Community Meeting Oct. 26 on Nominations of Howardsville and St. Louis to the National Register of H

The Village of Howardsville was initially settled in 1874 by emancipated people who farmed their land, and worked as farm laborers, domestic servants, laundresses, cooks, and other occupations available to African Americans at the time. Oral history states that some early residents were masons who built many of the dry-laid stone walls still in existence in Loudoun County today. St. Louis, another historic village in Loudoun, was also founded by emancipated people during the 1870s. At least some of these individuals appear to have been enslaved by William Seaton, who first sold lots to founding families in 1876. St. Louis eventually became one of the largest African American communities in Loudoun County. Both villages have been nominated for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) by the Loudoun County government. The NRHP is the official list of the nation’s historic places worthy of preservation and is maintained by the National Park Service. The nomination process is multifaceted and involves an in-depth evaluation of both villages’ eligibility by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Official public comment opportunities are mandated as part of the nominations process, and this community meeting is the first of two anticipated public meetings. Properties listed in the NRHP are eligible for federal preservation grants and federal investment tax credits as well as possible state tax benefits and grant opportunities. Those unable to attend the meeting can learn more about the nominations at loudoun.gov/NationalRegister and can provide comment via this online form. All comments received will be compiled and provided to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources in advance of the March 2027 quarterly meeting of the Virginia Board of Historic Resources and State Review Board.