Historic Perspectives
News About the Preservation of Prince William County’s Historic Resources
Fall 2011
Published by the Prince William County Department of
Public Works, Historic Preservation Division
Prince William County Shines During
Civil War Sesquicentennial
This past July, thousands of people commemorated the beginning of
the American Civil War, right here in Prince William County. The Battle of First Manassas was fought on July 21, 1861 and 150 years later,
the reenactment was held on July 23-24. Nearly 9,000 reenactors and
20,000 visitors descended on Pageland Farm to attend the premier
Sesquicentennial event. Despite the high temperatures, it was a safe and successful event.
This success was due to the support of hundreds of government officials and departments as
well as thousand and thousand of hours donated by hundreds of volunteers. An event of this
size could not have been pulled off without the support of the entire Prince William community.
The Historic Preservation Division played a crucial role in the planning and logistics of this event. With
that said, the Division has been active in many other events that took place this summer. Ben Lomond
Historic Site, which served as a
Confederate hospital in July 1861,
hosted nearly 1, 000 visitors over
the July 23-24 weekend. Specialized bus tours focused on the First
Battle of Manassas were conducted
all summer as well as a specialized
Civil War lecture series from January – June. Staff also focused on
educating our younger generation
about the Civil War through three
Civil War camps at Ben Lomond,
participating in the Of the Student,
By the Student, For the Student
program with Manassas National
Battlefield (MNBP) and the Journey
Through Hallowed Ground and finally through a 6th grade Civil War
Education Day program with MNBP.
Continued pg. 2
Aerial view of the Reenactment of the First Battle of Manassas, Credit – Prince William/Manassas CVB
From pg. 1.
Though a lot of the attention his past summer was on the reenactment, the smaller, more personal programs allowed local citizens
and visitors to experience the history of this region. The Historic
Preservation Division was successful in catering to the thousands of
tourists who visited the area and staying focused on a message of
education. The Sesquicentennial of the Civil War does not stop
here; the war carried on for four years and impacted Prince William
in many ways. We will continue to commemorate important dates
and events through 2015. Programming will include bus tours,
boat tours, lectures, youth camps, living history events, all focused
on understanding and appreciating this area’s role in America’s
most tragic period in history.
For more information on upcoming
programs, please visit
www.manassasbullrun.com/
By Rob Orrison, Site Manager
Bristoe Station Battlefield
Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman, Corey Stewart
Photo by Rob Orrison
The Grandfather’s Clock
I
n 1830, Philadelphia annalist John F. Watson wrote a
tribute to the stately grandfather’s clock. His thoughts
could easily apply to the clock in the hall at Rippon:
“I love to contemplate an old clock, one of those relics of
bygone times that come down to us wrapped in veneration, telling their tale of simple yet touching interest.
How erect and prim it stands in the corner, like some faded
specimen of maiden antiquity. Its face bears the mark of
beauty—of beauty decayed but not obliterated. It is plain
that it has seen its best days, but it is equally evident that
it was the pride and ornament of its day.
Years have gone by since the ancient monitor of time first
started on its course, and now they who started out with it
in the morning of life, where are they, aye, where are
they? But the old clock ticks blithely and patiently as ever.
The voices and footsteps are silent of those who journeyed
up with it to a good old age. A new race succeeds and
stands before it, as they watch its progress their hours are
also passing. Mark the impressive lesson from the old
clock.”
The “weight and pendulum clock in a tall case”, now universally known as the grandfather’s clock, was being produced by excellent clockmakers in England by 1700. The
tall case was designed to accommodate the “seconds” pendulum, a recent invention that proved to be so efficient
that it was not improved upon for more than two centuries.
The pendulum revolutionized the accuracy of timekeeping.
The basic tall case design was soon adopted by Pennsylvania clockmakers and gained popularity not only as a reliable timekeeper but also as a decorative piece of furniture.
The grandfather’s clock that graces the front hallway at
Rippon Lodge is one of those Pennsylvania clocks, representing the best in American craftsmanship. We can be
assured that the maker of this clock was a man of considerable social standing, treated with respect greater than
other craftsmen such as the blacksmith, the carpenter or
Historic Perspectives
The Central Passage at Rippon Lodge. circa 1930’s.. The clock continues to grace
the same place today. Photo from Wade Ellis Collection
the tinsmith. No great clock factories were ever established in Pennsylvania, indicating that clockmaking remained the domain of the expert individual craftsman in
his own shop. An average clockmaker might make only
four or five clocks in a year, each of which went on to become a family treasure. These “grand heirlooms” were
handed down from generation to generation as possessions of great importance.
