In January 2020, Steven Resan of the French & Indian War Foundation issued a report that documented the “West Fort Hill” real estate title transfers. It spans 250 years, from the 1753 Lord Fairfax Proprietor’s Grant to the sale of the 419 North Loudoun Street property to the French & Indian War Foundation in 2002.
The French & Indian War Foundation is headquartered at the property that started as “Outlot 49” when Winchester was formed. It was part of the area that became known as “Fort Hill”.
The following articles share stories of the families who owned the Fort Loudoun property from 1753 to 2002. They will carry the reader through the family’s involvement in four American wars – the French & Indian War, Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and the American Civil War. The last story will take us into World Wars.
1753-1764: Lord Fairfax to Isaac Parkins’ Ownership
1764-1785: Robert Rutherford’s Ownership
1785-1837: John Peyton’s Ownership
1837-1859: Joseph Baker’s Ownership
1860-1863: The Civil War Years – Norval Wilson’s Ownership
1863-1867: The Civil War Years – Denny & Maloy Ownership
1867-1878: Philip Carter Lewis Burwell Ownership… Coming in 2026
1878-1886: CB Hancock Ownership… Coming in 2026
1886-2002: The Darlington & Hardy Family Ownership… Coming in 2026
- Fort Loudoun by Richard Schlect, from the Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society, Winchester Virginia, partial sketch shown ↩︎