My Virginia

Paxton House: Powhatan County, Virginia. Near Tobaccoville (Built circa 1819) Above: Dr. John Gifford Skelton: My 3rd Great Grandfather, born at Paxton in 1815.  It came to my surprise when I found out the Skelton ancestral home was recently sold in 2017 and completely upgraded to full splendor! I was looking up the property online to see if some of the Skelton cousins and myself could visit the property as part of a family reunion . Years ago, I did film the outside, but I never was able to see inside. I found several pictures online available to the public which openly display the inside of the house- which is very remarkable, indeed! Because the property is privately owned, I know it would be difficult to arrange for all of the Skelton descendants to see the inside of the house. While we may be able to tour the grounds of the property, seeing the inside of the Paxton any time soon , seems unlikely. However, I was very thrilled that the estate has published pictur...

Loudoun County situated at the Northern tip of Virginia, has been almost fully engulfed by the premises of Washington, D.C. However, there still remains pockets of its "Old South" history- and rolling hills, and beautiful landscapes, and "hunt country" towns, still dominate the area. I grew up in Loudoun County, and being so close to the DC suburban region, was mostly unaware that all these beautiful Manor homes still existed. I was aware of Oatlands, near where I went to church, and a few other places, but that was about it. I have over time, discovered a treasure trove of these wonderful places. Granted, its just a smattering, but I am truly grateful these old Plantations have been preserved and restored to their former glory. For many in search of the Old South, Loudoun County, is truly the gateway. Loudoun County is the Northern Edge of Virginia, and the Northern edge of Dixie, but it has some of the most quintessentially Southern homes one could ever find to...