accepted at the door.
Advance tickets are on sale now at the following locations: