Waterford Foundation

Notes from the Preservation Desk

What Does Historic Preservation Mean?

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When you walk around places like Waterford, you can feel the history of the place. That is not an accident. The care and protection of historic areas like Waterford is largely defined as historic preservation. But, preservation can take almost as many forms as there are historic buildings in the United States. 

Historic preservation is largely agreed to be defined as the interpretation, care of, and protection of historic artifacts and objects, sites, buildings and structures, and districts. There are multiple different fields of preservation (that often intersect with other fields and interests) in which people dive into that definition: including archaeology, architecture, museums, planning, building technology, advocacy, material culture, conservation, public history, and more. What the definition of historic preservation means and how they interpret it in their work can differ from preservationist to preservationist.

So, what does historic preservation mean to preservationists in Loudoun County? Below learn a little bit about the insights of what preservation means to them from Margaret “Margie” Salazar-Porzio, Ph.D. of Oatlands Historic House and Gardens, Ian MacDougall of the Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area, William Milone of Loudoun County Planning and Zoning, Jana Shafagoj of Morven Park, and Abigail “Abby” Zurfluh of the Waterford Foundation.

Margaret “Margie” Salazar-Porzio, Ph.D. is the Executive Director of Oatlands, a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Loudoun County. With more than 15 years of experience in museums and public humanities, she previously served in leadership roles at the Smithsonian Institution, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. At Oatlands, she is leading a community-centered transformation focused on descendant engagement, education, land stewardship, and long-term sustainability.

What does historic preservation mean to you?

“To me, historic preservation is about stewarding places in ways that protect their historical and cultural significance while also inviting active engagement, inquiry, and connection to the present. Preservation to me is about honoring the people and their lives that are embedded in a landscape, including those that are difficult or complicated. At Oatlands, preservation means holding complexity, centering descendant voices, and ensuring that the site remains relevant and meaningful to the communities it serves today and in the future. As stewards, we must treat the site as a shared inheritance that extends beyond any one generation. Our choices today must therefore be guided by the long view, made with the understanding that others will inherit this place and continue its care.”

How did you get interested in historic preservation?

My path into historic preservation came through public history and museum work. I’ve spent my career thinking about how history is interpreted, who gets to tell those stories, and how institutions can better reflect the full American story. Working at places like the Smithsonian and now at Oatlands has deepened my belief in the power of place: that historic sites are not simply lovely backdrops; they are places where civic learning, dialogue, and connection can unfold. With thoughtful interpretation, these places draw people into history as a lived experience, encouraging reflection and honest engagement with our shared past.

Diving into the John Wesley Community Church Restoration Project

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In 2002, a long term capital rehabilitation and restoration project began at the John Wesley Community Church. Boots are now ready to be back on the ground in the Church this February for the final stage of this long term project! The goals of this final stage is to finish returning the building to its period of significance and to finish making historically sensitive capital improvements to the building to improve accessibility and long-term stability. As well, the Foundation aims to implement interpretive materials in the space that shares the story of the African American community of Waterford, with the involvement and support of the descendant community. This would support the long-term preservation of this integral property to the Waterford National Historic Landmark and help in sharing the history of the church and its congregation to the public.

Whether the restoration and rehabilitation project is for a house, church, mill, or barn- there is a lot of planning work involved from the decision to move forward with a restoration project to boots on the ground construction works starts. Read on below to learn more about the planning work undertaken to get to the point we are at now in the John Wesley Community Church Restoration project. 

Documentation: The Historic Structures Report

The first step in any project is to understand the full scope of it. When it comes to properties like the John Wesley Community Church, that means the production of a historic structures report (HSR). A historic structures report is a deep dive into the building to understand the totality of the property: compiling historic and archival research, documentation of the physical building from the roof to the foundation, expert evaluations of the current condition, and recommendations for work. These reports are pulled together by a team of experts from architectural historians, archaeologists, architects, and engineers. 

In 2019, the HSR for the Church was created. This HSR is what was used to determine what restoration work remained at the John Wesley Community Church in this final stage. The entire report is 150 pages and documents the Church from the foundation to the steeple through the use of historic research, expert analysis, engineering assessments, and high tech imaging including laser scans and drone images. We pass along our gratitude for the entire team of specialists who created the HSR from SmithGroup, Robinson & Associates, and TYLIN (then Silman).

Creating Architecture and Engineering Plans

After the completion of the HSR, the next step is to determine the scope of work and create architectural and engineering plans for the project. For the John Wesley Community Church, the scope of work was determined to be restoring the exterior stone retaining wall, sanctuary balcony restabilization, creation of new entry paths at both the sanctuary and basement entrances, finish work in securing the exterior envelope, finish work in preserving the original wood elements (including pews, balustrade, floors, and altar) in the sanctuary, and a plaster restoration in the sanctuary as well. We can’t thank the team at SmithGroup- Susan Pommerer, Jim Shepherd, and Chris Wood- who has worked in creating and finalizing plans with us over the past year and a half pro-bono! 

