Last year as I drove to Paris, Virginia, I saw the lovely town of Middleburg for the first time.
Making a mental note to visit this town with the kids one day, I then noticed a red British phone booth outside a tavern.
We definitely need to visit this area…and finally, today was the day!
FOXES GALORE
As we walked around Middleburg, I quickly noticed a theme…
All these foxes remind me of a children’s book about how a fox consistently outwitted George Washington during fox hunts at Mount Vernon.
Although foxes are the most prominent décor item throughout the town, their fame in the area is a result of the many fox hunts and steeplechase races in the area…which rely on horses.
Horses are found throughout the countryside, and I read horses are even found in the Upper Crust Bakery as iced cookies.
18TH CENTURY HISTORY
The history of Middleburg began with Lord Fairfax who owned the land.
The Chinn family obtained a land grant from Lord Fairfax in 1731, which became known as Chinn’s Crossing.
In 1750, Chinn’s cousin, a 16-year-old lad named George Washington, surveyed the land.
By 1787, the town came to be known as Middleburgh, since it was half way between Alexandria and Winchester.
19th CENTURY HISTORY
After the Civil War, the town and economy collapsed.
By the Gilded Age, the town revived to the economy of foxes and horses, which continues a booming business to this day as the Nation’s Horse and Hunt Capital.
GLEN ORA
Located a mile from town, Glen Ora’s history began with the Chin Crossings land grant in the 18th century.
Several different owners over the years developed the house and gardens.
By the early 1900s, Miss Charlotte, a cousin of one of the Glen Ora owners, also had a home in Middleburg, where she ran a summer camp (which included horseback riding) for young ladies, before she opened the Foxcroft School.
Often, Miss Charlotte rode with her girls to Glen Ora for tennis and tea.
One of the young girls in 1912 was Wallis Simpson, who would one day district a British king from his throne.
Before she fell in love with the king, she fell in love with the son of the owner of Glen Ora.
KENNEDYS AT GLEN ORA
After the Kennedys moved into the White House, Jacqueline purchased the 39 acre property of Glen Ora for $26,00
Here, the family retreated in seclusion from the public while she had acres of land to indulge her love for horseback riding.
As a result, Middleburg was placed on the map as the press secretary held news briefings at the Red Fox Inn, while the Kennedys were in the area.
