May 2023

KRISTIN

DILLON-JOHNSON

REALTOR®

Licensed in VA

703.673.6920

kristin@ atokaproperties.com

kdjrealestate.com

ROCKY

WESTFALL

REALTOR®, GRI

Licensed in VA & WV

540.219.2633

rocky.westfall@ gmail.com

Professional

Experienced

Dependable

Local

ANNE MCINTOSH REALTOR®

Licensed in VA

703.509.4499 annewmcintosh@ gmail.com

MARIA ELDREDGE REALTOR®

Licensed in VA

540.454.3829 maria@middleburg realestate.com

mcintoshand eldredge.realtor

GREENE

Associate Broker, REALTOR®, SRES, SRS

Licensed in VA

UNISON RD | MIDDLEBURG, VA $3,750,000 3 BD | 3/1 BA | 3,769 SQFT | 51.54 AC | Good Home Farm features a 3br, 4ba custom home on 50+ acres and a 4-stall elite equestrian facility. Includes a 70x170 indoor riding arena, heated tack room, wash stall, grooming stall, feed room, 4-large paddocks w/ run-in sheds & automatic waters, and a farm shop. Piedmont Hunt territory with excellent ride out!

21232

|

$769,000

Fabulous one-level living with this stone and brick accented Craftsman style home built in 2018. Great open floor plan with high ceilings, gourmet kitchen, breakfast area, and sunny Florida room. Deck, patio, roomy 2-car garage, full unfinished basement. Excellent condition and move in ready.

For results like these rely on my 35+ years in the business. Buying or selling, give me an hour of your time.

You will not regret it!

540.364.9500 amg@ amgreenerealtor.com

amgreeneco.com

2912 SWIFT SHOALS RD | BOYCE, VA $595,000

3 BD | 2/1 BA | 1,800 SQFT | 2.1 AC | One of a kind rare find in Clarke County. Lovely landscaped lot with charming home south of route 50. Situated among larger parcels and farms in protected conservation easement. The Long Branch creek runs the length of the lot, adding character and beauty.

MARIA ELDREDGE REALTOR®

Licensed in VA

540.454.3829 maria@middleburg realestate.com

ANNE MCINTOSH REALTOR®

Licensed in VA 703.509.4499 annewmcintosh@ gmail.com

mcintoshand eldredge.realtor

128 ACRES KIRTLEY TRAIL | CULPEPER, VA

$925,000 LAND | 128.02 AC | A rare opportunity to purchase 128 acres just south of Culpeper. This land is graced with creeks, open pastures, mountain views and privacy. Access to the property is through two separate 50 feet right of ways on Kirtley Trail and Red Leaf.

Look

223 N BUCKMARSH ST | BERRYVILLE, VA $365,000

3 BD | 1/1 BA | Beautifully renovated three bedroom home in the center of Berryville. A local builder purchased the house and completely rebuilt it over the last year. This house is ready to go and is walkable to everything in Berryville. There are two separate off street parking areas.

ANNE MICHAEL

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Joanne Maisano

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PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: Nicky Marshok ON THE COVER

The team at Hamilton Mercantile could more accurately be described as a small business family which extends to their local suppliers and loyal customers as well. For more on the operation and why you should visit see page 10. Photo by Gracie Withers. ON THIS PAGE

Sage Devlin of Far Bungalow Farm picks fresh flowers for an everyday bouquet. For more on Devlin and the Leesburg farm turn to page 24. Photo by Gracie Withers.

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P.O. Box 328 | Middleburg, VA 20118-0328 540.687.5950 | info@middleburglife.com

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CONTRIBUTORS

Heidi Baumstark has been writing for several lifestyle magazines and newspaper publications since 2005, specializing in history-related articles highlighting Virginia’s Piedmont. She has been with Middleburg Life since 2014. Over the years, she has featured hundreds of businesses, leaders, residents, historical sights, lectures, heritage programs, and museums in her work. Heidi hopes to inspire readers to pause and consider the people, places, and events that have shaped the story of our local history.

Michael Butcher is the owner of Butcher Photography. Originally from Christchurch, New Zealand, he resides in Springfield, Virginia, with his family. For the past 15 years, Michael has specialized in portraiture, event, and editorial photography. When not behind the lens, he enjoys gardening and swimming.

Diane Helentjaris chose Loudoun as her “forever home” in 1990 after experiencing Ohio, Michigan, Montreal, San Francisco, and New Jersey. Following years as a clinical physician and public health administrator, she returned to her humanities roots. A finalist in the 2020 Icelandic Writers Retreat, her book “The Indenture of Ivy O’Neill” comes out in June. Diane also writes a monthly newsletter, The Silk Mill, which is dedicated to those in love with fabric in all its glory.

Lia Hobel is a freelance journalist, known in town for her blog, Uplift Loudoun, which she launched at the start of the pandemic to share uplifting stories. In addition to her work for Middleburg Life, Lia writes periodically for online platforms with articles appearing on GOBankingRates, Forbes, Huffington Post, and Yahoo! Lia began her career as a broadcast journalist, but left TV news when she moved to Leesburg, Virginia, with her family. She is a Loudoun 40 Under 40 honoree and a Certified Tourism Ambassador for the county.

Dulcy Hooper and her husband Richard moved to the country from Washington, D.C. nearly ten years ago. Shortly thereafter, both began writing occasional articles for Middleburg Life. Dogs are a big part of the Hoopers’ lives and several of Dulcy’s earlier articles focused on the couple’s Chinese crested powderpuffs!

Victoria Peace is a recent graduate of Georgetown University and holds a degree in French and Art History. On the weekends, she frequently visits her family in The Plains. In her free time, she enjoys playing polo with Twilight Polo Club, gardening, walking her family's dogs at Sky Meadows State Park, and visiting her retired horse, Taco. Her perfect “Hunt Country” day would include a stop at the local farmers market in The Plains, a trip to her favorite Middleburg antique stores, and a sunset trail ride in the Virginia countryside.

Also in this issue: Carlo Massimo

Callie Broaddus is a Warrenton native and graduate of the University of Virginia with a degree in Architecture. After seven years as a book designer at National Geographic Kids, Callie founded the nonprofit, Reserva: The Youth Land Trust, in 2019. Callie’s land preservation projects and focus on youth empowerment are aided by her talent for storytelling through her camera lens as a professional photographer. In her spare time, Callie enjoys Earl Grey tea, Harry Potter trivia, and dreaming of getting back into the jumper ring.

Lindsay Collins is a writer, editor, and photographer based in Warrenton. Her interests include conservation, recreation, public art and human interest stories. Prior to moving to Virginia, Lindsay attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she received a bachelor's degree in legal studies and political science. When she isn't writing or behind the camera, Lindsay enjoys exploring the outdoors with her dog Romeo, gardening, crafting, and spending time with family and friends.

Laticia Headings is grateful to call Middleburg home. In 2013, she discovered the area attending the first annual Middleburg Film Festival, and has come back every year since as a volunteer, attendee, and for the past several years, a writer for Middleburg Life. Laticia is the founder of Latitude Media and has 23 years of experience as a producer, writer, and camerawoman for television (Discovery, National Geographic), documentary film, and multi-platform media. Now, a full-time realtor with McEnearney Associates, she is thrilled to be helping clients in Hunt Country and beyond.

Bill Kent’s journalism has appeared in more than 40 national and regional publications including the Washington Post, Art & Antiques, Philadelphia Magazine, Baltimore Magazine, New Jersey Monthly, and The Hunt. A former correspondent for the New York Times, he taught writing and journalism at the University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers, and Temple universities, and is the author of seven novels, a Fodor’s Guide, and a history of Atlantic City. After graduating from Oberlin College with majors in English and Religion, he published his first piece in The Georgetowner. When not writing, he enjoys walking his westies on Washington Street.

Will Thompson is a writer and photographer interested in all things related to nature, conservation, and outdoor recreation. He has worked in communications and project management roles in renewable energy, international development, and mission-driven journalism. Will graduated from the College of Charleston in 2010 with a B.A. in Communications.

Gracie Withers is a local photographer who grew up in the village of Aldie and has been photographing local weddings, portraits, and events since 2016. She was a contributing photographer at Georgetown University for over three years and also has a wide variety of experience in sports photography. Her passion began when she received her first camera in middle school and she continued to study the craft in high school and in college. She joined Middleburg Life as a contributor in the spring of 2022.