Funding Work: Grant Applications

The priorities and analysis of the John Wesley Community Church in the HSR, and further developed with architecture and engineering plans have also supported grant applications for funding for this project, including the $225,000 grant received from the Virginia Black, Indigenous, People of Color Fund managed by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.

Engaging with Stakeholders and the Public

An important and integral stakeholder group of the John Wesley Community Church is the descendant community of the Church. We are so thankful for the support of the descendant community in this project: from sharing stories and images with us of the Church, writing letters of support in grant applications, providing comments and suggestions in plans, coming and sharing in design and approval meetings, assisting in plans to lead interpretation, and more! This vital restoration work would not be possible without your support! 

The public were also invited to provide comments and ask questions about the project before finalizing the plans for the Church in 2025- at the John Wesley Community Church Restoration Open House and the Waterford Foundation Annual Meeting. Thank you to everyone who came to these events, asked questions, and provided feedback!

Easement Holder Review

For properties under easement like the John Wesley Community Church, all changes within the scope of the easement have to be approved by the easement holder. For the John Wesley Community Church, the easement holder is the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VDHR). The easement stewardship team at VDHR were engaged throughout the design process, and approved of the finalized plans. Thank you to the easement stewardship team for your support! 

Certificate of Appropriateness

The John Wesley Community Church is also within the County’s Waterford Historic and Cultural Conservation District, and therefore is subject to the guidelines of the Waterford Historic District. If a project is within the historic district boundaries and falls within the purview of the guidelines, a Certificate of Appropriateness is needed. A Certificate of Appropriateness is an official document authorizing exterior alterations (including restoration and rehabilitation work), new construction, or demolition subject to the historic district guidelines. In Loudoun County, the Historic District Review Committee issues Certificate of Appropriateness for the County’s historic districts (Aldie, Beaverdam Creek Historic Roads, Bluemont, Goose Creek, Oatlands, Taylorstown, and Waterford). A Certificate of Appropriateness was received for the Church project in January 2026. We appreciate the support of Loudoun County Planning and Zoning staff that supported us through the process of receiving a Certificate. 

Choosing a Contractor

The final piece to the puzzle for a restoration project is choosing a contractor. For projects like this, a contractor specializing in historic restorations is required. After releasing a request for bid period this past summer, Carpenter Beach Construction was chosen as the contractor for the project. We look forward to working with them again!

What comes next? Construction work (depending on weather) is slated to begin in February 2026, and the timeline shows that work will be completed by the end of 2027. During this time, we will be working in collaboration with the descendant community of the Church to create a permanent exhibit about the African American community of Waterford and the history of the John Wesley Community Church to be displayed in the Church after the project is complete.

How to follow along: We look forward to updating you regularly about the project and sharing pictures of the project on social media and in the monthly Foundation newsletter. 

Descendants of the John Wesley Community Church: sign up here to receive our descendants newsletter to get regular updates about the project and more!

How to support the project:

We can’t wait to see what comes next for the Church!

Glossary of Terms:
  • Capital Infrastructure:  large-scale physical assets to a community such as buildings, roads, bridges, and utilities
  • Conservation or Preservation Easement: a legal document between a property owner and an accepting and qualified organization or locality that aims to protect the historic, environmental, and/or cultural significance and heritage of the property. 
  • Historic District: a defined geographic area that is recognized for being historically and culturally significant to the region. Properties within this district can be (depending on locality and jurisdiction) subject to guidelines for preserving historic structures.
  • Historic Structures Report (HSR): a comprehensive document prepared for a historic structure that documents the history, architecture, current conditions, and significance to support further preservation work on the property.
  • Period of Significance: the recognized span of time where a property receives its’ historic significance
  • Rehabilitation: work that aims to preserve portions or features of a project while making the property compatible for a new use
  • Restoration: work that aims to return a building or environment to a certain period of time (period of significance)
  • Secretary of Interior Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties: often shortened to Secretary of Interior Standards, these are the nationally recognized guidelines for historic preservation projects to follow, sorted into four categories: preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and reconstruction. 
  • Stakeholder: a person or group with documented interest in a subject

What is a National Historic Landmark?

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When driving into the Village, you might have seen signs welcoming you to the Waterford National Historic Landmark. These signs are placed at the roads along the borders of the 1,420 acres that have been deemed the National Historic Landmark of Waterford, Virginia. You might have also seen a plaque on stones at various sites around the United States, including here in the Village of Waterford at the Village Green, marking the site as a National Historic Landmark. But what does that even mean?

What does “National Historic Landmark” mean?

