Weston to host Civil War remembrance Oct. 15, 16

The Warrenton Antiquarian Society will present a celebration of the Civil War Sesquicentennial on Oct.15 from 10 to 4 and Oct. 16 from 12 to 4 at Weston in Casanova.

The celebration will feature the re-enactment of events that occurred at Weston during the Civil War, which were recorded in a diary by Margaret Nourse, who lived at Weston during that time.

A Confederate Colonel, several members of the Weston household and Mrs. Nourse will come alive as re-enactors portray them in scenes from the diary. An effort is being made to turn the grounds at Weston into a replica of what they looked like during the war. Guests will be offered food and games that are reminiscent of that time in history.

A local blacksmith will bring our blacksmith shop to life and make articles to give away.

A petting zoo is also planned. Families will be asked to pay only $10 to attend this event. Singles will pay $5.

Weston is perhaps Fauquier County’s most completely preserved nineteenth-century farmsteads. The property goes back to Robert “King” Carter’s land grant. The present 7500- square-foot farmhouse began as a 2-story log cabin, built by the Fitzhugh family about 1817.

A classic example of an early Virginia working farm, Weston retains its rare collection of original outbuildings including the log kitchen, smokehouse, overseer’s cabin; dairy, corn crib, blacksmith shop, tool shed/ workroom, two barns and a stable.

The family of Charles Joseph Nourse owned Weston from 1859-1959, farming the land and making several 19th century additions to the house.

Records abound of the family finding refuge there during the Civil War and throughout its 100-year ownership of the property.

Charles’s daughters Charlotte and Constance were born and died at Weston. During World War II, the sisters provided a weekend get-a-way for soldiers from the nearby army post, Vint Hill Farms Station. In earlier years, they ran a summer camp for girls and a tea room. It is from here that the two sisters, both artists, sold their artwork to raise money to keep Weston a viable working farm.

Today, standing on 10 of its original 440 acres, the old house and its outbuildings are surrounded by giant oaks, sweeping lawns, woodlands and cornfields. The Casanova Hunt maintains its kennels on the property.