When we envision Liberty Town today, we think of the vibrant Liberty Town Arts Workshop. Many people are unaware that the namesake of this workshop is one of Fredericksburg's earliest suburbs. Platted in 1812 and part of Spotsylvania County, Liberty Town was an irregular arrangement of 32 lots bounded to the north by what is today William Street, Hurkamp Park (then known as the Corporation Burying Grounds) to the east, an alley between George and Hanover Street (which became known as Freedom Alley) to the south and the grounds where today stands Maury Commons Condominiums to the west. In 1851 this area was incorporated into the Town of Fredericksburg which then had a population of 5,000. It is interesting that this area had four cemeteries located within its boundaries, although none exist today. Liberty Town was an original mixed-use development as small owner-run enterprises were side by side with residential housing. You still see that mixed-use concept today.

Liberty Town Arts Workshop is housed in what many locals remember as the plumbing shop of Fredericksburg Hardware. It is home to many working artists who not only paint but do weaving, pottery and woodworking. Classes are also taught. This workshop is the brain child of local renowned potter, Dan Finnegan. Dan arrived in Fredericksburg in 1980 and never left. His pottery is coveted and is collected worldwide. 

Frank Stearns was an architect and builder in the Fredericksburg area from the late 1800's until his death in 1932. He was the son of a Union soldier, Doran Stearns, and Fredericksburg resident Emeline Gilham. Frank married Betty Lewis in 1890. They were the parents of six daughters: Corinne, Adele, Alice, Helen, Elizabeth, and Emeline.  All six daughters were well educated and had careers in nursing or teaching. The family lived in a beautiful home on William Street in Fredericksburg. This home is now the location of Jan Williams Florals.

Late in February 1913, Frank and Bettie Stearns's dog, Nep, was trotting happily across the campus of Fredericksburg Normal School (now the University of Mary Washington).  What happened next and what caused Nep to lose his temper will never be known.  What we do know is that Nep bit Algernon Chandler who was a professor of Latin at the school.  Professor Chandler called the police and the mayor.  They recognized the dog as belonging to the Stearns family and advised Professor Chandler that considering who the dog belonged to they would be willing to dismiss the case and let Nep go home.  Professor Chandler, however, was not as willing to let it go.  He contacted his doctor who advised him that the only safe thing to do would be to have Nep put to sleep.  Frank Stearns negotiated with Professor Chandler, the police and the mayor and was told that if the veterinarian would give Nep a clean bill of health, the dog could be set free.  Nep was given a clean bill of health, but the injured party would not drop the case.  Nep was taken back to the veterinarian and given a lethal dose of chloroform.  The police officers who had worked on the case were so saddened by these events that they took a box to the vet's office, placed Nep's body inside and delivered it to the Stearns's home on William Street for burial.  This was reported to the Stearns's eldest daughter, Corinne, who was at Goucher College in Baltimore, in a letter dated 15 March 1913. This letter can be found in the Heritage Center's collection as number 1998-001-001-002-015.