Clockmakers were men of significant mechanical and scientific achievement who learned their craft by way of apprenticeship. A boy of keen mathematical or mechanical
ability who showed patience and skill and an aptitude for
hard work might master the trade and carry on with a
business of his own. Renowned clockmaker David Rittenhouse, for example, pursued clockmaking his whole life
while becoming one of the great scientists of his time. The
incomparable Pennsylvanian Benjamin Franklin was the
Page 2
Enslaved Christmas
F
or enslaved Virginians
in antebellum America, the Christmas season
was the only extended
respite they had. Typically the last week in December, from just before
Christmas to New Years
was a holiday for enslaved people. Slaves
that were hired out for
the year returned back to
their owner’s residence
where they had this week
of respite before being
hired back out for the
new year, having one
week to spend with family members before being
hired away. Slaves
would often purchase
gifts for one another from
money they made doing
odd-jobs around the
One of a series of twelve collectible cards
plantation or from the
published by William A. Stephens Album
sales from their vegetaVarieties, circa 1863.
ble gardens. Typical gifts Courtesy Library of Congress
included hats, hair ribbons, shoes, clothing, tobacco, sugar, or coins.
The Christmas season ended with the cutting of a new
“Yule Log”. The men would go out into the forest or swamp
and cut down the “biggest, toughest, greenest hardwood
tree they could find”. It was then cut so that it could be
placed in a fireplace, and then submerged into water for a
year. At the beginning of next years Christmas season the
“yule log” would be lit by the master. On some plantations,
the season would then last as long as that log burned.
Slaves attempted to have that log burn as long as possible
because when it went out, slaves had a tough year of work
and hardships in front of them.
This Christmas break was seen as a right by many enslaved Virginians, a right that was worth fighting, and dying, for. On Christmas Eve 1856 George Green of Haymarket was killed by his five enslaved workers. All five were
quickly arrested and tried at Brentsville Courthouse. Asked
why they had killed their master, the defendants claimed,
that among other things, Green forced them to work the
week between Christmas and New Years, while all the
other neighboring enslaved workers had it off. In the allwhite Court’s view that was not a creditable excuse so all
three adults were executed and the two teenagers were
sold outside of the United States.
By Bill Backus, Interpreter,
Ben Lomond Historic Site
Historic Perspectives
Grandfather’s Clock From pg. 2.
inventor of the three-wheel clock.
The name Thomas Burrowes appears on the face of the
Rippon grandfather’s clock, along with the town name
Strasburg. Burrowes was born in Ireland, came to Delaware in 1784 and to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in
1787. He had been educated for the Episcopal ministry
but never took his holy orders. He engaged in clockmaking in Strasburg from 1787 to 1810. We can assume that
Thomas Burrowes was the maker of this clock, although
we do not know who originally bought it or how it came to
reside at Rippon Lodge. The clock has been in the house
since the time of Judge Ellis.
Many fine clocks were made in Pennsylvania during the
“golden era” of clockmaking, from about 1750 until the
Revolution. When prosperity once again returned about
1800, the handmade tall case clock enjoyed a great revival
with every community in the state boasting its own clockmaker or two. Not until around 1830 when the New England shelf clock came on the market for about one fifth the
cost did the era of the grandfather’s clock begin to wane.
Several characteristics
of the Rippon grandfather’s clock can
shed some light on
when it may have
been made. One feature is the “almanac”
above the clock face
showing the phases of
the moon. The moon
wheel, which moved
independently of the
clock itself, was not a
scientific instrument,
but at a quick glance
could give an approximation of the phases
of the moon—a useful
bit of information for
farmers or travelers in
the eighteenth cenClose up of Rippon Lodge Clock
tury who might have
Photo by Becky Super
needed to know how
light it was a night. Clockmakers began building almanacs
into their clocks about 1730, so we know the clock was
made after that. Furthermore, the painted dial—the colored moon faces and the flowers in the corners—indicate
that the clock was made after 1800. Since Thomas Burrowes stopped making clocks in 1810, we can assume that
the Rippon clock was made between 1800 and 1810.
Many handsome tall case clocks from the late eighteenth
century share similarities in cabinet style with the Rippon
clock. The size, shape and detailing of the case and the
broken-arch pediment and finials on the top all suggest a
Pennsylvania clock from that era.
Continued pg. 6
Rippon Lodge Historic Site
15520 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge
703-499-9812
The Old Manassas Courthouse
9246 Lee Street, Manassas
703-792-4754
Lucasville School
10516 Godwin Dr. Manassas
703-367-7872
Upcoming Events
All fees listed are per person. All programs are free for children under six unless otherwise stated.
