In Our Backyard

By John M. Souders  The fourth of four articles celebrating the Waterford Foundation’s 75th anniversary.              By 1970, the grassroots preservation organization, the Waterford

Are you looking for a great walk, “in your backyard”? Ball’s Bluff, a combination of history and a special natural landscape is there for you. To a history enthusiast, Ball’s Bluff is known as the site of a Civil War battle. To a wildflower enthusiast, it is known as one of the best places in Loudoun County to see a remarkable diversity of spring wildflowers. These two facets of the park contribute to make the whole greater than the parts.

By Neil V. Stern Within Sterling Park are remnants of a narrow, grass-covered roadway important to Loudoun and American history,

By April 1864, after three hard years of war, the women of Waterford were at wit’s end. Most of the men were in self-imposed exile across the Potomac, or fighting, or in prison.

In 1917-18, the Wilson administration strove to make American participation in the First World War—the “war to end all wars”—a people’s war, with everyoneplaying a part. Hundreds of Loudouners were drafted or otherwise served in the military. But the soldiers were not alone in their efforts to defeat Germany and Austria-Hungary.

In February 1917, in the 30thmonth of the First World War, Germany declared total submarine warfare around the British Isles impacting all vessels including those operated by neutrals like the United States. In March, news broke of the intercepted Zimmermann Telegram in which Germany implored Mexico to join the war against us if we declared war on Germany.

Each year, thousands visit Waterford and marvel at a wonderfully intact remnant of early America. This year, the village celebrates