The year 2011 has been busy and productive for Merrybrook and its friends. In January Delegate Tom Rust presented to the General Assembly a bill (1963) enabling Virginia Communities to use Resident Curatorship Programs for the preservation of endangered historic homes. This means that by involving a private sector curator, homes with historic value, like Merrybrook, can now be saved instead of falling to the wrecking ball for lack of funds.

We had worked on the draft of this bill with the help of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and Preservation Virginia, through the winter of 2010, and Delegate Rust, seeing its value was glad to sponsor it in the Assembly. Senator Mark Herring co-sponsored it in the Senate, and, thanks to the dedicated work of several of our Board members, it passed both houses unanimously!

In brief, the Program works as follows:

• A suitable historic site is selected.
• Applicants submit a plan for such work as well as pertinent information about themselves.
• It is advertised as being available for curatorship.
• People interested in having the privilege of living in a historic home respond to the ad and visit the site.
• They must then submit both background information and their proposals for repairs and maintenance of the site.
• The best proposal is then selected, a contract is drawn up and signed, and if all is agreeable to both parties, a long term lease is then granted to the applicant. With provisions for supervision and public access at specified times.

Maryland has used this arrangement since 1983, resulting in the preservation of 43 wonderful homes. States such as Massachusetts, Delaware and a number of others are also benefitting from this combination of public and private resources.

Now Virginia can begin to use this innovative and workable plan!

Already, citizens of Great Falls are seeking to use the program to help preserve some of their remaining historic sites. The Park Authority has held a meeting to see how it might be implemented, and a committee of the Fairfax History Commission has also met for the same purpose.

Once in place, the program can help save our history without becoming a burden on the county or on the taxpayers. Maryland estimates a gain of almost 8 million dollars from the benefits of Resident Curatorship. Massachusetts states a similar amount. Why not Virginia?

Board of Supervisors e-mail: ClerktotheBOS@fairfaxcounty.gov
Mailing Address:
Office to the Board of Supervisors
12000 Govt. Center Parkway Suite 533
Fairfax, VA 22035-0072

Park Authority Board email: parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov In subject line please remember to type: All Park Authority Board Members
Mailing address:
Park Authority Board
12055 Govt. Center Parkway
Fairfax, VA 22036-5500

History Commission
Mailing Address:
Fairfax County History Commission
c/o City of Fairfax Regional Library, Virginia Room
10360 North St.
Fairfax, VA, VA 22030

Excerpted from the July 2009 issue of the
Friends of Laura Ratcliffe newsletter.

The force of events currently affecting Merrybrook has overwhelmed our scheduling and our best efforts to stay in touch with you, the members.

When I met with members of the Park Authority planning committee last October, I reported to you that there was good news—it seemed that Merrybrook had been accepted by them as a part of the park that will eventually surround the house. That was my impression at the time. A lengthy discussion of the pros and cons ended with a show of hands for supporting the preservation of Merrybrook, and a great outpouring of congratulations from almost every board member. Hugs and high fives left me feeling that at last we had crossed a huge barrier, and could move forward with plans for the future!

But—something happened during the winter. The sentiment of the Park Authority apparently changed. In March I was told that the committee's vote and congratulations meant nothing as far as the acceptance of the house was concerned. Instead, I received an E-mail from the Chairman of the Park Authority stating the following:

"... Please distinguish between the historic structures and the land. The land area contained in the life estate will become the Park Authority's in accordance to the proffers upon the expiration of the life estate, so no decision by the Park Authority is necessary. The Park Authority Board is supportive of preservation but has inadequate resources and no feasible park use for preserving the house. We will continue to work with the Launders Trust and Jeff Fairfield in seeking alternative uses for the property ..."

The Park Authority's acceptance of the land
without the house is a travesty

The house is to be proffered to the Park Authority at the same time as the land. Dismissing the house means that it will most likely be "demolished" by the present owners, the Launders Charitable Trust, which has openly stated that it has no interest in preserving Merrybrook.

The Friends of Laura Ratcliffe was set up precisely to prevent such a tragedy. Since its founding in March, 2007, we have worked to broaden public awareness of the historical significance and cultural and educational value of this last remaining ante bellum home on Centreville Road. We have worked to raise the necessary funds for preservation, as well, and will continue to do so.

Now we must turn to you

The house will be proffered at NO cost to the Park Authority. It already has a strong and talented support group in place to help with the many details of preservation. And, if it can be assured of becoming a "Park Asset," funding and more support will be considerably easier to obtain.

Funding will be the key! The Park Authority pleads no "resources." That may be the case at this moment, but we are not asking them for any money at this time. In fact, we have never asked for any funding from them. Difficult as it is, we are confident that through persistence and outreach, we will be able to put together a joint arrangement which could provide both management and funds for the project

This is the time your participation is needed!

If you have visited the house and felt the rich history within its walls, if you have seen the 200-year-old maples shading the rolling lawns, and have enjoyed the cooling breeze rustling through old ironwood trees that once lined our western boundary (destroyed in just one day this past June to make way for a sewer line), you know that once gone, this gift from the past can never be replaced.

NOW YOU SEE IT — NOW YOU DONT

These are recent photos of Merrybrook's chicken coop and shed. The two on the left were taken previously. The two on the right were after the beautiful rows of Chinese elms lining the western edge of our property were torn out because they were "overly mature!" Is this the price "progress" should require? Remember them when you write your letters.

Your voices will make a difference!

PLEASE write to your Supervisors, your State and Federal representatives, and the Park Authority members to let them know how you feel about possibly losing Merrybrook. A fact sheet and addresses are listed below.

PLEASE respond affirmatively when you receive a call from a Board member regarding your support EITHER FOR VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE OR FOR A DONATION. All donations at this time will be added to the Merrybrook Preservation Fund, a special part of our treasury.

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely, Win

Contact - 703.713.0124    lratcliffehouse@aol.com