Virginia Trust Conserves Property With Fitts Fund
(January 2012 Civil War News)

MIDDLEBURG, Va. — The Land Trust of Virginia (LTV) recorded its 20th easement in Fauquier County with an easement on a 109-acre parcel southeast of The Plains, within the viewshed of Virginia scenic byways Routes 55 and 628 and I-66.

The property is located within the Broad Run/Little Georgetown Historic District, and also within two National Park Service Civil War Battlefield Study Areas for the Battles of Thoroughfare Gap and Buckland Mills. 

Approximately 99 percent of the tract is wooded. The eastern boundary contains steep slopes and rock outcrops.

Since this property is located within the two battlefield areas, the landowners qualified for financial support from the Deborah Whittier Fitts Battlefield Stewardship Fund, a fund established by LTV in 2009 to help landowners defray some of the costs of easing properties within documented battlefield areas.

A long-time journalist who reported for the Loudoun Times Mirror and Civil War News, Fitts was considered to be the nation’s leading journalist covering Civil War preservation issues.

According to her husband, Clark B. Hall, “The preservation of the history of this beloved Commonwealth of Virginia played such an important part of Deborah’s life. This is a fitting memorial to her life and passion for Civil War history.”

LTV Executive Director Don Owen said the property is particularly special. “It has multiple conservation values, with open space, natural, and historic resources. We also are pleased to be able to utilize the Deborah Whittier Fitts Battlefield Stewardship Fund for the first time, to help the landowners and honor Deborah Fitts and her commitment to preserving Civil War history.”

LTV is a private, non-profit land conservation organization that assists private citizens in Virginia conserve open-space lands and significant natural and historic resources through conservation easements. It holds and stewards 110 easements on more than 11,000 acres of private land in Loudoun, Fauquier and surrounding counties.  For more information, call (540) 687-8441 or visit www.landtrustva.org.