Washington St. | P.O. Box 1380 | Middleburg, VA 20118 | 540.687.5588 | sheridanmacmahon.com

from throughout | | 6 kitchen | cottage lighted stream, acres

110 E. Washington St. | P.O. Box 1380 | Middleburg, VA 20118 | 540.687.5588 | sheridanmacmahon.com

HICKORY TREE FARM

THE PLAINS, VIRGINIA

Beautifully renovated home on 340 acres| Main house, stunning guest house w/ garage, 2 tenant houses, manager’s house, apartment complex, pool, 5 barns totaling approximately 60 stalls, 3/4 mile all weather sand track, pond & extensive paddocks, fencing & sheds Property is served by four separate gated entrances with access from Burrland Lane & Zulla Road | Panoramic views of Bull Run Mountains & the Blue Ridge Mountains offering an extraordinary building site if desired| Original home site still surrounded by towering trees, garden & stone walls

SPRING GLADE

OUT WEST

WARRENTON, VIRGINIA

Gracious home with impressive renovated kitchen. Hardwood floors, substantial millwork and fine finishes and 4 fireplaces Perfectly sited to enjoy the views of surrounding farmland | 5 bedrooms, home office, large family room, newly resurfaced tennis court, wonderful pool with cabana and 4 bedroom guest house with workshop/3 stall stable Large field for turn out, 1 paddock and lovely hay field | 32 acres in 2 recorded parcels

MIddLEBuRG, VIRGINIA

$7,950,000

ATOKA STORE

MARSHALL, VIRGINIA

SALEM HILL

Property has been a landmark for community for decades | Major frontage on Route 50 & Atoka Rd Commercial kitchen, beer cooler, grocery items, pizza oven, in store seating | Potential to be very lucrative | Property also improved by older home, old gas station has been renovated for potential office space or storage & stone spring house | 2 lots with commercial village zoning

$3,000,000

HELEN MACMAHON 540.454.1930

MARSHALL, VIRGINIA

$2,700,000

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

French Country home, with renovations in 1999 & 2017 | 4 BR, 5 full & 2 half BA, 5 FP, hardwood floors, flagstone terrace | Beautiful drive to hilltop stetting overlooking pond, lake & mountains | Im provements include pool, 2-car garage, 2 BR guest house & apartment | Lovely boxwood gardens | Kitchen allowance to be provided | 79.89 acres

HELEN MACMAHON 540.454.1930

Well protected Fauquier location | 6 bedrooms | 4 full and 2 half baths | 3 fireplaces | Great views | Pool with large flagstone terrace | Large county kitchen | 4-car detached garage with apartment/ office | 9-stall barn | Covered arena | Outdoor ring | 4 stall shed row barn | 51 fenced acres

Brian MacMahon 703.609.1868

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

HUGHESVILLE ROAD

CATESBY VINEYARD

$3,690,000

Mahon

203 acres in River frontage 4 full & 3 1/2 Gunnite pool and private | 5 stall Jim paddocks, pasture | Old d

RECTORTOWN ROAD

helen MacMahon 540.454.1930

LEESBURG, VIRGINIA

99.33 acres in prime Loudoun Hunt country location, easy access to Leesburg, Purcellville & Lincoln | Property is in conservation easement Mountain and valley views | Rolling acreage Approximately 65 acres of pasture, 35 acres of woods, major creek frontage Property has road frontage on Hughesville Road and Holmes Mill Road Very protected location.

$1,995,000

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

Brian MacMahon 703.609.1868

UPPERVILLE, VIRGINIA

44.55 acres of which 15 acres are producing grapes

8.5 acres of Chambourcin, Traminette on 4.3 acres and Vidal Blanc on 2.1 acres Vineyard infrastructure includes fencing, irrigation system and computerized well Perc site for 4 bedroom home Property is in conservation easement | Property can be converted to Residential use

$1,300,000

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

Brian MacMahon 703.609.1868

GAME CREEK

NEW MOUNTAIN ROAD

MIddLEBuRG, VIRGINIA

ALDIE, VIRGINIA

60 wooded acres on top of a ridge | In conservation easement, trails throughout, elevated building sites, 1500 ft of frontage on Little River | 25 minutes to Dulles, close to Aldie and Route 50.

OTLEY ROAD

PURCELLVILLE, VIRGINIA

MARSHALL, VIRGINIA

Lovely country home on private lot in the village of Rectortown FIBER INTERNET Open floor plan with main level suite and home office Upper level overlooks large family room with two story vaulted ceiling and stone fireplace and two large bedrooms and second family room Multiple porches and decks with extensive plantings - easy maintenance.

$1,250,000

Helen MacMahon 540.454.1930

HALCYON HILL

ST LOUIS ROAD

RECTORTOWN, VIRGINIA

PURCELLVILLE, VIRGINIA

$1,200,000

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

A remarkable property located within a private enclave just minutes from town | Stone and stucco manor house with main level master suite | 7 additional BR | 5 stone FP | Beautiful gardens, terraces, salt water pool, cabana, carriage house & stable with 2 paddocks | Lovely finishes throughout & sweeping lawn to private trails to Goose Creek | 31 acres | Private, elegant & convenient

Log and stone cabin circa 1750 | 4 fireplaces, 4 bedrooms 1 1/2 baths, beautiful floors Old in ground pool, small storage building, stone spring house, log storage building | Can be bought with 24.3 acres (2 recorded lots) for $1,050,000 or with 14.3 acres for $625,000.

$1,050,000

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

$2,650,000

helen MacMahon 540.454.1930

17 acres of rolling pasture land in the village of Rectortown | Convenient to both Routes 50 & 66 | Newly renovated | Private setting with magnificent mountain views | 4 bedrooms, 4 full bath, 1 half bath, 2 fireplaces | Heated pool & spa | 2 bedroom guest house | Large shed & 2-car garage

10 acres in hard to find location between Middleburg and Purcellville, no HOA or covenants Mostly open with room for house, creek frontage, mountain views.

$600,000

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

$2,475,000

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

dELAPLANE, Circa 1850’s rebuilt at beams and Barn also 2 bedroom multiple building outside Paul

MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS: MEGAN, DREW, & TILLEY ROBITAILLE OF TILLEY’S PET SUPPLIES

Written by Carlo Massimo | Photos by Callie Broaddus

The walls of Tilley’s Pet Supplies are new. The paint, a comforting sage green, looks like it just dried; the metal of the freezers, filled with raw and gently-cooked dog food and liters of goat milk, is still shining. A framed black-and-white portrait of a horse watches over the register. The doors at Tilley’s Pet Supplies have only been open for a few weeks, and the store seems, impossibly, like it has both just opened and been there for decades.

Anyone who has ever met Megan Robitaille and her husband, Drew, will understand. The Robitailles don’t like to sit still. On Thursday, February 9 of this year, Megan noticed that the pet shop on East Washington in Middleburg, once the much-beloved Wylie Wagg and then a succession of other pet stores, had a liquidation sign out front. By Monday, Megan and Drew were in talks with the landlord; they were going to buy the shop. Neither of them had run a pet shop before, but of course that didn’t matter.

Megan is a lifelong Northern Virginian. Born in Warrenton, she grew up riding with the Casanova hunt and stayed local after graduate school. That’s about the only constant in her life. By her own admission, Megan doesn’t like straight lines or well-trodden paths. “My whole life has been

like that,” she says, “going one direction and then suddenly in another.” At one point she had a bakery; at other times she taught at the elementary level and worked retail.

Drew, born in New Hampshire, has been here since 2008. Like Megan, he grew up in an atmosphere of dogs and horses. He started riding as a 2-year-old and trained for show jumping until age 24. His grandparents bred and showed huskies, and his aunt took medals at the Westminster Kennel Club show twice. His family had a feed store, but Drew’s first business venture was as a photographer. These days he has given up show jumping for triathlon training, which has him out of bed every morning at four.

There’s a third partner in this business, too:

Tilley the corgi, one of the Robitailles’ four dogs. Tilley was a nice name for a store, Megan explains. “We have another dog named Bourbon,” she says, “which would have probably given people the wrong idea.” (“I wouldn’t have minded,” Drew adds.) Tilley and Bourbon are only a small part of the Robitailles’ vast herd of animals. At

Tilley | Page 7

Megan, Drew, and Tilley Robitaille.

home they keep bees, 40 chickens, and tortoises, and are considering a Highland cow. Until 2019 they raised cattle on a small farm, which the pandemic forced them to sell.

For years this restless, energetic couple was without an outlet. That changed in February. Megan didn’t initially realize that the shop she was looking at, with the liquidation sign in front, had once been Wylie Wagg. She had visited once in 2004, just out of college, to buy food for her corgi. Wylie Wagg’s owners opened her eyes to what dog food could, or should, be. Up until then, she laughs, “I was feeding my dog crap.”

Megan and Drew explicitly modeled their shop on Wylie Wagg. They wanted to provide the best and most varied food for dogs and cats, and avoid the dreary atmosphere of most corporate pet supply stores.

“Pet owners in Middleburg are generally conscientious and intelligent,” says Megan. “They’re readers. They know how to shop, and they love to try something new. This is like Christmas for them.”

Walk along the aisles of Tilley’s and you’ll see what she means. Every imaginable kind of pet food is on the shelves or in the freezers, from diet or hairball control dry food to extravagances like turducken dog food and — for German cats, presumably — Hasenpfeffer in dainty tins. Pumpkins and goat milk are popular remedies at the moment, in high demand, and customers generally know their way around the medicine shelves as well as the food selection. Their food meets all price points and is always holistic and authentic. Most of it, Drew notes with some pride, is human grade – just in case.