Please wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather for outdoor programs. No pets please.
Programs may be cancelled due to inclement weather. Call site phone number for updated information.
October 1-2
Brentsville World War II Weekend
11am – 4pm, Free
Join World War II living historians to learn about daily life for
soldiers in the Europe and Pacific Theatres. Axis and Allied
soldiers will be portrayed with equipment, armaments and
historic military vehicles. Learn about the home front and the
many ways that citizens supported the war effort. View a diverse exhibit of original WWII artifacts displayed in the
ca.1928 One-Room Schoolhouse.
Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre
October 1-2
Historic Hams and Delectable Dairy
11am -4pm; $10
Ben Lomond plantation attempted to be a
self-sustaining farm. As much as possible the
food needed for the plantation was grown on
location. During the fall all of the food was prepared for storage. Join site staff with hands-on activities about 19th century
food preparation including butter and cheese making, salting
and smoking of meat.
Ben Lomond Historic Site
October 8, 9, 22, 23
Bristoe Station Battlefield Guided Tours
11am-3pm, tours leave on the hour, donations accepted
Bristoe Station Battlefield staff and volunteers will provide
guided tours of the battlefield. Learn about Camp Jones and
the two battles that took place here in 1862 and 1863. Tours
begin on the hour and depart from the kiosk in the parking lot
on Iron Brigade Unit Avenue. Last tour at 3 pm.
Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park
Historic Perspectives
October 9
Slavery on Sunday Tours
11am-3pm; $7
Staff will provide unique hands-on tours about slavery on Sundays. Learn about the various activities that the enslaved
community at Ben Lomond would have taken place here on
Sundays. See the farm and house through the eyes of those
who were enslaved and kept the plantation running. Tours
begin on the hour. Last tour at 3 p.m.
Ben Lomond Historic Site
October 15
148th Anniversary of the Battle of Bristoe Station Tours
11am-3pm, tours leave on the hour, $5
On October 14, 1863 Federal and Confederate forces met once
again at Bristoe Station. Join local historians for in-depth tours
of the Battle which ended General Robert E. Lee’s last offensive of the war. Tours begin on the hour and depart from the
kiosk in the parking lot.
Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park
October 15
Nature Trail Walk
1pm; $5
Take a guided tour along the nature trails at Brentsville and
learn about plants and animals that live in this part of Virginia.
Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre
October 21-22
Spirits of Historic Brentsville
7pm – 9:30pm; $10
Step into Brentsville’s past during this unique historic “ghostly”
experience. Along your guided tour, you will meet the spirits of
people that once lived, worked and faced execution in Brentsville during the 1800s. These candlelit vignettes will give detailed insight into Prince William County’s history. Some
scenes may not be suitable for younger audiences.
Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre
Page 4
Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park
Intersection of Iron Brigade Unit Ave
and 10th Alabama Way, Bristow
703-366-3049
Brentsville Courthouse Historic
Centre
12229 Bristow Road, Bristow
703-365-7895
October 22-23, 29 -30
Here Lieth the Body: Funerals, Duels and
Ghostly Tales
11am – 4pm. $7
See Rippon Lodge draped in black crepe as family
members mourn the 1757 death of Richard Blackburn. Learn about the early 19th century duels. The
losers were both brought to Rippon Lodge. Ghostly
tales will be all about. Tours begin on the hour.
Last tour 3 pm.
Rippon Lodge Historic Site
October 29
Ghost Hunting in Historic Brentsville
7pm – 12am; $125
Join experience paranormal investigators to learn about what
might be haunting Historic Brentsville. This program includes
a seminar on the theories of paranormal investigation as well
as a investigation in the historic jail.
Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre
November 12
Open-Hearth Cooking Class at Brentsville
10am – 1pm, $40 per person; space limited, reservations required.
Gear up for the Thanksgiving season by learning the skills of
open-hearth cooking. Join an experienced open-hearth cooking
historian and learn the basic skills needed to prepare food over
an open fire. You will learn how to build a fire and will prepare
and cook three different dishes. End the program by enjoying
a taste of the food you cooked. Class will take place in the ca.
1850 Haislip Farmhouse.
Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre
November 5-6
Camp Jones Civil War Encampment 150th Anniversary
Event
11am – 4pm on Sat., 10 am – 3 pm on Sun.
Candlelight tours on Sat., Nov. 5th from 5pm – 8pm
Camps free during day, Evening tours $5
In 1861, thousands of Confederate soldiers were encamped in
the fields around Bristoe Station. This large encampment was
called "Camp Jones". Here for several months, Confederate
soldiers from all over the south would endure hard winter conditions and be exposed to numerous illnesses and diseases.