A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a designation bestowed to places that are deemed by the Secretary of the Interior to be both (a) nationally significant in interpreting American history and/or culture and (b) possesses a high degree of historic integrity in factors such as setting, materials, craftsmanship, and feeling. It’s the highest historic designation that a place can receive- surpassing the local, state, and federal historic register designations. In short, NHLs are places that have been deemed to be incredibly preserved and integral in sharing the American story. Like the National Register of Historic Places, the program is managed by the National Park Service.

As of 2026, there are over 2,600 historic buildings, sites, structures, objects, and districts that have been designated a National Historic Landmark since the program creation in the early 1960s. Virginia alone has 126; including Mount Vernon, Monticello, Natural Bridge, Williamsburg Historic District, and of course the Waterford District. Other local NHLs you can explore include the Ball’s Bluff Battlefield, Alexandria Historic District, the General George C Marshall House, and Oatlands.

How does a National Historic Landmark get chosen?

First, the considered district, site, building, structure, or object must meet the qualifications of the NHL program. This means that the nomination must be able to exhibit and interpret American history, architecture, technology and innovation, and/or culture (this being it’s significance). The considered nomination must meet at least one of the six criteria for national significance: connected to major events in American history (EX: Ball’s Bluff), associated with individuals that have made significant contributions to American history (EX: Mount Vernon), represent a great idea or ideal of the American people, exceptional design and architectural importance (EX: Fallingwater), environmentally significant, and possesses significant archaeological potential. Secondly, the proposed nomination must also possess a high level of historic integrity (the seven aspects being location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association) to support the interpretation of the site. A district, site, building, structure, or object that meet these qualifications can be nominated to the National Historic Landmark program by being identified through theme or special studies (like women’s history, labor history, Civil War, or the American Revolution) conducted by the National Park Service; or through being nominated by other federal agencies, State Historic Preservation Officers (in Virginia, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources), and/or other historic agencies and individuals.

Once a complete nomination is received by the National Park Service, it is reviewed by the NPS and the National Park System Advisory Board. The Advisory Board is put together of national leaders in preservation and conservation. When they meet, they look over the nominations and make recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior on which nominations to become a National Historic Landmark. The Secretary of the Interior makes the final decisions in which of the nominations are accepted into the National Historic Landmark program.

Diving into the Waterford National Historic Landmark

In 1970, 1,420 acres including the historic village of Waterford and the surrounding forested area and farmland (known in the application as the Waterford Historic District) was designated a National Historic Landmark. It was one of the first nominations to include the surrounding landscape as part of the significance. The Waterford Historic District was determined to be nationally significant as an intact example of an early American rural industrial village and surrounding landscape. The preserved architecture, materials, setting, and feeling supported the application.

The Waterford Historic District went back in front of the National Park System Advisory Board in 2023 to update the Landmark designation. Between 1970 and 2023, the Landmark program was expanded and nomination documents became more in-depth. This update dived deeper into the history and architecture of the area to include more properties as significant to the Landmark, and to include the preservation story of Waterford as a period of significance as well. The Landmark nomination was officially updated in 2023; highlighting again the importance of the intact rural village and the history of the area, but as well the community led preservation movement of the area.

As stated in the 2023 updated Landmark nomination, “The Waterford Historic District is significant under National Historic Landmark Criteria 4 and 5 as an exceptionally well-preserved example of a common settlement type- an agricultural service village- that emerged in rural areas during the American market revolution of the first half of the nineteenth century, especially in grain-based farming regions like the Upland South. Though villages serving farm communities are common throughout the United States and still form much of its cultural fabric today, early forms of these agricultural villages, originating in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries and still exhibiting their architecture, setting, and layout from that era, rarely survive intact- especially without substantial later intrusions or loss of their rural settings. Waterford is exceptional for its retention of not only its village core, including its early street patterns and architecture, but also the surrounding open space and agricultural area. Waterford survives an intact agricultural service village landscape able to evoke the economic, architectural, aesthetic, and cultural patterns characteristic of America’s pre-urbanized history.

The Waterford Historic District is also nationally significant under National Historic Landmark Criterion 1, for the sustained and creative, locally-led twentieth-century historic preservation campaign that ensured its present high degree of integrity. Waterford’s remarkably intact village architecture and expansive agricultural setting survives with such high integrity due to a multipronged and intensive campaign that employed several emerging preservation approaches and a diverse set of preservation tools. Spearheaded by private citizens that, in 1943, formed the community non-profit Waterford Foundation, this decades-long collaborative effort represents a laboratory for experimental private preservation strategies that resulted in the conservation of a living landscape where most properties, unlike in a museum restoration like Colonial Williamsburg, have remained in private ownership.” (Waterford Historic District National Landmark Nomination 2023, Page Three)

Sources:
National Park Service, National Historic Landmark Program

Waterford Historic District National Historic Landmark Nomination, 2023, National Park Service: https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/DownloadFile/702383