Megan insists that Tilley’s Pet Supplies could never have worked in a community without Middleburg’s farm-to-table culture. Even more, a shop like Tilley’s could not exist without the infectious energy of the Robitailles. Their ownership of the property only began on the first of March, and they opened for business on the 31st. In Drew’s words, they “gutted the place,” having painted, met with suppliers, mastered the point-of-sale system, hired staff, and learned, for the first time, how to run a pet supply store — and all this with children and animals and athletic training to keep up with. What’s their secret? Cassie Craft the manager and her six years of experience, according to the Robitailles. (Cassie is an artist as well; several of her paintings are displayed around Tilley’s.)

It’s no surprise that Megan and Drew are already working on the next phase of Tilley’s. So far, the only products they sell for animals other than cats and dogs are a limited selection of horse treats and other odds and ends. This is going to change, as customers have been asking about rabbit and turtle feed. There’s been some discussion about offering grooming services, as well, but that poses logistical questions. However, Megan has plans to use some of the space in the back as a pet bakery (“a barkery,” she laughs), drawing on her years as a baker to make dog biscuits and cat treats.

Tilley’s is open seven days a week. For more information, call 540-687-5033. ML

Tilley’s Pet Supplies

5B East Washington Street Middleburg, Virginia 20117

tilleyspetsupplies@gmail.com

Top: Tilley with a new toy. Middle: A spread of products visitors can find at the new pet supply store. Bottom: Tilley inspects the fresh food section.

Tilley | From page 6

Dinner & a Documentary

WITH A LIMITED NUMBER OF PICNIC DINNERS, PREPARED BY SOME OF OUR AREA’S BEST RESTAURANTS, AVAILABLE FOR PRE-SALE AND TO BE ENJOYED ON THE MCC HILLSIDE BEFORE AND DURING THE FILMS.

HAMILTON MERCANTILE: WHERE COMMUNITY COMES NATURALLY

Written by Bill Kent | Photos by Gracie Withers

Just before anyone had even heard the word “coronavirus,” Meredith Brown was shopping at what everybody calls The Merc, a 1,700-square-foot, 130-year-old grocery on East Colonial Highway in Hamilton. After putting a jar of her favorite sauerkraut next to a pint of coffee ice cream in her grocery basket, Sue Phillips, the market’s owner, told Brown she was moving and asked her if she wanted to buy the place.

Brown immediately said, “Yes!” Not only was the Merc convenient to her home in Lincoln, where she lives with her husband John, a Kinloch

Community | Page 11

Left: The Hamilton Mercantile team. Right: The Merc’s sign beckons visitors in.

Farm beekeeper, and daughter Ada, but her family loved the store’s organic brands. Brown asked her former boss and fellow Merc regular, Abbie Whitehurst, owner of Leesburg’s King Street Coffee, if she wanted to join her and maybe sell some coffee at the place.

The women closed the store for five days and made some slight alterations. “The idea was to turn it into an upscale convenience store,” Brown explains, “where everything you needed was healthy and organic, and you could find a few things that were just wonderful, and all originating as close as possible to the store.”

They upgraded and reduced the number of

supplements, put a circular table in the center of the store and filled it with fresh cut flowers and gift baskets, added practical household items like environmentally gentle laundry detergent, and put out a call to local farmers, crafts people, vineyards, and breweries that they were interested in carrying the best they had to offer.

The back wall became a walk-up window. The women moved in a refurbished La Marzocco espresso machine from King Street, and stocked Winchester Lone Oak roast from former King Street Coffee barista Sam Kayser. Brown then landscaped the front and the parking area. She added chairs where people could linger while drinking their coffee, made her own flavor syr-

ups, and served cream and milk from Middletown Maryland’s South Mountain Creamery.

Finally, they changed the name. What had been the Natural Mercantile became the Hamilton Mercantile.

Their business actually improved during the pandemic. “Enough people, including my family, became even more conscious about their health, that they wanted healthier alternatives,” Brown remembers. “They weren’t going to bigger food stores as much. We could do curbside delivery or just hand people their groceries through the window. My staff and I pitched in and we did some home deliveries, too.”

And people continued to visit the store, discovering local meat, produce, wine, beer, jewelry, pottery, and more. The team realized they were a success when their customers, some from as far away as Florida and Massachusetts, wanted to buy souvenir T-shirts. So, Brown found a vendor. One of her dozen part-time employees designed the printing on the shirt, and the first edition sold out in weeks

While not everything the Merc sells is immediately local (the extra virgin olive oil comes from Greece, for example), enough of it is so that customers get a feeling of connection to Hunt Country’s agrarian and artisanal roots.

“We’ve become a safe place for all kinds of people, with all kinds of opinions about food and what’s good for them,” Brown continues. “Everybody seemed to agree with us that by nurturing the local producers we were creating a larger community of people who want to support their work.”

Mark Thurston, an associate professor at George Mason living in Round Hill, goes to the Merc more frequently than any other food store. He likes the coffee and appreciates “a lovely feeling of community-building. I experience it as a gathering place that has intentionality and gracefulness to the way the business is being run. There is a much-needed honoring of local farmers and artisans.”

One of those artisans is Valor Ridge PotCommunity | Page 12

Community

page 10

Community | From page 11

ter Mariah McKechnie, who sells her mugs at a half-dozen places around Hunt Country, but calls the Merc her “most successful shop to sell through.” McKechnie adds, “I absolutely love the wholesome vibe.”

chai tea is so good it’s like meeting up with an old friend.”

To Marina Wilson, a Merc employee for more than 20 years, “Sue [Phillips] was a businesswoman. Meredith is an artist whose heart is in the community. The store is much more like a

When the snow stopped, I saw four women who didn’t know each other standing in line outside to get a coffee. Perhaps they ran out of coffee at home or they just wanted to get out and go for a walk. But they began to talk to each other.

“And right there they decided to form a book

When McKechnie wanted to raise funds for autism advocacy within Loudoun County, the Merc gave a matching donation for pottery sold from the store.

For Jessie Baker of Middleburg’s Day Spring Farm, the Merc is vital because “they can reach more people than come to our farm…. Our herbal products and turkeys are sold there, and we just love the heart and soul of the store. Plus their

community now. People who have never known each other get to know each other. I’ve worked in several natural food places before my husband and I got lost off Route 7 and decided to move to Philomont, but what happens here is by far the best I’ve ever experienced.”

Wilson mentions that back in the pandemic era, after a brutal snowstorm, “we managed to open and I was at the window serving the coffee.

club, and they’ve continued with it. That may not seem [like] an earth-changing event, but, because it draws people together, it might be. I felt so good to make the coffee that helped it happen.” ML

Hamilton Mercantile

341 East Colonial Highway Hamilton, VA 20158 (540) 338-7080

From left to right: Fresh produce. A Hamilton Mercantile regular shows up for his morning coffee. The Merc offers a variety of supplements and health products. Meredith Brown.

Parsonage Handmade soaP: A Traditional Recipe Masterfully Made with a Modern Twist

Written by Diane Helentjaris | Photos by Kaitlin Hill

Like many, Dick Darr didn’t stick with his freshman college major, chemistry. He swerved and ended up with a degree in biology. But life has a way of weaving those loose ends of early interests and captivations into an unanticipated tapestry.

“It’s been a fun trip. I thought I was going to be in the corporate world, then the government,” Darr says, “but working for yourself is a great gig.” That winding path brought him to a unique destination. He is now a professional soap maker, and the face of Parsonage Handmade Soap.

What began as a homemade Christmas gift project morphed into a business venture in the

early ‘90s. Darr enjoyed making the bars of soap and had some left over. He also shared a passion for gardening and handcrafted items with neighbor Julie Pieper. As an accountant, Pieper had business skills. Darr understood chemistry and biology. The two joined forces and, in 1997, began Parsonage Handmade Soap. Pieper has since moved on, but their initial effort continues with Darr.

Life as a soapmaster proved to be family-friendly, and a family tradition. Darr is a third-generation soap maker. In addition to farming, his grandparents, originally from Ohio, also made their own soap. The craft allowed Darr

to be available to his children when they were still at home, and, though his children are now grown, still offers a flexible schedule and autonomy that he enjoys. It has worked well in conjunction with his wife’s career in education.

Making soap is an ancient practice. How old is unknowable, but a Sumerian clay tablet from 2500 B.C. describes it. The basic recipe never changes: a fat plus an alkali. Combining the two creates a substance with the power to separate dirt and grime away from surfaces like human skin. For instance, throwing a handful of cold campfire ashes into an iron skillet dirtied by baHandmade | Page 15

A selection of Parsonage Handmade Soap products on display at the Leesburg Flower & Garden Festival.

Handmade

From page

con grease, adding water, and swishing it around makes a primitive soap for campers. And cleans

the skillet.

