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Piedmont Crossroads: The Path to Preservation
“Piedmont Crossroads, The Path to Preservation” is a podcast covering preservation issues and historic resources in our state-designated Heritage Area that deserve a deeper look. Commentators will address these issues one at a time, and will engage local experts to help the public understand the history and importance of each topic.
Each podcast episode will examine a historic resource that is threatened or may need more attention from the public. They will also address successful preservation efforts that have a positive story to tell. Some issues have been covered at length in the media while others may be little known by the public. Listeners will learn fascinating history, and often about the encroachment of modern development, and the conflicts that result. Discussions will also cover steps being taken to protect these important historic resources and how the public can help support their preservation.
Preserving Loudoun’s Rural Roads
Scenic. Historic. Essential to Loudoun’s Identity. The county’s rural roads are under threat. Hear about their history, their critical importance, and what’s being done to save them now. This is Chapter 6 of Piedmont Crossroads: The Path to Preservation.
The importance of conservation easements to the preservation of the Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area cannot be overstated. Without them, our green space, historic sites, and unrivaled vistas would be overrun and boxed in by suburban development. The fifth episode of Piedmont Crossroads – The Path to Preservation tells us why the area is worth saving, the significance of the easement solution, and how to go about getting one. It also shows the benefit to the easement holder. This episode of Piedmont Crossroads is somewhat different from other podcasts in in our series because it was primarily recorded at a live event in March 2023. The intimacy of the live event is enhanced by a recorded Q and A with Ashton Cole, Executive Director of the Land Trust of Virginia. So, if you are interested in learning all about easements – what they are, how the work and what good they do – sit back and listen to Episode 5.
Data Centers are everywhere in Northern Virginia and more are coming.
Why is this happening? Why are our representatives approving these colossal industrial structures all across our treasured landscape? Why can’t they be stopped by protests and resistance? What is the scale of money involved? The answers to these questions - and some solutions - are available here.
This release of the podcast address the environmental, financial, political and historical issues surrounding the data center crisis in the Northern Virginia Heritage.
An earlier version of this podcast was released prior to the vote by the Warrenton Town Council permitting a Data Center in that town’s gateway. This version is updated and expanded.
For more information on this subject, the interviews can be listened to in their entirety below:
Alex Nance interviews Jim Hannah
The historic village of Philomont sits astride Snickersville Turnpike in Western Loudoun County. It has a remarkable history, from its initial settlement in the early 19th century through the Civil War and up to its identity as a well-preserved village today. Learn more about this historic village, and some of the preservation challenges that it faces now, including the threat to the village’s historic horse show grounds.
Carter Hall: Hope for the Future
Carter Hall is an historic home in Clarke County, Virginia, in the lower Shenandoah Valley, built by Nathaniel Burwell in 1792. Over the centuries the property has hosted a number of historical figures, including Revolutionary War hero Daniel Morgan, Virginia Governor and U.S. Secretary of State Edmund Randolph, and Confederate General Stonewall Jackson. Carter Hall is a landmark in Clarke County, and its future has been hanging in the balance since it went on the market in 2018. The historic property was finally purchased in October of 2021 and the preservation community is hopeful that it will be more accessible to local residents under new ownership. Join us to learn about its rich past, and hear directly from one of the new owners, Langdon Greenhalgh, the 5th great-grandson of Nathanial Burwell, about their promising plans for the future of Carter Hall.
What is the Aldie Assemblage and Why Does It Matter?
In our inaugural episode of Piedmont Crossroads, we take an in-depth look at the properties known as the Aldie Assemblage. These important parcels are home to the 1820 Aldie Tavern and are integral to the historic fabric of the village of Aldie, one of the most preserved turnpike towns in Northern Virginia. The Aldie Assemblage also stands at the gateway to western Loudoun and it could be ruined by inappropriate development if it falls into the wrong hands. Join us to learn about the fascinating history of Aldie, the complex story behind the Assemblage, and why the Piedmont Environmental Council's purchase offer is the perfect solution to protect this important piece of Heritage Area history.