Waterford Foundation Newsletter
Important News
 December 7, 2007
Changes in Staff

We bid a fond farewell to two long-time members of the Foundation staff. 
      Kitty Rose, who has worked in support of the
Fair for 11 years, has chosen a new line of endeavor -- retirement.  However, with her busy plans to travel with her husband Paul to the many corners of the globe and to work actively on the restoration of their properties in the village, she'll be anything but idle! 
     And we are also sad to lose Jennifer Moore, who first joined the Foundation fresh from Mary Washington University in 2003. She has resigned as our executive assistant, but you'll still see Jennifer's smiling face. She hasn't gone far -- just across Main Street to join our good neighbor, Journey Through Hallowed Ground. 
     We will shortly be posting job descriptions for these  vacancies, so please be on the lookout. 
     Meanwhile, let us all extend a hearty welcome to Martha Polkey, who has stepped in to help us out and has made this transition amazingly smooth. 

Waterford Foundation, Inc.


P.O. Box 142
Waterford, VA 20197

District Designation Affirmed

It's my great pleasure to announce that on December 5 the Virginia Board of Historic Resources unanimously rejected Milari Madison's petition and appeal to remove the Waterford Historic District from the Virginia Landmarks Register. This follows the National Park Service's rejection in August of a similar petition to dedesignate Waterford as a National Historic Landmark District. 

      Before taking their final vote, members of the Virginia Board cited Waterford as being remarkably intact and as a true example of what historic preservation is all about. The Board commended the activities of the Waterford Foundation as an integral part of the Landmark's history. And once again, many members expressed sincere regret over the needless loss of the Lizzie Simms house and the history it represented. One member went so far as to express his skepticism of claims that the house was beyond repair.  To use his words, "When there is a will to restore, a building is never beyond recovery." 

      We want to thank all our supporters who have rallied around the Waterford Foundation to fight these petitions. Together we stand strong in protecting our landmark.

      We do hope you will be generous in your response to our annual appeal. 

Kathleen

Kathleen P.  Hughes, President
Waterford Foundation, Inc.

Old School Update Coming

Within two weeks we will have a full update on the rebuilding of the Old School, including a preliminary architectural rendering and construction schedule. We will be sure to pass this information along just as soon as possible. It's really getting exciting. 

     We know you'll be as enthusiastic as we are about plans for the Old School and hope you'll help us make them a reality.

 
 The west side of the Old School before the fire.

PRESS RELEASE

Below is the release sent out by the Foundation following the Board of Historic Resources decision. 

WATERFORD, VIRGINIA, December 5, 2007 -- The Waterford Foundation announced that the Virginia Board of Historic Resources today unanimously rejected a petition to delist the Waterford Historic District from the Virginia Landmarks Register.

       "It was very moving to hear the Board's affirmation of the integrity of the Waterford Historic District," said Kathleen Hughes, President of the Waterford Foundation. "I shared the sincere regret they expressed at the loss of the Lizzy Simms house as a wonderful home for children to grow up in." Ms. Milari Madison, who presented the petition to delist the district, had the Simms house, which she owned, razed in December 2006.

      "This decision strengthens our will to continue the fight to protect our landmark," Hughes said.

      The decision follows VDHR's May 2007 denial of a petition by Ms. Madison to delist the district. In that ruling the VDHR Architectural Evaluation Committee affirmed that the district met the eligibility requirements, and that the village and district remain "remarkably intact." Further, it noted that "Waterford  . . . is one of the finest and most intact village historic districts on the Virginia Landmarks Register." The village received its designation in 1969.

      Ms. Madison appealed the determination in June, and the Virginia Board of Historic Resources held a special meeting in Waterford on November 15, 2007, at which it reviewed the petition, listened to presentations, and took public comment. More than 70 people attended the meeting, with 30 speakers opposing Madison's petition to delist, and none supporting it.

      In August of this year the National Park Service rejected Ms. Madison's petition to dedesignate the Waterford National Historic Landmark, stating that "[W]e wish to state that, far from warranting dedesignation, Waterford possesses a commendable degree of integrity. We wish to commend the Waterford foundation on its heroic and sustained efforts of the past 70 years in promoting good stewardship and to commend the many caring property owners who have so lovingly managed their land and buildings."