When people first think about the Fairfield Foundation, they typically think about our archaeology programs, our public outreach, or perhaps our future home: the Center for Archaeology, Preservation and Education (CAPE). But there is something else you should know about us. We love architectural history, too! We love old gas stations (obviously), old houses, and […]
Come Help us Rebuild Fairfield, One Brick at a Time
One of the most frequent questions we hear about our research at Fairfield Plantation is “Are you going to rebuild the house?” This is an excellent question, and one that has us dreaming of the day that this magnificent brick manor house might stand yet again as a testament to both the Burwell family and […]
Back by Popular Demand: Abingdon Glebe Dig History! Archaeology Day Camp
Coming up next month, we will be continuing our popular kids archaeology camp at Abingdon Glebe. Thanks to continued interest from families in the community. as well as continued support from our co-host Fr. Kevin Sweeney at St. James Anglican Church, the Dig History! Archaeology Camp is ON again for June 23, 24, and 25! […]
Digging Gloucester Courthouse at the Daffodil Festival
Springtime in Gloucester means daffodils! Though they have taken a little longer to appear this year than normal, those bright yellow harbingers of sunnier days are beginning to perk up all over the county, letting us know that spring is on its merry way. And that means the Daffodil Festival will soon be here. An annual Gloucester tradition, […]
Virginia Archaeologists converge on the Middle Peninsula
Last Friday, the Fairfield Foundation and the Gloucester Main Street Preservation Trust (GMSPT) co-hosted the winter meeting of the Council of Virginia Archaeologists (COVA). COVA is Virginia’s professional archaeology organization, and is dedicated to the preservation and study of Virginia’s archaeological resources through fostering public awareness, advancing archaeological knowledge, and facilitating interaction between professional and avocational archaeologists and Virginia’s Department of […]
Three Cheers for Volunteers!
It’s that time of year again! Every December we sit down to tally our volunteer hours for the year, and every December we are astounded at the generosity of our volunteers. Each year, they donate their time and talents to a variety of our projects, and this year was no exception. In 2013, over 150 individual […]
Public Archaeology at Burwell’s Quarter in New Quarter Park
Archaeologists from the Fairfield Foundation will venture across the York River to New Quarter Park in York County, to conduct a public archaeology project on an 18th-century site related to the Burwell family. The Burwells, who owned Fairfield in Gloucester, as well as Carter’s Grove and Kingsmill near Williamsburg, were a powerful and important colonial […]
The Battle of the Hook, and researching Gloucester’s Revolutionary War landscape
The Battle of the Hook returned to Gloucester this weekend! As this mock battle unfolded, we reflected on the changes to Gloucester County since 1781, and how the intervening history affects us today. We are no longer colonies battling against the British empire, yet the Revolutionary War, and the ideas and ideals that emerged from […]
Archaeology at the Battle of the Hook!
Raise your hand if you like archaeology. Okay, now raise your hand if it’s been too long since you last visited the beautiful grounds of Gloucester’s historic Warner Hall. Anybody with a love of local history? How about a Revolutionary War enthusiast? Go ahead, raise your hand for those things, too. Or maybe colonial re-enactments […]
Celebrating the history of the Gloucester Woman’s Club and Edge Hill House
The Gloucester Woman’s Club is holding their 100th Anniversary Open House on October 5th at their home, the Edge Hill House. In preparation for this event, we have been helping the Woman’s Club create new interpretive guides for visitors and historically-inspired scripts for costumed interpreters. The tour explains some of the unique stories of this historic house, allowing guests to […]