Log cabin pioneers made their soap from animal fat — leftover cooking grease or fat rendered

from butchered livestock and game. For alkali, they seeped old wood ash in water, which made lye.

Parsonage Handmade Soap calls back to this historic American heritage. It’s easy to find a photo of Dick Darr in a wide-brimmed William Penn-ish hat, Colonial knee pants, and white hose. Each bar of Parsonage soap is hand cut, hand wrapped in a quaint cotton print fabric, and labeled with a final strip of recycled paper.

They may look from a bygone era, but these soaps have been updated to suit modern tastes. Using his own original recipes, Darr has replaced old-fashioned animal fat with vegetable oils. Soaps and other aromatic products are scented with essential plant oils or cosmetic grade fragrances. He is selective in his ingredients. All vegetable oils are non-GMO certified. The palm oil is RSPO sustainable. Fragrances are phthalate-free. Among other products is an answer to a common problem: how to enjoy the final slivers of a great soap. The exfoliating soap pouch sold by Parsonage can be filled with these remnants to complete their life cycle as a scrub.

Parsonage also manufactures, as a special order for Dogfish Head Brewery, Dogfish Head Shampoo Bars. Although created for humans, according to Dogfish’s website, “the special conditioners in this shampoo make it [a] hit on the professional dog grooming circuit.”

A member of the Handcrafted Soap and Cosmetic Guild, Darr devotes serious time to finding the best fragrances. Soothing lavender is by far the most popular scent, followed by spicy cinnamon and piquant citrus. Pungent patchouli, which became popular in the ‘60s and ‘70s, still has a dedicated fanbase. “People either love it or hate it,” Darr jokes.

Each year, Parsonage Handmade Soap releases new fragrance blends, some of them season-

Handmade | Page 16

Top: More than soaps, Parsonage also makes nifty solid lotions. Bottom left: Dick Darr with his son, Alex, at the Leesburg Flower & Garden Festival. Bottom right: Many soap scents are locally-inspired, like Waterford Faire.

Handmade | From page 15

al with names such as “Christmas Memories,” “Waterford Faire,” and “A Walk in the Woods.” Parsonage also offers unscented soaps for those who prefer it.

Darr describes the shop as “hyper-local.” Parsonage Handmade Soap goods are sold at regional outlets such as the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum in Sterling, Trinity House Café and Market in Leesburg, Hamilton Mercantile, and Philomont General Store. The Darr family can also be spotted at events such as the Leesburg Flower & Garden Festival, the Mount Vernon Colonial Market and Fair, and the Waterford Fair. Products can be ordered online from the company’s website.

Darr emphasizes that his soaps are “real soap, something to clean you. [They] won’t hurt you and [they] keep your skin moist. Commercial soaps are often detergent. While they are very, very effective at cleaning, they strip off skin oils. Real soap produces glycerin, which we leave in. It attracts moisture, is a humectant. [We] make a good product. … It does what it’s supposed to.” ML

Parsonage Handmade Soap

P.O. Box 283 Lovettsville, VA 20180 540-822-5472

parsonage@parsonagesoap.com

For more information see parsonagesoap.com.

Top: Room sprays are another popular offering. Bottom left: Each bar is wrapped in a piece of printed cotton. Bottom right: Shenandoah Starlight is a perfect gift for lovers of the region.

Village Cheeseworks: Helping Revive

Loudoun’s Local Dairy Industry

Written by Victoria Peace

Village Cheeseworks founders Eric Hilgartner and Kelly Harding know that it takes a village to get high-quality cheese from farm to consumer — that’s why every step of the way, they have partnered with local farms and small businesses in order to deliver a product that is delicious, historic, and community-centric.

Established in 2020, Village Cheeseworks is a joint venture between Hilgartner and Harding. Both partners come from a dairy background, and the pair met while they were helping get another creamery off the ground. Hilgartner has a degree in animal science from Virginia Tech where he completed several classes in dairy management and has previously served as a beef cattle, land management, and farm business consultant. Harding has almost 30 years of experience as a creamery consultant and helps creameries craft recipes, train employees, create protocols, and receive certification from the state.

Hilgartner says that while there were aspects

of starting a small business during the midst of a global pandemic that were intimidating, it also presented a huge opportunity. “COVID gave us the chance to work together and pull the trigger,” Hilgartner emphasizes. Hilgartner and Harding took the time to revive an old creamery site in Upperville that had not been used in 15 years, getting it recertified and tailoring it to their specific needs.

After about a year, they produced their first cheese. The duo initially focused on making soft cheeses because with their shorter expiration date, they were harder to procure during the pandemic due to supply chain pressures. “We wanted people to have access to a really good product at a good price — and this is still what we hang our hat on,” Hilgartner says.

Village Cheeseworks currently partners with several local businesses to distribute their cheese including wineries, breweries, restaurants, and Revive | Page 19

Photos by Michael Butcher

Top: A selection of Village Cheeseworks cheeses with locally-inspired names. Bottom: Kelly Harding behind the cheese production scenes.

resorts. They offer free delivery and low order minimums to stay small-business friendly.

Village Cheeseworks sources the majority of their milk from Dogwood Farm in Purcellville, Virginia, the last remaining operational dairy farm in Loudoun County. In the 1950s and 1960s, Loudoun County was one of the most prolific per capita dairy farming areas in the world; there are even milk drops lining the border of the Loudoun County flag to symbolize the historic importance of the industry. However, in the decades since, dairy farming in the area has experienced a sharp

decline. “We are trying to draw attention to the fact that if we don’t support this, all of this goes away and we don’t get to enjoy it — the visual appeal of driving by and seeing cows and open land and stone walls,” Hilgartner says.

Hilgartner and Harding are passionate about increasing collaboration in the cheese production process, and getting the raw product to a value-added form that pays everyone along the value chain back a little more than under the traditional system. “We want [value] going back to the farmers, we want it going back to the people adding the value into [cheese] and providing the raw products,” Hilgartner emphasizes.

In honor of Village Cheeseworks’ hyper-local model, many of their cheeses are named after

small towns in Hunt Country. “We wanted to put a stamp in the history books to highlight these little towns where all of the historic dairy farming happened,” Hilgartner says. Village Cheeseworks’s offerings include Zulla, a washed rind cheese; Atoka, a soft-ripened cheese; and Round Hill Camembert-style cheese, a nod to the town where Hilgartner grew up and attended high school.

Village Cheeseworks also produces Philomont Feta, named after a local town which is home to a unique, dairy-centric memorial. A plaque located next to the Philomont Country Store honors Round Oak Rag Apple Elevation, a bull raised in Loudoun County whose genetics have influenced 90% of Holstein dairy cows in the world. Hilgartner likens him to the “Genghis Khan” of Holsteins, born and bred right here in Virginia. Hilgartner’s favorite cheese from Village Cheeseworks is the Zulla. “I love everything about it — if you let it mature to its peak ripen-

Top left: Fresh cheese in process. Bottom left: Kelly Harding and Eric Hilgartner. Top right: The racks contain an impressive variety for a small operation.

ing phase, it’s super funky,” he says. The process of making it is definitely a labor of love. Every other day, Hilgartner and Harding have to scour and scrape the cheese with a brine-soaked rag. However, this process results in a rind with a “delightful mouth feel” and a smooth, pâté-like interior.

“Long term, we have visions of collaborating with a lot of other cheese makers to market and distribute and sell dairy products on a broader scale and put the mid-Atlantic on the map,” Hil-

gartner says when discussing plans for the future. “We’re a very strong agriculture and dairy area. You hear about Vermont, you hear about California, but you don’t hear a lot about Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, or Pennsylvania. We’d like to draw a little more attention to the unique features of our agriculture systems here and the high quality of our milk and dairy products.” ML

AUTHOR’S NOTE:

I had the pleasure of sampling two of Village Cheeseworks’ cheeses when writing this article: the Round Hill Camembert-style cheese and the fresh cow’s cheese with garlic and herbs.

The Round Hill Camembert is incredibly smooth and buttery with a slightly earthy aroma. I can’t wait to bring it to my Twilight Polo tailgates this summer, perhaps accompanied by some prosecco and fig and walnut crackers. The fresh cow’s cheese is light, tangy, and herbaceous, and paired perfectly with a loaf of bread from the farmer’s market for a mid-afternoon snack.

You can purchase Village Cheeseworks cheese at multiple different locations around Hunt Country, including but not limited to Fields of Athenry Farm Shop, Market Salamander, Market at Bluewater Kitchen, and Great Country Farms. For more information, please visit villagecheeseworks.com

Top: Outside the Upperville facility. Bottom: The Loudoun County flag with its milk drop pattern.

wildly market than best vendors Coast!

Northern Virginia’s wildly popular vintage market showcasing more than 200 of the best “vintage hip” vendors on the East Coast!

Northern Virginia’s wildly popular vintage market showcasing more than 200 of the best “vintage hip” vendors on the East Coast!

Northern Virginia’s wildly popular vintage market showcasing more than 200 of the best “vintage hip” vendors on the East Coast!

