Events: PWCo Historic Preservation Programs (June 2022)

 

Historic Preservation Spotlight

Dumfries Slave and Free African American Cemetery

Nestled in a clump of trees beside the Dumfries Public Cemetery is another important burial site, the Dumfries Slave and Free African American Cemetery. The cemetery will officially be recognized with a Historical Commission marker on Juneteenth, and its placement will mark over a decade of local citizens’ efforts to both protect and preserve the site.   Oral tradition has long held that there were burials in this area, and in 2009 Prince William County Schools (PWCS), who owns the property, commissioned Thunderbird Archaeology, Inc. to conduct a survey, with the goal of finding the outside borders of the cemetery. This survey discovered many graves, and based on these findings as well as the efforts of local preservation advocates, PWCS agreed to fence the area. Numerous community organizations then banded together to clean up and restore the cemetery, and in 2018, the Friends of the Dumfries Slave Cemetery (FODSC) was formed as non-profit organization to formally “preserve, maintain, and restore the slave cemetery.” The President of FODSC, Norma Fields, noted that the goal of this organization is to preserve the cemetery as “a place of reflection to think about the sacrifices that have been made, giving them a dignity in death that they were denied in life.”   The Dumfries Slave and Free African American Cemetery is on Prince William County’s African American History Tour: https://www.visitpwc.com/listing/dumfries-african-american-cemetery/1953/

View Spring Historic Perspectives Newsletter Spring 2022 Contents: Brentsville Celebrates 200th Anniversary This Year Collections Corner Image Spotlight History Corner Volunteer Week HPD News Foundation Update

June Program Highlights

Visit Prince William County Historic Preservation website for updates regarding hours of operation and upcoming programs.

Ben Lomond Historic Site, Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre and Rippon Lodge Historic Site are open for tours Friday-Monday at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.  We continue to evaluate operating schedules in light of the impacts of COVID-19. As such, patrons who are unvaccinated or not fully-vaccinated are recommended to wear masks. If you have or recently had fever, cough, or shortness of breath please make the decision to stay home. Prince William County Parks, Recreation & Tourism along with the Office of Historic Preservation's COVID-19 Operating Information. Grounds are open from dawn until dusk.

June 1 Wednesday Walk at Bristoe Station Battlefield: Farm Fields to Native Meadows 7 p.m.; Free, donations encouraged Many times, when walking through fields and even timbered areas, the vegetation you see can help tell the story of bygone days if one looks hard enough and is able to recognize plant growth patterns. This walk will look at some of the fields and trails at Bristoe Station Battlefield and learn to identify the clues presented by the flora at Bristoe Station. Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park Bristow, VA Parking lot is located off Iron Brigade Unit Ave. (703) 366-3049

June 4 Rippon Lodge Game Day 12 p.m. - 2 p.m., $5 per person, ages 7 and older. Shall we play a game? Come experience one of the many period activities the Blackburn’s would have to entertain guests. Shut the Box is a dice and math game played with two to four individuals. Groups are encouraged to join the fun while playing this popular parlor and tavern game.  Space is limited. Additional Information and Registration Rippon Lodge Historic Site, 15520 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge, VA 22192, 703-499-9812

June 6 Museum Kids Monday! 10 a.m. -11 a.m.; $5 per child, ages 5-9 and under.  Bring your child to Brentsville Courthouse this summer to explore history through sight, sound, smell, and touch through hands-on activities and crafts! Topics will vary each month and include subjects such as farming, archaeology, or 19th century toys. Adult must be able to participate with children. Reservations are not required. Additional Information and Registration Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, 12229 Bristow, Road, Bristow, VA 20136 703-365-7895

June 17 Walking Tour of Historic Prince William Towns: Cabin Branch 7 p.m.; FREE; donations welcome. Join local historians once a month this summer for a special walking tour of historic towns in Prince William County. For June, visit the historic Cabin Branch mine and its historic community today located in Prince William Forest Park. This joint tour with the National Park Service will depart from Parking Area D on the Scenic Drive in Prince William Forrest Park. Please dress appropriately and bring water. This hike is considered in place to be moderately difficult and will be approximately two miles. Call 703-365-7895 for more information Additional Information and Registration Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine

June 18 Juneteenth at Lucasville 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.; FREE, donations welcome.  Join us at Lucasville in honor of Juneteenth to learn about the celebration marking the emancipation of enslaved African Americans throughout the South. Visit the one-room schoolhouse to learn about the development of freedmen communities throughout Prince William County and the progression of education throughout Prince William County throughout Reconstruction and the Jim Crow Era. Additional Information and Registration Lucasville School 10516 Godwin Dr. Manassas, VA 703-365-7895

