December 19: Hamilton
The old-to-new world charm of Hamilton is one of the many gifts of Loudoun this holiday season. This is one story in a series of 31 that highlight #LoudounPossible opportunities in the county. Check back every day in December to learn more!
Originally called Harmony, and then Hamilton Store, Hamilton is a small town of about 500, located in western Loudoun, between Leesburg and Purcellville. The quaint municipality was once a popular weekend destination in the late 1800s. Visitors could book a train ride on the Washington and Old Dominion Rail line to the beautiful Loudoun Valley, which offered a break from the D.C. and Baltimore heat. The cooler summer temperatures, a 1.5-mile boardwalk, and dancehall made Hamilton quite a tourist destination. Unfortunately, a large fire devastated much of the town’s original structures and attractions in 1926 but the town would eventually recover and rebuild, and become the Hamilton that Loudoun knows presently.
Today, Hamilton personifies “small town America,” and is a representation of embracing the “old to new.” With its beautiful tree-lined streets, quintessential shops, charming restaurants, steepled churches, and old- and new-world homes, Hamilton still carries the spirit of what once was, but with today’s modern touches. Mattingly Amish Outdoor Furniture offers New Order and Old Order Amish furniture, whose carpentry and design skills date back to the 17th century. Quail Run Signs emits the essence of old-fashioned hanging signs, utilizing hand-drawn sketches, hand-cut wood, and hand-painted techniques to create artfully designed, timeless pieces, that look like they can be from 1922 or 2022. The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards occupy a beautifully restored 105-year-old stone and wood dairy barn, which has been transformed into a unique tasting room. Sharp Edges Barber Shop practices the ancient art of barbering with modern tools in a historical building. Mount Zion Methodist Church on West Virginia Avenue was built in 1881 and was frequented by black churchgoers when Hamilton had a sizeable free black population and is still in use for church services today.
Hamilton is also home to several properties that are still in use, which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These properties include the Hamilton Masonic Lodge, Janney House, William Smith House, Spring Hill Farm, and Sunnyside Farm.
Much like Hamilton, Loudoun County as a whole has evolved from what once was; the remnants of the past are ever-present today. Loudoun’s Economic Evolution, the theme of the 2022 annual report, speaks to where we were as a county, where we are now, and where we’re going. Get your digital copy today.