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Historical Interpreter Shares Top Honor of Tourism Award

Doug Smith, Historical Interpreter at Morven Park in Leesburg, Virginia was named Tourism Management Employee of the Year for 2007 by the Loudoun Convention & Visitors Association (LCVA). He shares this award with Beth Reed, Manager of South Street Under Restaurant, also in Leesburg.

"It was just amazing to win an award for something I like to do," said Smith following the awards ceremony on March 25th. "I really love my job at Morven Park."

Nominated by Tracy Gillespie, Director of Historical Operations at Morven Park, Doug was one of eight finalists for the Tourism Management award. "Doug welcomes opportunities that will give our visitors the highest quality of service," Gillespie wrote in his nomination, "whether that is an extra-special tour, a unique living history character interpretation, or just a friendly welcome."

The awards ceremony was part of the LCVA's 12th Annual Meeting, held at West Belmont Place at the National Conference Center. Nine award categories ranged from Tourism Event of the Year to a Humanitarian Award, with 29 nominees in all. Nearly 300 people in the tourism industry attended the event.

While the staff at Morven Park celebrated Doug's award, it was "back to work as usual" for him. Within two days he was planning for an upcoming Classic Car Show, enthusiastically leading Northern Virginia Civil War Trails site members to a Confederate encampment at Morven Park, and showing Loudoun County teachers through the Winmill Carriage Collection. It proves what Gillespie wrote in his nomination: "All of Doug's efforts make him an outstanding and invaluable member of our staff here at Morven Park." To which Doug replies, "I just love sharing our history and our heritage with visitors."

Margaret Good Awarded Wofford Cup

The Wofford family annually awards a cup to honor someone whose service to the sport has made a profound impact.

Margaret Good has been a fixture in the equestrian community for 30 years. In 1976 she became involved with the Loudoun Hunt Pony Club and served as the club's secretary and treasurer. In 1981 she became the DC for Loudoun Hunt Pony Club and has held this position ever since. In 1980, she was approached by the than USCTA to become an organizer when Morven Park's Major Lynch passed on. Working with seed money and with the help of her husband Ron Good, Grace Dawson and others, Morven Park's first horse trials commenced in 1981. More than 25 years later, Margaret is still the organizer. In addition, she organizes three other horse trials in Area II. Margaret has always been the type of person who does her work quietly behind the scenes. She calmly steps up and offers to assist and support eventing in Area II in many ways. She is truly one of the sport's unsung heroes!

Historic Morven Park in Leesburg announces the
installation of a new Virginia Civil War Trails interpretive marker

Historic Morven Park in Leesburg announces the installation of a new Virginia Civil War Trails interpretive marker on its 1,000- acre property off Old Waterford Road. The marker, the third one located on Morven Park grounds, commemorates the role of the plantation in the early months of the war, when it was home to Confederate troops of the 17th Mississippi Regiment in the winter of 1861/62. The front lawn of the historic mansion, owned by former Baltimore Mayor and future Maryland Governor Thomas Swann. Jr., was used as drilling and review grounds by the Southern soldiers. Known as "Swan's Castle" [sic] by the troops because of the Italianate style towers on the house in the 19th century, Morven Park provided living space for officers in the mansion, while more than fifty log huts housed soldiers in the woods behind the house. Today, Morven Park staff has recreated three of these huts for living history programming.

To visit the new Civil War Trails marker, one of more than 700 in the multi-state program, follow Old Waterford Road to the Southern Planter Lane entrance to Morven Park. The main drive will lead you to the marker, located on the lawn below the mansion. The Southern Planter Lane entrance is open 9 - 5 through the winter. Interpretive tours at Morven Park have ended for the 2007 season, and will resume in April 2008.

The other two Civil War Trails markers are located along Tutt Lane, off Route 15 North at the Morven Park International Equestrian Center. For more information, visit www.civilwartrails.org or call Morven Park at 703-777-2414.

Tracy J. Gillespie
Director of Historical Operations
Morven Park
17263 Southern Planter Lane
Leesburg, Virginia 20176
703-777-6034
tgillespie@morvenpark.org