For Immediate Release: January 15, 2001

Morven Park Hosts
Loudoun Valley History Club

Morven Park, the historic Leesburg home of Virginia Governor Westmoreland Davis, hosted a day-long program "The Passing Bells: The Experience of the Great War" on Saturday, January 13, 2001. Thirty-seven students from Loudoun Valley High School, members of the History Club under the sponsorship of Social Studies teacher Richard Gillespie, used the home of the World War I-era governor as a springboard for a study of the Great War, the time period surrounding it, and Governor and Mrs. Davis' involvement in the war effort.

The 12-hour program was the brainchild of History Club officers Amy Lanham and Emily Dendinger, who first visualized using poetry of the War period to convey to their fellow students the mind-set of participants and observers of the time. Complementing the poetry readings were historical interpretations of the time given by Mr. Gillespie, and a presentation of the material culture of the soldiers who fought in the war presented through hundreds of artifacts displayed and interpreted by National Park Service ranger/historian John King. Morven Park's Director of Curatorial Operations, Tracy Gillespie, lead the students on a tour of the Governor's home, highlighting the role he and his wife played in the local and statewide effort to win the war on the home front. After leaving Morven Park, the students visited the World War I Memorial on the grounds of the Loudoun County Courthouse in Leesburg, where the names of thirty Loudoun County soldiers are engraved. The evening ended with a viewing of the World War I film "All Quiet on the Western Front", and a living history experience entitled "Night Patrol in No Man's Land." The popularity of the program among the students may lead to a similar program for the general public.

Morven Park is located on Old Waterford Road on the northwestern edge of Leesburg and includes the Governor's mansion, the Museum of Hounds and Hunting, and the Winmill Carriage Collection. The Park is open to the public from April through October, with hours in November and December for the mansion only. Special tours may be arranged by appointment. For more information, contact Tracy Gillespie or Melissa York at 703-777-6034.

For More Information Contact:

Pamela Woolley 703-777-2890
Morven Park International Equestrian Center