Plain, Persevering People of Purcellville, Virginia

Access and use

Location of collection:
Thomas Balch Library
Thomas Balch Library
208 West Market Street
Leesburg, Virginia 20176
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Alexandra S. Gressitt
Phone: (703) 737-7195
Fax: (703) 737-7195
Restrictions:

Collection open for research.

Terms of access:

No physical characteristics affect use of this material.

Preferred citation:

Plain, Persevering People of Purcellville, Virginia(SC 0123), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA.

Summary

Extent:
Less than .33 cubic ft.
Creator:
Unknown
Abstract:
The collection contains a typed copy of Helen Hirst Marsh's history of Purcellville, titled "Plain, Persevering People of Purcellville, Virginia." The document was compiled in 1963 and has footnotes and three appendices: "Recollections of R. Chamblin Steele," an account of a 1911 fire, and a list of registered white voters from South Purcellville in 1902.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Plain, Persevering People of Purcellville, Virginia(SC 0123), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains a typed copy of Helen Hirst Marsh's history of Purcellville, titled "Plain, Persevering People of Purcellville, Virginia." The document was compiled in 1963 and has footnotes and three appendices: "Recollections of R. Chamblin Steele," an account of a 1911 fire, and a list of registered white voters from South Purcellville in 1902. Also included are short biographies of "Local Personalities"; histories of Purcellville's "Exedra" estate and local temperance meetings; s railroad history; excerpts from newspaper articles and a list of Purcellville mayors from 1908-1974. Page 2 of Marsh's history is missing.

Biographical / historical:

In 1962-3, Helen Hirst Marsh (1903-1976) honored 110 years of Purcellville history by assembling its past records from J. V. Nichols's "Loudoun Valley Legends" and local newspaper articles dating back to the 1860s. Marsh was a member of the local school board.

On 9 July 1852, Purcell's Store Post Office was renamed Purcellville, and from this source the town draws its name. Valentine V. Purcell (1706-1876) began the business and served as postmaster from 28 January 1822. In its early history, Purcellville experienced quiet rural life, and the town consisted of a store, a blacksmith, and a tavern that served the few surrounding farms.

Relatively isolated, the town experienced growth and modernization after the Civil War with the establishment of a coach line in 1867 that connected Purcellville to Leesburg. By 1874, the town had its own railroad station and a working mill. The population remained around 200 persons in 1900 but generated enough business to establish the first bank in western Loudoun County, the Purcellville National Bank which survived to the time of Marsh's history. In 1908 the growing community of 53 homes and 13 businesses was officially incorporated into the "Town of Purcellville." According to the 1950 census, the town supported a population of almost 950 people.

Acquisition information:
Unknown, Formerly catalogued V REF 975.528
Processing information:

Processed by Caroline Kessler, 23 August 2016

Accruals:

2016.0094x

Physical / technical requirements:

None

Physical description:
.