Fauquier County

St John’s Baptist Church and Moses Lodge - Hurleytown, Virginia /  by Todd Henson

St. John’s Baptist Church and Moses Lodge

If you’ve ever driven along Green Road in Hurleytown, part of Midland, Virginia, you may recognize these buildings, St. John’s Baptist Church and Moses Lodge, also known as St. John’s Odd Fellows Hall. I found them thanks to my father, who knows I enjoy seeing and photographing older buildings, and who learned of these through a friend (so thanks to family and friends!).

After I photograph buildings like these I love trying to find some history to go along with them. In this case each building had some clues. The church had a sign on the side of it indicating it had been rebuilt in 1931. And Moses Lodge had a sign that was a bit difficult to fully read, but said “BREWER DELIGHT” and something about “MOSES” and “ORGANIZED APRIL.6.1905”. Also, the church is still actively used and their website indicated it was originally erected in Hurleytown on September 17, 1894.

A sign on St. John’s Baptist Church indicating it was rebuilt in 1931.

A sign on Moses Lodge indicating it was organized on April 6, 1905.

After doing more searching I found a document in the Special Collections of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources titled: “Phase I Architectural Survey of Selected African American Historic Resources” from 2021. This was a fantastic bit of research where I learned that distinct African American communities were established throughout Fauquier County largely due to segregation laws and housing discrimination of the time. These communities were usually centered around a church and a school. In this case we have Hurleytown with a church and a lodge, or hall.

St. John’s Baptist Church

Hurleytown is named after Lawson Hurley, a farmer who purchased land in the area after the Civil War. In 1880 Hurley was described as “a 56-year old African American who could not read or write, but who owned…” and tilled land. It’s said a church was in the community as early as 1869, but it was 1894 that the land where St. John’s Baptist Church resides was granted by Samuel and Belle Smith. Later, in 1910, the Smiths deeded more land to the trustees of the “Moses and Juvenile Lodge of Hurleytown.” Moses Lodge, also called St. John’s Odd Fellows Hall was build in 1905. And the church was rebuilt in 1931 after a devastating fire destroyed the original building. The new building is described in the survey as “a one-story, three-bay, vernacular church building with some Gothic Revival-style elements.”

Moses Lodge, or St. John’s Odd Fellows Hall

The lodge appeared to go by various names, Moses Lodge, St. John’s Odd Fellows Hall, and possibly the Moses and Juvenile Lodge of Hurleytown. The Order of the Odd Fellows was an historic fraternal order. There were apparently at least two different Orders of Odd Fellows and it’s not clear which of these the hall may have been associated with. And given the name Moses Lodge, it’s unclear whether this may have in some way been associated with the Ancient United Order of the Sons and Daughters, Brothers and Sisters of Moses, another fraternal group of the time.

St. John’s Baptist Church and Odd Fellows Hall

I hope you enjoyed these fascinating pieces of local history and views of the buildings.

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Rector’s Warehouse and Station - Rectortown, Virginia /  by Todd Henson

Rector’s Warehouse and Station

Built around 1835, it started as a warehouse and store and later, around 1852 was expanded to include a railway station and post office with the arrival of the Manassas Gap Railroad. During the Civil War it was used as one of Colonel John S. Mosby’s headquarters and a prison for captured Federal troops and still contains traces of graffiti from the prisoners inside.

The railroad and Rector’s Warehouse

An informational sign at the location mentions two notable events that occurred in the vicinity. On November 7, 1862, General George Brinton McClellan received orders from President Abraham Lincoln relieving him of his command. He was handed these orders by General C.P. Buckingham, and afterwards General Ambrose Burnside was given command of the Army.

Rector’s Warehouse and Station still stands

The second event involved Colonel Mosby, whose rangers roamed all over this area fighting Union soldiers. Seven of his rangers had been executed. In return, on November 6, 1864, Mosby ordered the execution of an equal number of Federals from the 27 prisoners held in the building. They were selected via a raffle with a bit on an ironic twist in that when a drummer boy was selected an officer pleaded for another drawing to replace the boy. That officer ended up being chosen instead. Apparently, the officer and three of the others survived while the final three were hanged.

A side view of Rector’s Warehouse and Station

Rectortown, where this is located, was established in 1772 and is the oldest town in Fauquier County, Virginia. It was named after the merchant John Rector, who owned the land that formed the original village.

Doors and windows

Window and door

A window into Rector’s Warehouse

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Grace Episcopal Church, The Plains, Virginia /  by Todd Henson

Grace Episcopal Church in The Plains, Virginia

The first time I viewed Grace Episcopal Church in The Plains, Virginia, was many, many years back when randomly driving through the night with a friend. I recall how beautiful it looked illuminated at night. I’ve yet to return at night to see and photograph this magnificent structure, but I did return with my father in late September of 2024, when we stopped and walked up and down Main Street and I created a number of photographs of the church.

A touch of Grace in The Plains

Red doors of Grace Episcopal Church

The Plains, originally called White Plains, was around before the Civil War, and in 1831 had a Post Office named The Plains. It grew from there and was incorporated as a town in 1910, though it still remains a very small town with a population of 245 as per the 2020 census. Today it is part of Fauquier County.

Grace in The Plains

The history of Grace Episcopal Church stretches back to 1855, though the current stone structure was consecrated on June 28, 1918 and was built from stones donated from local farms. It’s an example of 13th century rural English Gothic architecture, and perhaps that’s why I find it so compelling, that older gothic style and the beautiful stonework, the arches and steeples, the deep red doors. And unlike some churches in larger towns, this one still has a sizable property that sets the structure away from the road and from distracting power lines. It’s a very beautiful location.

Visit their website to learn more about the history of Grace in the Plains.

The grounds of Grace Episcopal Church in The Plains, Virginia

Part of the old stone wall around Grace Episcopal Church in The Plains, Virginia

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