Willisville Preservation Foundation: Pondering the Past, Planning the Future

Willisville Preservation Foundation: Pondering the Past, Planning the Future

By Dulany Morison

Strong and proud.

Those characteristics have defined Willisville, a village in southwestern Loudoun, since its origins predating the Civil War.

In the 1850s, both free people of color and enslaved lived alongside one another in the hamlet. After the war, they purchased properties and the community expanded through hard work and by taking advantage of new opportunity for self-governance.

With support from neighboring white families and the Freedman’s Bureau, they erected the original Willisville School House in 1868 which became the heart of the village, giving them a place to teach their children and worship together. In the 1920s, the Willisville Church and Willisville Store were built, again with assistance from surrounding landowners, which completed the core of the village, most of which still exists today.

Willisville residents and descendants are intrinsically connected by pride for their heritage and legacy of overcoming challenging circumstances to establish themselves.

Willisville Preservation Foundation board members: (first row) Carla Timbers, Ann Lee, Carol Lee, Ramona Payne (second row) Janet Hagan, Zina Miller, Thelma Morris, Janie Motion, Dwight Grant and (third row) Dulany Morison and Gordon Turner

The community has a history of working together to achieve its goals for more than 170 years and it’s no surprise that in October, 2019, the Willisville Preservation Foundation (WPF) was formed. It’s a nonprofit to advocate for the Willisville community, preserve its heritage, and protect the historic character of the village.

The formation of WPF was officially the culmination of a two-year effort, supported by residents of the Piedmont countryside and historian Jane Covington, to get the village listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In many ways WPF has existed since the middle of the 19th-century.

WPF is chaired by Carol Lee, a third generation resident of the Willisville community, and it’s been my privilege to serve with her as one of WPF’s 11 board members. My family has been closely connected with the Lee family for generations, and our bonds have been strengthened further through our work over the past five years to preserve Willisville’s incredible history.

From our standing room only Gospel Concert Fundraiser at Buchanan Hall, to our interview on the Kojo Namdi public radio show, and our unveiling of the new Willisville Historic Road Marker on Route 50, Carol’s passionate determination has been the driving force behind our success.

In early January, she invited me to join her mother, Ann Lee, and her son, Dwight Grant, to reflect on the success and future of WPF.

Ann, who has lived in the village since the 1930s and attended Willisville School, said that, “I want people to know that I enjoyed growing up in Willisville and that we had good opportunities to make something of ourselves. We never felt held back.

“Our community, white and black, has a history of supporting each other, and we were raised to respect one another. Our children grew up to become doctors, teachers, and other proud professionals. Many have moved away and some remain and support WPF’s mission.”

Said Dwight, “I also have fond memories of Willisville. Whether we were sifting through Reverend McDonald’s pile for parts to build bikes or piling into the back of a pickup truck for a ride down to Bloomfield for candy, we kept ourselves busy during those long, hot days. Willisville is an oasis in its own time, and it takes its own time.”

Carol Lee, is a third generation resident of the Willisville community and, chairman of the Willisville Preservation Foundation.

Ann Lee has lived in the village since the 1930s and attended Willisville School.

Dwight Grant has fond memories of growing up in Willisville. He is a living legacy and now owns Salon Aubrey a thriving business on West Washington Street in Middleburg.

“Growing up in Willisville,” Carol said, “I never thought of escaping and pursuing adventure elsewhere, never knew there was an elsewhere as a child. We made our own adventure and didn’t see much outside the village until school age. There were so many families that lived there, with lots of children. It was a place that was safe from the outside world or any racism.”

In many ways, the best of the Willisville experience remains unchanged, but the tides of the 21st century are increasingly threatening.

“The best days of Willisville might be behind us as change continues to bear down on the land in and around the village,” Dwight said. “But it’s my hope that this village remains an affordable place to thrive. The legacy of Willisville stems from humble beginnings and reaches into successful places.”

Dwight is certainly living that legacy, having owned a thriving business in Middleburg, Salon Aubrey, for over a decade.

Carol’s understanding of the importance of preserving her heritage goes back to a childhood car ride with her Aunt Julia.

“As we passed the cemetery, my aunt said, ‘Carol, you better do something about that!’” she recalled. “At that time, it was so overgrown, you could hardly tell it was a cemetery. So, my cousin Judy, sister Janet and I began the family and Willisville research.”

Today the cemetery grounds are kept in pristine condition thanks to the hard work of WPF Director Gordon Turner.

The conversation shifted to future projects, including a plan to publish a book on the village, described by Carol as “not really a story book, but a book of facts about each property, family, and house…going back to our earliest days.”

WPF also plans to continue an active role supporting the effort to preserve the Asbury Church in Middleburg, “We (WPF) would like to consult on the restoration and assist with future educational programming,” Carol said.

The board also is working on a spring exhibit at the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum with Anne Marie Chirieleison. It will highlight the lives of Henson and Lucinda Willis, after whom the village is named.

Carol and the Lee family continue to inspire their community and the future appears bright for the historic village. We can all learn from its story of strength, pride, and supportive partnerships. The WPF Board is grateful for all the support it has received, and 2023 promises to be another highly successful strong and proud year.

Dulany Morison is a native of Middleburg, Virginia, received a B.A. in Southern History at the University of Virginia, and is an equities trader. He serves on the Boards of the Goose Creek Association, Great Meadow Foundation, Land Trust of Virginia, Piedmont Fox Hounds, PFH Conservation Fund, and Willisville Preservation Foundation. He also serves on PEC’s Rowley Goose Creek Conservation Committee, VPHA’s Preservation Committee, and is a member of the Orange County Hounds.