History of Aquia Sandstone Tea Talk with Stafford Historian Jerrilynn Eby MacGregor
April 9, 2024 @ 11:00AM — 1:00PM Eastern Time (US & Canada) Add to Calendar
Mary Washington House: 1200 Charles St Fredericksburg, VA 22401 Get Directions
Join us on April 9th for a special Tea Talk with Stafford Historian Jerrilynn Eby MacGregor as she shares the fascinating history of Aquia Sandstone (Freestone). Quarried along Aquia Creek and surrounding areas dating back to the mid-1600s, Freestone can be found throughout Stafford County, Fredericksburg, Washington, DC and beyond. From the ornate columns of the U.S. Capitol to simple block farmhouse chimneys - to steps, gravestones, building foundations and even Mary Washington’s beloved sun dial - the Aquia Sandstone industry is an important part of our rich local heritage. Jerrilynn will reveal the locations of the quarries (some surprising places!), the ancient methods of extraction, tools, labor, and transportation of the stone. She will highlight the numerous pieces of Freestone around the Mary Washington House property and touch on the Accokeek Iron Furnace in which Augustine Washington was a partner. Although not documented, she will even point out a possible connection between George Washington and Aquia Sandstone!
Ticket purchase includes a
Full Tea with a selection of savories and sweets, hot tea and presentation by
our guest speaker. Tickets are nonrefundable. Please plan to arrive a few minutes before the event begins.
About our speaker:
Jerrilynn Eby MacGregor grew up in Stafford and became fascinated with the county’s history early on. Having spent her youth at Aquia Church (1757) and amongst several of the county’s old families, she heard the local oral history and eventually learned that little beyond oral tradition existed in Stafford due to the destruction of written records by Union troops during the Civil War. As a result, traditional historians largely ignored Stafford and rarely even mentioned it in their books. In time, she began compiling information from the deeds, wills, court records, tax records, and newspapers that did exist, added to that the oral history, and tracked down many other sources of information. Forty years later, she is still researching her beloved Stafford County and publishing her studies so others might better appreciate the activities and families that made the county so special. Most of her research focuses on land tracts, mills, and industries, but she’s grateful for any tidbit that will help to develop Stafford’s unique story. She has published nine books about Stafford’s history and has a tenth nearing completion.
Jerrilynn retired from the Prince William County Public Schools after working for 31 years as a middle school librarian.