Marshall – Magnificent estate of approximately 107 gorgeous acres in the heart of Virginia’s renowned horse country. 17,800 sq.ft. of exquisite living space and spectacular equestrian facilities. Unparalleled in its beauty and charm, Red Bridge simply cannot be replicated anywhere.

Jim McGowan | 703-927-0233

IMPROVED PRICE

Warrenton – A very special and rare private sanctuary. Extraordinary location only 6 miles west of Warrenton, 45 min. to Dulles Int. Airport and one hour to the White House. With world-class construction, Stoneledge is the benchmark for a luxury countryside retreat.

John Coles | 540-270-0094

Upperville – This premier estate is a paradise with the main house for grand living and entertaining; 2 horse barns, riding ring and trails to ride out. Multiple outdoor living spaces perfect for enjoying the stunning landscape of Virginia’s horse country. Agent is related to Owner.

Julia Steiner O’Regan | 202-468-0751

Delaplane – Built for Channing Delaplane, Jr. in 1921, the manor house with its exquisite symmetry is beautifully sited and located within the Crooked Run Valley Rural Historic District. 10 BRs, 6 and a half BAs. To the back of the house are barns and paddocks, and beyond are mature woodlands.

John Coles | 540-270-0094

Middleburg – Spectacular country estate with manicured lawns and towering trees. Built in a Tuscan style of architecture, it includes 5 BRs, 8 1/2 BAs, 8 fireplaces, heated pool & Jacuzzi. Also, 4 BR guest house, 8 stall center aisle stable and run-ins. All in a beautiful setting with mountain views!

Mary Ann McGowan | 540-270-1124

When you’re ready to make the move to luxury, let Thomas & Talbot introduce you and those you love to a most desirable way of life. In business since 1967, Thomas & Talbot’s numberone ranking in Horse Country comes as no surprise based on our long-standing relationships in the area. Visit our website today and if you’re interested in seeing a particular property, please contact us, your luxury retreat awaits.

Middleburg – New estate home ready for the most discerning buyer. This stunning colonial includes approximately 10,000 SF of extraordinary living space on three finished levels. There is a heated pool, fire pit, outdoor kitchen and three car garage.

Brian McGowan | 703-927-4070

JOHN MOSBY HWY 4 acres |

Far Bungalow Farm: LOCAL PEOPLE, LOCAL FLOWERS

Written by Kaitlin Hill | Photos by Gracie Withers

“It brings me ultimate joy to know the people that are getting my flowers,” says Sage Devlin, owner of Far Bungalow Farm in Leesburg. For Devlin, an interest in growing things came early, started locally, and always persisted through different career paths until opening Far Bungalow Farm in 2020. More than growing gorgeous flowers, Devlin’s holistic approach to the industry focuses on sustainability, education, and consumer empowerment.

A New Jersey native, Devlin developed a green thumb early during visits to their grandparents in Leesburg. “I grew up gardening with my parents; my grandma also always did a lot of gardening. So, I think I just had the bug,” Devlin shares. While school took Devlin to New York to study musical theater, growing plants remained a priority and a passion. “When I was in New York, I was growing tomatoes on my fire escape. I was always growing things,” Devlin explains. A desire for more space inspired Devlin to move to Portland, Oregon, where, in addition to working

“It brings me ultimate joy to know the people that are getting my flowers.” – Devlin

Bungalow Farm | Page 25

Sage Devlin at Far Bungalow Farm.

in a flower shop, they attended The Floral Design Institute. “I got into flower shops, and that was that.” Devlin continues, “I went to floral design school and was classically trained, if you will. Then I went to work for an eco-florist, and I saw the very stark difference between traditional floristry where they use microplastics, imports, and how unsustainable it is [versus] this eco-florist who bought local and didn’t use chemicals. Then, for me, the main thing became how can I be part of making floriculture a sustainable industry as a whole.”

Devlin’s desire to grow flowers full-time brought them back to Leesburg, and their grandparents’ farm. “I just decided I wanted to grow flowers. So, I was like, ‘There’s this farm. I guess I am going to move to Virginia now,’” Devlin explains. They add, “The farm that I grow on is a big, like 600-acre property that has been in my family for seven generations, I think. 200 years or something crazy like that.”

As for the name, “The larger farm is Rockland Farm, and there are all these tenant houses. My tenant house has always been called, administratively, the far bungalow. I took that and ran with it.”

For Devlin, opening at the brink of the pandemic proved to be a good thing. “I was an essential worker, agriculture was, so I could still go to work and was working outside.” They add, “[Due to] lockdown, I didn’t have any social obligations or distractions. I went all in on the farm for a year and just concentrated.”

Part of that concentration was making the operation all-encompassing and sustainable. Devlin says, “I call myself a farmer-florist. I do the growing of the flowers and also the arranging. It’s pretty holistic.” They continue, “I want it to be a closed loop operation, where the community is involved too.”

Essential to community involvement is education. “A big thing for me is education, and I am still learning who needs to be educated. Everybody does, but the consumer needs a lot of education.” Devlin continues, "The customer needs to know that not all florists are sustainable, and what to look for when trying to choose a sustainable florist." They add that “putting sustainable flowers on the map” is important as the concept

is a current blind spot in the conservation conversation.

Devlin expands, "Foam free is sustainable. The use of floral foam is not. The use of bleached and dyed or painted floral material is unsustainable because it turns something compostable into something that now goes to the landfill instead. Importing all flowers so that the consumer can get whatever they want at any time of year with no regard to jet fuel emissions it takes to ship those flowers is unsustainable. Most florists have to do at least a little bit of importing for off season, but buying local flowers that are in season is best as far as sustainability and beauty, if you ask me.”

Devlin adds, “The message is local flowers, local people. If everyone buys flowers from their local provider and all the providers provide to local people, then we don’t need imports, which is great.” To achieve this arrangement, Devlin’s flowers are most often found in small businesses.

“I want to meet people where they are. Places like the Merc, mom and pop shops, small businesses, small grocery stores, cafes, community hubs have been a really strong support.”

And while they do event design and big installations, too, Devlin admits, “My floral dream would be to have a retail flower shop that is affiliated with the farm, where I can stock locally grown flowers.” They add, “Those little daily ar-

rangements, that’s my favorite thing.”

Devlin’s flower philosophy and focus on local even goes one step further, literally into consumers’ backyards. “I would like to empower people to grow a garden if you can. If you want to source beautiful ranunculus from your local farmer, great! But then go out and pick daisies from your

Top left: The rewards of Devlin’s sustainable practices on display. Top right: Devlin works in their greenhouse. Bottom right: Freshly picked flowers perfect for a bouquet.

Bungalow Farm | Page 26

own yard, add those to a bouquet and drop them off at your neighbor’s house.” They conclude, “To me, that is the dream floral economy.”

Devlin’s passion for local flowers and adamant focus on sustainability give new meaning to Lady Bird Johnson’s adage that “Where flowers bloom,

so does hope.” At just 33, Devlin is injecting the local industry with a new energy that defies traditional practices and aims to leave a place better than they found it. Devlin says, “My hope is that people will start paying more attention to where their flowers come from.” ML

Left: Ranunculus are one of Devlin’s favorite blooms. Middle: A bunch bound for a beautiful bouquet. Right: Little parcels waiting to be planted.

Bungalow Farm | From page 25

“My hope is that people will start paying more attention to where their flowers come from.” – Devlin

TARA TROUT

Partner, Farm & Equine, Private Client Specialist

tara.trout@ahtins.com

703.737.2244

ROB RENNER

Partner, Private Client Specialist

rob.renner@ahtins.com

703.737.2206

Classical Piano Recital at Buchanan Hall

The Middleburg Music Fest International (MMFI) is privileged to present Ukrainian American pianist Stanislav Khristenko at the Buchanan Hall in Upperville on May 26 at 7:00 pm. Mr. Khristenko, is the prizewinner of over 30 international piano competitions, and he has performed in some of the world’s major concert halls, earning him great reviews in Europe and the United States. The first part of the program will include compositions by J.S. Bach, Chopin and Brahms. In the second part of the program, Mr. Khristenko will take the audience to an interesting musical journey with piano pieces by recognized Ukrainian composers.

The event is free of charge, however, a $45 donation at the door or through our website is appreciated. To reserve seats, please visit our website middleburgmusicfestival.org, and click on the Events link to RSVP.

The MMFI is a registered non-profit regional arts initiative promoting classical, jazz and contemporary piano compositions.

The Buchanan Hall is located at 8549 John S. Mosby Hwy, Upperville, Va.

Premier Promotional Products Is Ready to Place Your Logo Where it Counts

Written by Lia Hobel | Photos by Kaitlin Hill

Picture this: you have a company event coming up and need branded giveaways to hand out. Your first thought might be to shop online. And when you do, you quickly realize that options are limited and offer no guarantee for the quality of what you’re about to purchase.

