It was 1975 when PHW's Revolving Fund made its first purchase at 311 South Loudoun Street. What appeared to be a Victorian frame residence was hiding an 18th century log house. The building was in danger of demolition for an expansion of the Salvation Army. Through many negotiations, PHW was able to purchase the property. PHW members began the grunt work of clearing out trash and even undertook some demolition work to remove the Victorian façade and uncover the log building beneath. While demolishing a substantial, contributing portion of a building today would be unacceptable, it was deemed a “necessary sacrifice” at the time to shock Winchester’s residents into realizing the age and history of the local buildings.

The log house uncovered at 311 South Loudoun Street was built by Simon Lauck circa 1790. Simon Lauck was a gunsmith who is now somewhat famous for his flintlock rifles in the antique market. Simon was the younger brother of Peter Lauck, who is perhaps best known in Winchester for building the Red Lion Tavern on the corner of Loudoun and Cork Streets. Both brothers marched with Daniel Morgan to Boston in 1775 during the Revolutionary War. Simon became Morgan’s aide-de-camp and remained with Morgan throughout the war, acting as an interpreter for Hessian soldiers. He returned to Winchester after the war and made his home at 311 South Loudoun Street, eventually doubling the size of the original house, and, later, adding a third story, to accommodate his growing family. His gunsmith shop was most likely located in a rear addition. The house boasts large, well preserved oak timbers, handwrought hinges, and an interesting dual fireplace. Several artifacts were uncovered around the house by the Department of Historic Resources during site excavations at the Fern Adams building at 303 and 307 South Loudoun Street (once part of Simon Lauck’s original landholdings.) The artifacts included brass buttons, pottery shards (both pre– and post-Civil War,) and a gun barrel.

Simon Lauck’s house is now in use as the offices of the Northern Virginia Travel Services.