Every year during Historic Preservation Month, Preservation VA releases a list of that year’s Most Endangered Historic Sites to raise community awareness of threatened historic places. This year, the Waterford National Historic Landmark was included on the list due to the imminent threat of proposed 500kV transmission lines running through the Landmark.
Construction of 500kV transmission lines in the Waterford National Historic Landmark would destroy the integrity of the historic and cultural viewshed of Waterford and nullify its Landmark status, a designation that the community achieved in 1970 and continues to fight for. While Waterford’s historic integrity is under threat, we are hopeful that being listed as one of Virginia’s Most Endangered Historic Places will raise awareness of this issue and help rally supporters to our cause. Endangerment does not mean the end, it means that there is a community ready and willing to put in the work to save it. The Waterford Foundation is honored to be a part of that community, and are hopeful that it will continue to grow.
Endangerment does not mean the end, it means that there is a community ready and willing to put in the work to save it.
The Waterford Foundation thanks Preservation Virginia for its support in our work to preserve the historic buildings and open spaces of Waterford in defense of the National Historic Landmark. To learn more about the Most Endangered Historic Places designation and Waterford’s rich history of grassroots preservation, please attend our Preservation Celebration on Sunday, May 19th from 3-5pm at the Waterford Old School (40222 Fairfax Street, Waterford VA 20197). For more information about the threat of the 500kV transmission lines and what can be done, please visit the Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance’s website at www.loudountransmissionlinealliance.org.