Online ordering can be impersonal and oftentimes deceptive. Luckily for Hunt Country residents and beyond, there’s a local promotional marketing company that has a physical showroom and friendly service in Middleburg.

Just off South Madison Street, Premier Promotional Products is a woman-owned company that offers personable interaction and honest feedback about products and logo designs. “We consider ourselves a branch of our clients,” shares Margaret vonGersdorff, president of PPP, speaking from the showroom floor that’s equipped with a variety of apparel and accessory options for customers to touch and peruse. The showroom opened in 2020 after being at the Village of Leesburg since 2004. VonGersdorff says she has never looked back regarding the decision to move to Middleburg. “The people that we meet here just fit and we love the town,” she adds.

With 25 years of experience in the marketing space, vonGersdorff jokingly describes her team as the “logo police,” especially when it comes to

Premier | Page 29

Kaitlyn Ahalt, Margaret vonGersdorff, and Pamela Taylor.

“We consider ourselves a branch of our clients.”

– vonGersdorff

color. VonGersdorff has many of the Pantone color chart codes down by memory. She and her two team members, Pamela Taylor and Kaitlyn Ahalt, work daily to make clients happy with their color selection, logo design, and placement. “When you go to an event or you're giving something out, you want to be [proud] to say, ‘That's my item. That's my company name.’ And if you don't have the right product that reflects on your company, you're going to be sorry,” explains vonGersdorff.

The PPP team frequents shows, both nationally and regionally, to see all products firsthand and stay ahead of trends. It’s there that they’re able to meet with manufacturers to touch and experience the products before the samples hit their Middleburg showroom floor. “We’ve been in this business so long that we know which [suppliers] are going to get a product shipment on time,” Ahalt notes, adding that the team can easily “weed out” the products that don’t meet a

option that will maximize the client’s visibility while honoring the customer’s criteria. “We take pride in saying, ‘Let's pause for a minute. Give me your audience. Give me your goal,’” she explains. Some of the latest trends have included the Stanley Mugs and Under Armour apparel that clients can customize.

Whether you have a small family reunion, need a customized flag for your boat, want to personalize your tailgate, or are gearing up for a major corporate event, the PPP team will happily handle it all. Clients are welcome to see samples and share ideas of what they want to achieve through their branded merchandise. From there, the PPP team will give their honest input and provide options. They’ll offer digital proofs and ask for multiple sign-offs before completing the order. Whether it’s one time or ten times of going back and forth, the PPP team is willing to make as many edits as required to the logo design until

standard level of quality.

VonGersdorff gives the common example of an event T-shirt. She boils it down to whether you want to give out a T-shirt someone wants to wear or one that a person would likely wash their car with because it’s uncomfortable. “We can help guide you, because if you're looking online and you see a $7 T-shirt and a $10 T-shirt and say ‘we’ll get the $7 dollar one’ — do you really want the one that’s going to be itchy and hard or do you want that soft ring-spun cotton,” noting that they know the textile terminology and can provide a client options to touch and feel in-store.

Oftentimes, customers are quick to gravitate toward pens and mugs when selecting products for a company event. However, vonGersdorff encourages customers to think outside the box. The goal of the PPP team is to find the most suitable

the client says it’s perfect. “We want our customers to shine. When they're happy, we're happy. We're all shining together,” vonGersdorff beams.

Walk-ins are welcome to the showroom, and visitors are guaranteed to be greeted by one of the three ladies that proudly represent Premier Promotional Products. With clients locally and nationally, the establishment remains a community marketing merchandise destination.

Interested to learn more? On Friday, May 12, PPP will host an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. for anyone to come preview new spring and summer products. ML

Premier Promotional Products

15 South Madison Street Middleburg, VA 20117

Top: Hats prove to be the perfect place for a company logo. Middle: Personalized jackets make a statement, too. Bottom: Shot glasses are among the customizable drinkware items available to PPP.

“We want our customers to shine. When they’re happy, we’re happy. We’re all shining together.”

– vonGersdorff

Merci Mama! A Mother’s Day Culinary Tribute

Show your appreciation this Mother’s Day Sunday, May 14th with a memorable dining experience. Join us for our classic Sunday brunch or an elegant dinner featuring specially crafted Prix Fixe and Chef’s Tasting menus, perfect for honoring the mothers and mother figures who enrich our lives.

Brunch Service: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm

Dinner Service: 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Reserve your favorite room and stop by Blandy Experimental Farm’s Garden Fair for the perfect Mother’s Day getaway – she deserves it!

Visit laubergeprovencale.com

FORAGING CLASSES

Want to learn more about what foods and resources the beautiful Shenandoah Valley provides? Join us for one of our upcoming Foraging Classes and explore a beautiful estate farm 15 minutes from the Inn with experienced forager Clay Morris and collect seasonal wild finds. Chef Stephen Burke and Clay Morris will show you what culinary creations you can make utilizing what you collected and heirloom regional varieties. These classes will incorporate heirloom produce from our gardens and local farms and the way their unique flavors can be used in culinary creations. May 20th, 2023 reserve at exploretock.com/laubergeprovencale

Mattingly’s

40 Years with Middleburg Life

Hand Crafted by select Western Pa. Old Order & Eastern Pa. Amish Craftsman families

Family Owned & Operated Since 1973

Dealing in Amish Outdoor Furniture Located in Loudoun County Since 1973.

540-338-2060

55 E. Colonial Highway (Old Rt 7) Hamilton, VA 20158 Parking in rear

Donald Glickman

GLICKMAN--Donald. After a brief and valiant struggle against liver cancer, Donald Glickman, age 89, succumbed to the disease on April 3, 2023, at his home in Palm Beach, FL. Donald Glickman was born in Brooklyn, NY on May 29, 1933, to Loeb and Minnie Glickman. A graduate of Stuyvesant High School, he attended Cornell University under ROTC and Regents scholarships. After earning a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree, he received a commission in the United States Army as a 2nd Lieutenant where he served in the 7th Army, 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment in Europe. He remained in the Army through the Reserves and National Guard when he finally resigned his commission as a Captain. His time in service was formative and cemented his lifelong passion for military history and penchant for sharing Army stories. Following active duty, Donald worked at Electric Boat in New London, CT on the nuclear submarine program before attending Harvard Business School where he earned an MBA in 1960 and was elected a George F. Baker Scholar. After business school, Donald headed to New York to work at Lehman Brothers. From there, his career took many diverse paths from Compagnie Financiere de Suez to commercial banking at the First National Bank of Chicago where he served for 15 years in leadership roles, including as Senior Vice President and Regional Director for the Eastern United States. While at First Chicago, he loved working with a myriad of businesses while becoming an unconventional but effective mentor to younger bankers. Donald aptly discerned talent and character, and once past his often gruff demeanor, colleagues found a wise and loyal advisor. In 1986, Donald and his friend, Peter J. Solomon, bought a controlling interest in Monro Muffler Brake Company, which they transformed from a regional, privately-owned business to a publicly traded company. Until his death, Donald served on Monro’s board of directors as the chair of the finance committee. In 1992, with former U.S. Naval Secretary, John F. Lehman, and George A. Sawyer, he co-founded the private equity firm J.F. Lehman & Co. where he remained a partner until his death. Donald was a brilliant financier and industrialist. At J.F Lehman & Co, Donald helped build the company into one of the leading aerospace, defense, marine and environmental sector-focused private equity investors in the United States. The professional relationships that turned into longstanding friendships over the course of his long career enriched his life and were a source of great pride and support. After marrying Gretchen Long in 1963, the couple raised three children in New York and the Berkshires. In 1991, his middle child, Priscilla, died in a bicycling accident at the age of 21. He met that tragedy with his customary stoic resolve. He remarried in 1997 to Mia Martin, who has deep roots in Middleburg. Together they shared a love of field sports, travel and entertaining, especially at their farm in Middleburg, Virginia where they took great pleasure in restoring their historic house, “Rockburn Farm”. Together they supported various conservation efforts and local charitable causes. He is survived by his wife, Mia, his two children, Victoria Glickman Hodgkins and Douglas Long Glickman, daughter-in-law, Jolie Rockett Glickman, five grandchildren, and his former wife. Donald had a wide range of interests that he pursued vigorously. An avid historian, he consumed books at an alarming rate, mostly history and military history, but also biography and the occasional spy novel. His retention and recall of a book’s details was legendary. An excellent cook, his love of food extended to its cultivation, production, and preparation. Trained in classic Northern Italian techniques, he was equally happy with a chef’s knife or mezzaluna in his hands. A warm host, many friends have fond memories of interesting evenings spent in his company. While he enjoyed skiing and driving, it was field sports about which he was most impassioned. He went to many striking landscapes around the world from the moors of Scotland to the fields in Uruguay. For him, it was always the quality of the marksmanship rather than score of the “bag” that mattered. A high-flying overhead shot on a windy day was a prize to savor. Donald lived a life of honor and integrity weathering the bitter with the sweet with equal poise and cutting sense of humor. A raconteur and fan of bawdy jokes, his expansive intelligence and zest for life will be sorely missed. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in his memory to the Priscilla Glickman ‘92 Memorial Prize, c/o The Trustees of Princeton University, PO Box 5357, Princeton, NJ 08543.

