Prince William County has a unique and extensive African American history that is preserved and interpreted through its surviving buildings.
Throughout the county’s history, many enslaved African Americans worked at plantations throughout the county including Rippon Lodge and Ben Lomond.
At Brentsville, both enslaved and free African Americans were placed on trial where they were not able to testify against their white neighbors because they were considered second class citizens.
At Lucasville and the Barnes House, free African Americans after the Civil War built homes and communities to establish a life for themselves as free citizens, where they began to challenge racism and segregation.
To celebrate Black History Month, Prince William County will be opening some of their historic sites throughout February to provide visitors the opportunity to learn more about Prince William County’s unique African American History. For more information these programs or to visit the sites, please call Prince William County’s Historic Preservation Division at 703-792-4754.
Weekends in February
Lucasville School Open Weekends
On Saturdays and Sundays in February from 11am-4pm, visit the 19th century one-room Lucasville School. The only surviving building of the Lucasville community, learn about the people who once educated and taught in this small, but significant, symbol of the community. Learn about the former slaves who left nearby plantations following the Civil War to form one of the earliest minority communities in Northern Virginia. Lucasville School is located at 10516 Godwin Drive, Manassas, VA, 20110, admission is free.
February 20
Every Day Full of Work: The African American Experience at Ben Lomond
During this special tour of the house and grounds at Ben Lomond, learn about the enslaved population living at Ben Lomond in the years before the Civil War. Explore the chores that enslaved men, women, and children were expected to complete. Learn how, under slavery, they were forced to live emotionally and physically challenging lives in which freedom and choice were taken away. Tours will be offered on the hour from 11am-4pm. Ben Lomond Historic Site is located at 10321 Sudley Manor Drive, Manassas, VA 20109, admission is $5 per person.
February 27
Barnes House Hard Hat Tour
Get a hard hat tour of Prince William County’s newest “old” building. The house was the home to an African American family after the Civil War. Learn about the family’s amazing history during the Reconstruction-era and learn about the restoration of the building. This is a rare opportunity to see preservation in action! Barnes House is located at the Montclair Community Library, 5049 Waterway Drive, Dumfries, VA, $5 suggested donation.
Recent Stories
Prince William Times: Licensed wildlife rehabber Olivia LoBalbo can’t wait until the wild animals she treats are well enough to scurry off or fly away into the forest on their own. But while they’re in her care, they can now be safely transported in a fully equipped wildlife rescue van, dubbed “The PAW Express,” courtesy of the Prince William SPCA.
LoBalbo, 37, is a former veterinarian tech and the founder of AERO, which stands for Animal Education and Rescue Organization. For the last 10 years, she and her nonprofit have taken in thousands of injured, sick or orphaned wild animals that wouldn’t survive without human intervention. She runs the licensed wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility out of her Gainesville home.
Olivia LoBalbo’s Gainesville home is a refuge for more than 1,000 hurt, orphaned wild animals a year
Insidenova.com: County staff and leading park engineers outlined the design plan for the 308-acre Doves Landing Regional Park and its adjacent Sinclair mill site during a community meeting last week.
About 35 in-person residents, plus a handful of others online, turned out Jan. 8 at the Pat White Center at Ben Lomond near Manassas for a thorough, two-hour project update meeting. Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega also tuned in virtually.
During the event, Patti Pakkala, planning manager with the Prince William County Department of Parks and Recreation, Ed Umbrell, senior project manager at Dewberry Engineers, and several of their colleagues led a presentation and Q&A, laying the foundation for the ongoing development of Doves Landing.
FXBG Advance: The public was first made aware of the possibility of data centers in Celebrate VA when Mayor Devine added the topic to the July 9, 2024 Council agenda, giving the public no prior notice that the topic was to be discussed. Well before that announcement, council members had toured data centers in February, two at a time, to avoid public notice.
Also, prior to the July 9th meeting the City Manager initiated discussion with a developer to provide land for data centers.
In September the City Council supported the expenditure of $200,000 to study the infrastructure needs to provide power for data centers in Celebrate VA. A cost that should not be the responsibility of the city but by either Dominion Power or the developer. When questioned about this City Manager Tim Baroody confirmed it was not the city’s responsibility but explained that it was being done at the direction of the City Council.
Looking for a hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology? Don’t miss the 3D Printing Workshop at the Manassas Park City Library on January 16th at 5:30 p.m. Open to teens and adults ages 12 and up, this free workshop will teach the basics of Tinkercad and give participants the opportunity to ask questions about 3D printing. Explore the possibilities and take the first step into the exciting world of 3D printing!
Do you have an event you’d like to share with the community? Submitting your event is FREE and easy! Simply fill out this form with your event details. It’s a great way to spread the word and engage with local residents. Don’t wait—get your event on the calendar today!
Start 2024 on the right foot by prioritizing your mental health and well-being. At Peaceful Mind Solutions, we understand how challenging life can be—whether it’s managing stress from work, family dynamics, or navigating the complexities of the world around us. Our team is here to help you create balance and find the peace you deserve.
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Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra, this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
Featuring:
