Local Contributors Honored at Balch Library

The 19th annual Loudoun History Awards were held at the on Sunday, Nov. 13, to honor four individuals who have made long-term contributions to local history research and writing.

Honorees included Childs F. Burden, Taylor M. Chamberlin, Paul McCray and John M. Souders who were commended for their efforts towards preserving Loudoun’s past.  

“They have a long and distinguished record of doing research,” said James Hershman, Jr., vice chair of the Thomas Balch Library Advisory Committee. “All four of these [men] have nearly a lifetime, more than a quarter century, of work in Loudoun County history and achievement in it. This really honors them and encourages other people to do [the same thing].”  

Childs, one of the first men to be recognized on Sunday, said it felt great to be included on the long list of recipients, which have received the award since 1993.

“Living in Virginia, it’s hard not to feel the sense of history that we have in this Commonwealth,” Childs said, who has been involved in the Historic Preservation, the Loudoun Historical Society, and saving the Civil War battle fields, among other things. “I come from an area where history wasn’t that important, up in the North, and I just feel very blessed to be in Virginia and enjoy it.”

McCray said it was a real surprise when he found out that he’d be a recipient of the award. As manager of the Washington Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park, McCray said he enjoyed collecting anything he could regarding railroad history. He has served as Manager of Balls Bluff Battlefield Park and continues to research history for the Town of Purcellville.

“I love Loudoun’s history,” McCray said. “I’m not a native to the county but I’ve learned to really love it through my job, through my personal life and hobbies of doing research out here particularly at the Balch library.”

Chamberlin, who has served on the board of the Loudoun County Historic Society, has dedicated much of his time writing historical articles for the society’s bulletin including a feature of the Exeter House.   

“I grew up here and you sort of hate to see the old things disappear,” Chamberlin said. “What I enjoy most is research and diving into old records and archives and finding something that nobody else has seen before.”

Souders, whose interests lie in the Waterford area, where he has lived for nearly 40 years, said he has always had a love for local history. It’s always interesting to see how times change, he said, and how much stay’s the same.  

“The remarkable thing is how much history there is in Loudoun and how much fun it’s been to dig through at least one corner of it over the years,” he said.

The Loudoun History Awards are sponsored by the Thomas Balch Library Advisory Commission and were established to recognize contributions of local historian John Elbert Devine (1911-1996), in preserving Loudoun County history.

The annual awards highlight diverse aspects of the county’s history and honors individuals who have made significant contributions to preserving Loudoun’s past through collection of county documents and memorabilia, preservation of historic landmarks, visual arts, writing and long-term involvement in local history organizations.

Also awarded on Sunday was Olivia Joy Corso for her project, “Who Did the Battle of Balls Bluff Affect, and How Did it Change the Lives of the Men Involved?”

“For my history group project I wrote about the Battle of Balls Bluff and I won,” Corso said. “I love the Battle of Balls Bluff, I love history in general and it’s cool to be recognized here.”

To learn more, including how you can nominate someone, call 703-737-7195.