Published by New York Times on Apr. 18, 2023.

LOCAL HISTORY: ROBERT F. O’NEILL’S “SMALL BUT IMPORTANT RIOTS”

Written by Heidi Baumstark

Everyone knows that horses take center stage in Virginia’s Hunt Country. But not everyone knows about another “stage” our four-legged friends premiered in during the summer of 1863: war.

In “Small but Important Riots: The Cavalry Battles of Aldie, Middleburg, and Upperville,” author Robert F. O’Neill unpacks the details of three cavalry battles in Loudoun County that were part of the Gettysburg Campaign. These

battles broke out along an approximate 12-mile stretch of Ashby’s Gap Turnpike (today's John Mosby Highway) when mounted soldiers clashed in summer 1863 — Aldie (June 17), Middleburg (June 19), and Upperville (June 21).

All three conflicts resulted in Union victories, but Confederate general J.E.B. Stuart maintained an upper hand, sparring with Union commander Alfred Pleasonton as a delay tactic to prevent him from

History | Page 34

Top: This Alfred Waud sketch is from late in the afternoon on June 21, at Vineyard Hill, and probably made during the fighting from an upper window at Salem Farm. Courtesy of the Library of Congress. Bottom left: Robert O’Neill. Bottom right: “Small but Important Riots.” Photos courtesy of Robert O’Neill.

History | From page 33

gaining intelligence on Robert E. Lee’s movements. By preventing Federal forces from passing through local mountain gaps, Stuart’s cavalry allowed Lee’s troops to travel north unhindered.

After all, it’s the cavalry (horse-mounted soldiers) who are the most mobile operating in roles of reconnaissance, screening, and skirmishing. “Cavalry protects the infantry,” explains O’Neill. “That's one of their jobs. The other is to find the enemy.”

These three clashes took place between the famous battles of Brandy Station in Culpeper County, June 9, 1863 (the largest predominantly cavalry engagement of the entire Civil War,

resulting in a Confederate victory), and Gettysburg, July 1–3, 1863, a win for the North. O’Neill points out, “These three cavalry battles were overshadowed by Gettysburg, [which] happened just 10 days later.”

ABOUT O’NEILL

O’Neill lives in Virginia’s Northern Neck and comes from a distinguished career in law enforcement. His parents instilled a strong interest in reading and history, which led to his study of the Civil War, specifically the Union cavalry in the crucial year of 1863. On his mother’s side, O’Neill has two ancestors who fought in the war.

O’Neill’s original edition of “Small but Important Riots” was released in 1993, but after

gaining access to previously unpublished documents, O’Neill published a second edition in 2023 with an updated narrative and added information from recently discovered letters, diaries, and soldier records. “I think I cited 13 newspapers in the 1993 edition, but with today’s access to digital databases changing the way research is done, I cited 89 newspapers in this 2023 edition,” he says. After 30 years of searching the National Archives for records pertaining to the Civil War, O’Neill’s findings have significantly advanced the understanding of these three cavalry battles.

The origin of O’Neill’s book title comes from U.S. Infantry Captain John W. Ames, who was in

Left and right pages: This Waud sketch depicts the fighting around Kirkby Farm along the Trappe Road that took place at exactly the same time as the fighting at Vineyard Hill. Waud could have had a distant view of the fight. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.

History | Page 35

the area on June 21, 1863. From Aldie, he heard cavalry fighting around Upperville (about 12 miles west of Aldie), and listened to the battle throughout the day, later explaining that the cavalry was fighting “small but important riots.”

“Though Ames is away from the firing,” O’Neill says, “they heard cannon and found out it was the cavalry fighting…. There were a series of skirmishes during that day [June 21, 1863] that surrounded Upperville itself; Goose Creek Bridge is one of those areas.”

THE THREE CAVALRY BATTLES

According to published records, Pleasonton’s superiors — President Lincoln, U.S. Secretary of

War Edwin Stanton, and army commander Joseph Hooker — ordered Pleasonton to search for Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia who was heading into the Shenandoah Valley, north toward the Potomac River, and into Pennsylvania. “Hooker’s objective was to save Washington — the capital — from attack,” O’Neill explains. “Hooker was to send his cavalry out to look for Lee. But, Pleasanton disobeyed Hooker’s orders; I found documents that prove this.”

As cavalry commander, Stuart had the whole width of the Loudoun Valley to keep Federal forces away from Lee. Pleasanton was not to take his cavalry into the Loudoun Valley, but he did. And when Pleasonton and Stuart run into each other, that’s what leads to these three cavalry battles in June 1863.

Stuart was in the little mill village of Aldie when fighting broke out on Wednesday, June 17, at a sharp curve on Snickersville Turnpike. A stone monument commemorating the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry stands nearby, honoring those who fought at the Battle of Aldie. “It was erected by survivors of the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry; they suffered many heavy losses there,” O’Neill says.

An aspect of the Battle of Middleburg that has always been a mystery was its exact location. On June 17, French-American Union soldier Alfred Napoléon Duffié led his regiment into the Loudoun Valley, where they would ultimately perish. Having found a letter referring to the

History | From page 34 History | Page 36

death of one of Duffié’s officers, O’Neill’s book at long last reveals the circumstances of their defeat. “Based on the information in that letter and further research, I was able to pinpoint where that battle was fought,” he explains. “Duffié, coming into Middleburg on the night of the 17th, was attacked, driven out of town, and retreated south. On the morning of the 18th he’s attacked again; that’s when his officer was killed. Duffié was coming into Middleburg via The Plains Road.”

Severe fighting broke out about one mile west of the village of Middleburg, near a cluster of 19th-century stone buildings still standing at what is now Mt. Defiance Historic Park. On Friday, June 19, the Battle of Middleburg enveloped the area around the blacksmith shop at the intersection of the old Zulla roadbed and John Mosby Highway. The Union’s 1st Maine Cavalry were fighting dismounted from their horses, and the outnumbered Confederates were almost overrun. A stone monument dedicated to the bravery of the 1st Maine Cavalry stands on the grounds of Mt. Defiance, and in the old Zulla roadbed stands a 12-pound Napoleon howitzer cannon that Confederates used as a defensive position.

Stacked stone walls, still visible today, bordering Mt. Defiance provided cover for Union and Confederate soldiers along both sides of the old turnpike. In the evening of June 19, a storm rolled in, ending the Battle of Middleburg, which resulted in about 400 casualties. Churches became hos-

pitals, including Aldie’s Mt. Zion Church, where graffiti by soldiers can still be seen on the walls.

The Battle of Upperville occurred on the afternoon of Sunday, June 21, ending five days of cavalry engagements along Ashby’s Gap Turnpike including the area of the Goose Creek Bridge, which spans the waters of Goose Creek in four arches. Northern and Southern cavalry brigades totaling about 6,000 men with horse artillery clashed that afternoon in Upperville across the Ayrshire and Kirkby farms, between Trappe and Greengarden roads.

“That fight has been interpreted several different ways over the years,” O’Neill adds. “The owner of Kirkby Farm allowed me to walk the property and I was able to sort out that battle, as well.” Kirkby Farm was also the site of the Battle of Unison, which occurred months earlier, November 1–3, 1862. The farm is now permanently protected by a conservation easement with the Old Dominion Land Conservancy located in Purcellville.

By the night of June 21, almost a week’s worth of fighting resulted in fatigued and injured mounts, dwindling supplies, and high casualties on both sides. Just 10 days later, the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1–3, 1863) would break out.

160 YEARS LATER

In commemoration of the 160th anniversary of these three cavalry battles, NOVA Parks is teaming up with the Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area to provide a weekend program June 17 to

18. The weekend will include a family-friendly living history program at Mt. Zion Church in Aldie and guided tours at Mt. Defiance, and an all-day bus tour on June 17 will be led by VPHA Historian Emeritus Rich Gillespie.

On June 18, O’Neill will present a talk on his second edition of “Small but Important Riots” at Buchanan Hall in Upperville. The event concludes with a book signing and a beer and wine reception.

NOVA Parks Site Manager Tracy Gillespie, who invited O’Neill to speak, adds, “Bob’s book is extraordinary. He has shared a lifetime of learning through this narrative, which has been described as a ‘tactical study’ of the cavalry battles, but it’s so much more than that. It’s storytelling at its best!”

“Thirty years ago, there was no parkland there; it was all private property,” O’Neill points out. “But now we have Mt. Defiance Park and lots of other land placed in easements by folks who live out there.”

Reflecting on his research, O’Neill concludes, “Years ago, I met the late John Divine,” a nationally recognized authority on the Civil War and a native of the early 18th-century village of Waterford in Loudoun. “In 1980, John took me to the Route 50 corridor and explained what he understood about those battles. He suggested I try to write a book on it. I had never set out to do that, but one thing led to another. And I did. I hope that in 10 years someone else will take the story even further.”

