History Helps Stoke Morison’s Passion
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By Leslie VanSant
t’s a typical late August afternoon in the Virginia Piedmont. The air is thick, heavy with heat and humidity. A storm is brewing to the west.
Dulany Morison is sitting on the porch at Stoke, his family home, enjoying a cup of tea, an eye to the weather about to roll in, and enjoying a conversation about one of his favorite topics: history.
Photo by Doug Gehlsen Middleburg Photo
Dulany Morison and his relatives.
“We are all so fortunate because we live in a museum: the houses, battlefields, farms, even the roads. You can touch it. It’s (history) alive.” Dulany’s enthusiasm is measured, but extremely contagious. Dulany Morison grew up surrounded by history. And it excited his curiosity. At an early age, he started asking questions about his surroundings
Stoke and Welbourne, his family’s homes, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. His great-great-great grandfather founded the Upperville Colt & Horse Show and the Piedmont Fox Hounds. His great-grandmother was known for her gardens, and as a prize-winning propagator of narcissus. Still curious, Dulany continued his studies at the University of Virginia. And now, in a tradition of community service, he is helping others appreciate our rich local history. In 2019, he was instrumental in the movement to recognize Willisville, an historic African-American community in Loudoun County, not far from Welbourne on the
National Register for Historic Places. Through the process, Dulany learned more about his own family’s history through the lens of the enslaved and freed AfricanAmericans of Willisville. The stories of both places and their people were connected. “We have a tendency to take things for granted,” he said. “But if you peel back the layers, it (history) plays a role in who we are and where we are today.” Since 2016, Dulany has served on the board of the Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area Association (VPHAA) and as its chair since 2019. In the last year, he’s led the organization through a re-brand from Mosby Heritage Area to Virginia Piedmont Heritage. The goal of the organization is to raise awareness of the extraordinary and important historic landscape while building support to preserve it. The name did not reflect the broader mission or programs that teach the history of our region from Native Americans through the Civil Rights movement. “The name change was something that had been discussed for years,” he said. “With the celebration of our 25th anniversary, it just seemed like the right time.” Under Dulany’s leadership, the VPHAA has been partnering with other organizations, advocating for land preservation through conservation easements and other legal pathways. In addition to Willisville, they were active in helping Loudoun County recognize the importance of preserving historic Aldie. Dulany and his wife, Eleanor, who sits on the Piedmont Environmental Council Board of Directors, share a passion for preserving the land.. Together they have undertaken the preservation of Stoke, starting with the renovation of the barn, from which they run a horse boarding operation. They frequently use Stoke—the house and barn—as backdrops for larger discussions about history and preservation. “Stoke is not just an historic estate, it’s our home, it’s our future,” Dulany said. “Our passion and enthusiasm, for history and for the land, is genuine and draws people into history. We hope to encourage others to explore these stories and preserve these places so future generations can enjoy them.”
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