For Immediate Release                        

 Contact:  Nancy Doane, Executive Director, 540-882-3018

Construction of the Waterford Old School Auditorium

To Begin July 1

WATERFORD, VIRGINIA, April 19, 2011--The Waterford Foundation announced today that construction will begin on July 1, 2011 on the new Waterford Old School auditorium.

"None of us who stood in the yard of the Old School on that cold January day in 2007 will ever forget the sight of the fire that damaged the Old School and destroyed the auditorium," said Bonnie Getty, president of the Waterford Foundation. "It has been a long four years of fundraising and planning, but I am thrilled to announce that last night the Board of Directors voted unanimously to move forward with the rebuilding of the Old School auditorium." 

Recognizing the loss to the community of their beloved Old School, the Foundation Board of Directors immediately vowed to rebuild the Old School and the auditorium in a way that is "respectful of its history and its place in the community." Fundraising; insurance negotiations; planning; and community, state, and local approvals led to the restoration and reopening of the 1910 classroom building on January 25, 2009, two years after the fire and at a cost of $518,500.

Meanwhile, as the Old School auditorium went through its own design development and review, the Foundation launched the Raise the Roof of the Old School capital campaign to raise additional funds needed for the new auditorium. Four years later, generous donations and pledges, grants, and corporate and funding support from the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors have brought the capital campaign to a level where the Foundation can confidently begin construction of the auditorium. Total costs for constructing the auditorium will be about $1,860,000. 

President Getty says: "Taking this step will involve risks and challenges. But we have already met many challenges with the design, the approval process, and fundraising in a tough economy. With the cash in the Old School account, pledges, grants, and funds from the sale of one of our historic buildings, we will have funding of approximately $1.485 million when we break ground on July 1. To cover the additional $375,000 in costs, we will use additional fundraising and a small loan. The more money we raise, the less we will need to borrow."  A purchase agreement for the Tin Shop, recently protected by an updated restrictive easement, has been executed with the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership, a collaborative nonprofit organization headquartered in Waterford.    

The Waterford Foundation, Inc., founded in 1943, is dedicated to preserving the historic buildings and open spaces of the National Historic Landmark District of Waterford, Virginia. The Waterford Foundation strives to increase public knowledge of life and work in an early American rural community through education. The Waterford Foundation is supported through grants, donor contributions, and proceeds from the annual Waterford Homes Tour and Crafts Exhibit.  

For further information, contact the Waterford Foundation at 540-882-3018 or consult our website, www.waterfordfoundation.org.

P.O. Box 142, Waterford, Virginia 20197