Thanks to O’Neill and his dedication to research, we can learn more about these important cavalry battles and their role in the Civil War. And thanks to dedicated preservation efforts by NOVA Parks and other organizations, we can witness the fields and drive the roads where cavalrymen — and their proven steeds — changed history.

More information about the June 17 bus tour (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) beginning at Mt. Zion Historic Park (40309 John Mosby Highway, Aldie, Virginia) and the June 18 (2 to 4 p.m.) lecture by O’Neill at Buchanan Hall in Upperville can be found at VPHA’s website at piedmontheritage.org. Information on O’Neill’s book and his other publications and articles in historical magazines can be found at smallbutimportantriots.com ML

A Waud sketch of the 1st Maine skirmishing dismounted west of Middleburg on June 19. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.

PoPular Purcellville

Another Turn Tack and Apparel

We are a full service consignment tack shop selling items for the Rider, the Horse and the Barn.”

221 N 21st Street Purcellville Va 20132 540-441-3591

anotherturntack@gmail.com

@AnotherTurnTack

As one of the Mid-Atlantic’s oldest greenhouses, we pride ourselves on our history and our selection. Featuring over 5 acres of trees, shrubs and plants (including over 600 perennials), if it grows in Western Loudoun, Abernethy and Spencer likely has it! The selection continues with a fully stocked garden shop with everything from tools and soils to pots and gifts!

18035 Lincoln Road, Purcellville, VA 20132 | 540-338-9118

abernethyspencer.com | @abernethyspencer facebook.com/abernethyspencer

Nostalgia Boutique is an antique furniture and vintage clothing store situated in a building built in the 1800s. Featuring two floors of eye-catching inventory, Nostalgia is sure to take you back in time while making your home and wardrobe the talk of the town!

142 E Main Street, Purcellville, VA 20132 | 540-751-8252

shopatnostalgia.com | instagram: @shopatnostalgia facebook.com/shopatnostalgiava

Enhanced Beauty and Wellness Clinic

We are a medical spa and wellness Clinic located in the heart of Purcellville

141 N. HATCHER AVE 540-751-8140

enhancedclinic.com

@amandadayton_np

Middleburg Life is excited to announce the launch of our new website at the same home, middleburglife.com. In addition to unique ways for readers to engage with our editorial content, there are enhanced opportunities for advertising, a classifieds section, and the return of social photo pages highlighting the events around Hunt Country!

SPRING RACE SCENES

Piedmont

Fox Hounds Point-to-Point

March 25, Salem Racecourse, Upperville, Virginia

Old Dominion Hounds Point-to-Point

Scenes from the 2023 Spring Race season across Hunt Country captured by Liz Callar and Joanne Maisano.

Photos by Joanne Maisano

Top Left: 2nd Division, 2nd Race Winner, Island Nation.

Top Right: 1st Division, 2nd Race, Paddy's Crown 2nd Barrister.

Bottom: Lady Timber, Chloe Hannum on Our Legend.

April 8, Ben Venue Farm, Ben Venue, Virginia

Photos by Joanne Maisano

Left: Dream North with Jamie Bargary up and Fox Force Five with Barry Foley up in the NSA Filly & Mare Maiden Hurdle.

Right: Ahnaf trained by Sam Cockburn leads the way to the finish of the Maiden Hurdle.

Middleburg

Spring Races

April 22, Glenwood Park, Middleburg, Virginia

Blue Ridge Hunt Point-to-Point

April

Loudoun Hunt Point-to-Point

April 23, Morven Park, Leesburg, Virginia

16, Woodley Farm, Berryville, Virginia. Photos by Liz Callar

Left: Bill Hair, Don Yavonovich, MFH Jeff LeHew, and Wayne VanSant.

Right: Brian and Nikki Ferrell, Sandra and Ted Guarriello, and Ben Barnes.

Photos by Liz Callar

Left: Jack Doyle on Andi'Amu wins the Middleburg Hunt Cup.

Right: Steeplethon 3rd Race, Fast Vision trained by Leslie Young.

Photos by Joanne Maisano

Left: Shetland Pony Gilbert won with Pauly Aguilera riding.

Middle: Small Pony Flat, Winner Cami Kern on board Mallory. Right: Maiden Hurdle Div 1 Hold Hard (4) with Barry Foley up.

Our Favorite Local Gifts for Mother’s Day

Available

Vietri Planters, $154-$444, Available at Crème de

Gold-plated Earrings, Made in France, $50-$250, Available at Les

Needlepoint Canvases, in a variety of designs, $75-$475, Available at Stitch

Hand-tied Bouquets, $35-$75, Available at Nature Composed Kimono Jackets, $82, Available at Middleburg Essentials

Photos by Callie Broaddus

la Crème

La Vie en Rose Scarf, $180, Available at Chloe's of Middleburg

Jardins de Bagatelle

Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. Essentials, $14.99-$24.99,

at The Whole Ox

One Fresh Hat Sun Hats, $35-$40, Available at Tri-County Feeds

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

“METRONOME” AT THE BYRNE GALLERY

May 3 – June 4 | thebyrnegallery.com

The Byrne Gallery in Middleburg is proud to announce its show for the month of May, “Metronome,” featuring paintings by Andy Hill and sculptures by Richard Binder. The form and the structure of Hill’s colorful acrylic paintings and Binder’s stainless steel sculptures evoke the rhythms and cadences of music to the viewer. This show will be on display from May 3 – June 4. There will be a special reception for the artists on Saturday, May 13, from 4 to 7 p.m. Both the show and reception are free and open to the public, and all are welcome to attend.

MANAGING SPECIAL TREES: A ONEDAY COURSE WITH TONY KIRKHAM

May 6 | 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | osgf.org

Join arborist and woody plant specialist Tony Kirkham to learn about managing special trees using Oak Spring as an outdoor classroom. Based on the Oak Spring Garden Foundation property, the group will discuss and observe the results of various techniques for managing special trees, and explore the tools and techniques used in tree management. Finally, Kirkham will teach participants how to apply that knowledge to their own property. Participants will come away with a deeper understanding of the theoretical, practical, and ecological basis for managing special trees. Tickets are $125 per person and can be booked through Eventbrite.

BUDBREAK FESTIVAL

May 6 | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. | canavineyards.com

Budbreak Festival is a celebration of spring in the vineyard! Flowers are blooming, the vines are waking up, and Cana’s 2022 rosés are making their debut! Join Cana Vineyards as they release their newest vintages of rosé of merlot, rosé of cabernet sauvignon, and rosé of cabernet franc in a fun-filled weekend with tasting flights, live music, awesome food trucks, a local craft market, and plenty of good cheer! Want to learn about rosé while you drink it? Winemaker Melanie Natoli is curating a special comparative Rosé Around the World tasting, where you can learn how the best rosé is made while sampling a special selection of international styles. For more information visit: canavineyards.com/calendar/ budbreak-festival-5/

Calendar | Page 43

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

BOUQUETS AND BRACELETS AT AIYANA ATELIER

May 13 | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | aiyanaatelier.com

Join Aiyana Atelier for a day of bouquet crafting with jungle and loom, permanent jewelry with luxury sparks, and skin care consultations with the Aiyana Atelier staff. To book, visit vagaro. com/aiyanaatelier/aiyanaatelier and click “Classes.” The event is two hours long and has two sessions, the first from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and the second from 12 to 2 p.m.

ART IN THE BURG

May 13 | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. | artintheburgva.com

On Saturday, May 13, the Middleburg Arts Council and the Town of Middleburg will host

the spring installment of its biannual arts celebration, Art in the Burg: Celebrate the Arts. Artwork from local and regional artists of different styles, forms, and subject matter will be on display on South Madison Street and Federal Street, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This year’s event will also feature live music, a fashion show, cooking demonstrations, art activities for kids, and a special Mother’s Day-themed Wine Garden.

PIANO RECITAL WITH STANISLAV KHRISTENKO

May 26 | 7 to 10 p.m. | middleburgmusicfestival.org

Ukrainian pianist Stanislav Khristenko, winner of the Cleveland International Piano Competition, presents a recital program of Brahms

and Chopin masterpieces, as well as works of Ukrainian composers Karamanov, Silvestrov, Lyatoshinsky, and Horowitz at Buchanan Hall. For more information visit: middleburgmusicfestival.org/events.

HAND-ROLLED BEESWAX CANDLE MAKING

May 30 | 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. | middleburgcommunitycenter.com

Celebrate the pollinators of spring at the Middleburg Community Center Makerspace by making beeswax candles with Amy Potter. The workshop is $66 per person, and includes supper and non-alcoholic beverages. Wine and beer are available for purchase. For more information visit: middleburgcommunitycenter.com/calendar.

As the vibrancy of the Virginia landscape comes alive, awaken your senses to new beginnings. Let the bespoke outdoor experiences, integrative spa treatments and imaginative local cuisine guide your wanderlust and ignite your soul.