June 18 Life of the Civil War Soldier: Food, Clothing and Shelter Life of the Civil War Soldier: Food, Clothing, and Shelter 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.; $5 per person  Civil War Soldiers spent more time in Camp than any other activity. Come to Bristoe Station Battlefield and see the types of tentage used by both armies during the war. Help prepare and taste some of the Campaign foods soldiers made to keep from being bland. See and feel the types of cloth and uniforms worn by soldiers on campaign during the Civil War. Wear appropriate clothing and closed toed shoes for this activity.  Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park. The parking lot is located off Iron Brigade Unit Ave., Bristow, VA 703-366-3049 Additional Information and Registration

June 18-19 Father's Day Tours 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.; $5.00 per person, Free for children under 6 and for Fathers. Does your Dad enjoy military history, learning about historic construction and preservation, or the great outdoors, then your Dad to a tour of Prince William County’s Historic Sites! All fathers that visit during the Father’s Day weekend will receive a complimentary tour at Ben Lomond Historic Site, Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, and Rippon Lodge Historic Site all weekend long. Tours are available at 11 a.m.; 1 p.m. & 3 p.m. For more information, call Prince William Office of Historic Preservation at 703-792-4754. Ben Lomond Historic Site 10321 Sudley Manor Dr. Manassas, VA 703-367-7872 Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre 12229 Bristow Road Bristow, VA 703-365-7895 Rippon Lodge Historic Site 15520 Blackburn Road Woodbridge, VA 703-499-9812

June 20 Museum Kids Monday!: Make Your Own Flag 10 a.m. -11 a.m.; $5 per child, ages 5-9  Learn about the historical importance of flags and then make your own to take home with you. Adults must be able to participate with children. Reservations are not required.  Additional Information and Registration Ben Lomond Historic Site 10321 Sudley Manor Dr. Manassas, VA 703-367-7872

June 25 Freedom to the Free: The Freedmen’s Bureau at Brentsville 11am, 1pm, 3pm; $5 admission, free for children under 6 Following the Civil War, with the 13th Amendment and 14th Amendment the nation was faced with a crisis. While the law had ended slavery, it provided no support for the millions of African Americans now left facing a difficult future. Visit Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre for special tours in honor of Juneteenth to learn more about how they made new lives with help from the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Additional Information and Registration Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre 12229 Bristow, Road Bristow, VA. 703-365-7895

June 27 Museum Kids Monday!: Rippon Lodge Birds 10 a.m. -11 a.m.; $5 per person  Bring your toddler to explore history through sight, sound, smell, and touch. Programs include outdoor and indoor activities. Adults must be able to participate with children.  Additional Information and Registration Rippon Lodge Historic Site 15520 Blackburn Road Woodbridge, VA 703-499-9812

June 27 - July 1 Virginia History Camp 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.; $130 per participant ages 8-13 Virginia has a rich and exciting history and we want to explore it! Experience the history of Virginia through Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre from the Native Americans, who were the first to live here, through the 20th century, the era of our parents and grandparents. Each day, campers will participate in hands-on activities and crafts that will allow them to experience how Virginia changed through time.  Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre 12229 Bristow Road Bristow, VA 703-365-7895 Additional Information and Registration

June 27 - July 1 Ben Lomond in the 19th Century 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., $100 per child ages 8-13, advanced registration required.  Living at Ben Lomond was much different in the past than today. Farmers worked to produce the food they ate, used tools around the farm, cooked food on open fires or hearths, learned basic sewing techniques, and played games and forms of entertainment to occupy their time. Experience life on a farm in the 19th century. Registration for this camp can be completed online at www.pwcparks.org or by calling 703-367-7872.  Ben Lomond Historic Site 10321 Sudley Manor Dr. Manassas, VA 703-367-7872 Additional Information and Registration

June 28 - July 1 Along the Water-The Native People of the Potomac  Tuesday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., $100 per child, ages 9-12 This four-day camp will explore the life of the indigenous peoples who once called the Potomac River and Neabsco Creek their home. Experience and learn about food, farming, life along the water’s edge, and the diverse cultural beauty of the First People of the region. Children should bring their own snacks, lunch, and beverages. Space is limited. Advanced registration at www.pwcparks.org/historicprograms Rippon Lodge Historic Site 15520 Blackburn Road Woodbridge, VA 22192 703-499-9812  Additional Information and Registration

Spring - Summer 2022 Spring LEISURE 2022, your online guide to recreation, fun, fitness & history in Prince William County. Discover recreation programs including Stargazing Nights, A Brentsville Bicentennial Court Day Celebration, The World of 1822 Tours, Sheep Shearing and LOTS MORE! View Leisure Online