On August 16, Grant sent the following instructions to Sheridan. "If you can possibly spare a division of cavalry, send them into Loudoun County to destroy and carry off the crops, animals and all men under fifty years of age capable of bearing arms . You will consume and destroy all forage and subsistence, burn all barns and mills, and their contents, and drive off all stock in the region the boundaries of which are above described”.
From November 28th thru December 2nd of 1864, General Merritt with the 1st and 2nd Brigades executed what is now known as “the Burning Raid” all through Loudoun County. They swept the country between Millville and Unison-Bloomfield to Philomont, where they camped.
The barn at Poor House Farm, which was originally built in 1814, fell victim to Sheridan's burning raiders leaving only the blackened foundation walls standing. In 1872 the barn was rebuilt onto the original stone foundation at a cost of $1500.00
Now a victim of neglect, we are losing a piece of history once again. In April 2006 the barn suffered a partial collapse in an early spring storm. Her foundation has been restored and her timbers await reconstruction. Please help us restore one of the few remaining historic barns in Loudoun County. Our rural heritage will only be preserved if we work together.
Your generous donation will help us preserve one of Loudoun’s most historic sites – the landmark Poor House Farm complex and it’s stately bank barn.
If you would like to support our barn reconstruction effort please send your donation to:
Poor House Farm LLC
35304 Poor House Ln
Round Hill VA 20141
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