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11 Most Endangered
Waterford Historic District
Year Listed: 1988
Location: Waterford , Virginia
Current Status: Favorable
Threat: Development, Road Construction
Significance
Founded in 1733, Waterford flourished as a mill town throughout the 19th century before falling into decline after the Civil War. The stagnation of the local economy ensured that the town's 17th- and 18th-century houses remained intact and unchanged. Edward and Leroy Chamberlin began buying and restoring the homes of Waterford in the mid-20th century, and the town's stagnation allowed them to recreate the town as it existed in the 19th century. However, an intrusive housing development threatens the town.
Updates
Most of the development site is now protected by an easement held by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation thanks to the Historic Waterford Foundation. In 2003, The National Trust helped the Waterford Foundation raise $4million in just five months to preserve the 144-acre Phillips Farm -- a critical element of the NHL village threatened by suburban-style development.
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