Nearly 1,000 men died and were buried at Bristoe during this
time. This living history program will demonstrate Civil War
camp life and the hardships that soldiers faced during the war.
Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park
Historic Perspectives
Ben Lomond Historic Site
10321 Sudley Manor Dr, Manassas
703-367-7872
November 19
Nature Trail Walk
1pm; $5
Take a guided tour along the nature trails at Brentsville and
learn about plants and animals that live in this part of Virginia.
Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre
December 10
Rippon Lodge Holiday Open House and Welcome
Home Celebration
11am – 4pm $5
Rippon Lodge will be decked out for the holiday season.
Join in on the welcome home celebration of the portraits of
Thomas and Christian Blackburn. Living history, music and
18th century country dancing will take place. Refreshments
and holiday crafts for kids will be available.
Rippon Lodge Historic Site
December 11
Slave Holidays
11am - 4pm; $7
Staff will provide unique hands-on tours about enslaved life
during the holiday week from Christmas to New Years.
Learn about how the enslaved community celebrated the
holidays and how they resisted against the institution that
kept them enslaved. Tours begin on the hour with the last
tour at 3 pm.
Ben Lomond Historic Site
December 17
Civil War Christmas at Brentsville
3pm – 9pm; $5
Join us for a celebration of the holiday season in the old
Union Church featuring music by Brentsville High School
students, refreshments, children’s crafts, and a visit from
the real Victorian Santa all by a roaring bonfire.
Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre
Grandfather’s Clock From pg. 3
A grandfather’s clock was a prized possession in many
early American households—a constant companion whose
presence people grew to love and rely on. One man, a
Pennsylvania German by the name of Dr. Edwin Miller
Fogel, used his clock as a weather forecaster. He stated
that “If a clock with brass works ticks very loud it is a sign
of stormy weather.” This has a basis in scientific fact as
“sound waves are better transmitted in a dense and damp
atmosphere than in a dry atmosphere. Hence a clock
would tick louder before a storm.”
We do not know how the early clockmakers referred to the
tall case clock, but not until 1875, when song writer Henry
Clay Work published the song “My Grandfather’s Clock”,
did it receive the name by which it is universally known.
The lyrics are known to children and clock enthusiasts everywhere:
My grandfather's clock
Was too large for the shelf,
So it stood ninety years on the floor;
It was taller by half
Than the old man himself,
Though it weighed not a pennyweight more.
It was bought on the morn
Of the day that he was born,
It was always his treasure and pride;
But it stopped short
Never to go again,
When the old man died.
Ninety years without slumbering,
Tick, tock, tick, tock,
His life seconds numbering,
Tick, tock, tick, tock,
It stopped short
Never to go again,
When the old man died.
Reference:
Eckhardt, George H. Pennsylvania Clocks and Clockmakers:
An Epic of Early American Science, Industry and Craftsmanship. New York: The Devin Adair Company, 1955.
By Penny Schulstad, Rippon Lodge Intern
Spring 2011
Historic Perspectives
Brentsville Jail Restoration
Update
T
he much anticipated restoration of the
1822 Brentsville
Jail is slated to
begin this fall.
Work will begin
with stabilization
of the structure
itself including
removal of a
20th century
standing seam
roof. This will
allow our two carpenters, Fritz Korzendorfer and John Daymude, to determine the degree of work necessary to stabilize the building. Several key questions about the jail’s
condition are: What degree of deterioration has occurred
on the wooden sill that supports the roof’s rafters?
Throughout the interior of the jail considerable insect damage has been assessed, it will be paramount to see if this
continues up to the attic and roof framing. Also of interest
will be the status of the brick and masonry in this area.
Much repointing of the interior brick on the first and second floor levels is already anticipated. Finally, water service lines to the building will be located and dismantled
while temporary electric service will be added to permit
restoration work and limited visitor access. This stabilization work will also allow for closer examination of the historic fabric and finish of the building. The structure had
several different uses including a ladies’ dormitory in the
early 20th century, a private residence and an administrative office for the Prince William County Park Authority.
Much additional work will involve carefully removing these
later fabrics (for instance a 20th century stair) and finishes
(such as wallpaper) to reveal the jail’s original appearance.
Staff and volunteers are eagerly awaiting the beginning of
the project which will also help to facilitate safer visitor
access inside one of the most important surviving historic
buildings in Prince William County today.
By Mike Riley, Site Manager, Brentsville
Courthouse Historic Centre