FOUNDER’S COLUMN Feb. 22, 2026

    While we have been busy with many projects, it is time to make an update. Over the last year plus we have completed a refurbishment of the “voting booth.” This period structure had a drop-down window covered by a chimney. We had the chimney removed to uncover a window that would open to the front. Siding was replaced and a modern window was removed, with a new coat of paint on the building. We believe that this is the location of the place where the men of western Louisa came to vote upon the Ordinance of Secession on May 23, 1861. If so, this is the exact spot where the Louisa Grays were formed by Captain William James Seargeant, a VMI graduate. The Company would go on to be mustered in as Company D of the 23rd Regiment of Virginia Volunteer Infantry. They would fight in almost all of the Army of Northern Virginia Army’s battles after their first ventures into the western part of Virginia, fighting at Greenbriar River and the Corrick’s Ford battles, witnessing General Robert Selden Garnett being the first general officer of the CSA to be killed. He was shot while deploying men of the 23rd in a skirmish line. Something a General should never do. Of the original fifty-nine men mustered in that day, seventeen would die in service, with many more wounded. Many more prominent Louisa Names would fill out the roster of nearly 100 men.

    The 1846 Trevilian House which we have completely restored and furnished had an old metal roof replaced that had seen its better days and was leaking. Thanks to a tourism grant of $20,000 from Louisa County and $10,000 from the William A. Cooke Foundation we funded a $42,000 new roof for both the house and the “voting booth.” This greatly enhanced the building and saved it from further deterioration for many decades to come.

    American Battlefields Trust has secured ninety-nine acres of the important field where the capture of Hampton’s wagons occurred as well as where Custer was surrounded.

    October, 2026 will be the thirtieth year of our humble organization. What we have done with our volunteer work and fundraising, grants from the American Battlefields Trust, the United States, the Commonwealth of Virginia, Louisa County, and private donations has been beyond our wildest dreams. We have preserved the 1846 Charles Goodall Trevilian house, perhaps one of only two remaining original structures, purchased and preserved 2200 acres with another 550 under easement, and created our great driving tour that perhaps thousands have taken. We look forward to having another “Night at the Tavern” meal at the reconstructed Netherland Tavern building this year and opening for tours on the third Sunday of each month April through October, as well as every Thursday during those months. The hours are 12-4 and 10-2 respectively.

    Our horse trails and walking paths are open every Sunday with primitive camping at the parking site on Oakland Road and the trails are open seven days a week sunup to sundown from the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day.

We hope you will join us for this year of milestone events.

Gerald “Jerry” Harlow

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