The mission of the Lincoln Preservation Foundation is to document and preserve the  culturally diverse  heritage of western Loudoun County Virginia's Goose Creek Historic District, anchored by the early 18th Century Quaker village of Lincoln. We seek to record and build upon the often untold stories for future generations, while protecting and preserving the buildings, environment, cultures, and features that enable its rural character and time-honored way of life.

If you have any information or documents to share with us, click here.

This photo captures one of Grace Church’s congregants, Katherine Shorts Gibson, in 1929. She was a member of the Grace Church and one of the last officers of the Loudoun County Emancipation Association in Purcellville. Based on oral histories like those told by Mrs. Gibson, the vibrant story of the local African-American community will be saved. The Lincoln Preservation Foundation and the Friends of Grace Church are currently raising funds for a new roof. The work involves removing the rotting rafters and a temporary patchwork metal roof that no longer deters wild animals from entering this sacred space. A historically accurate replacement will be built. To complete this critical next step, we must raise $57,000.

African American War Veteran's Project

Our legendary Reggie Simms is hard at work on his local African-American war veteran's commemoration. We welcome submissions for this effort. Please tell us about your Loudoun County African-American war vet by emailing us at lincolnpreservation@yahoo.com.

We would like names, service info, photos, and burial locations for those who have passed. Thanks for your contributions!

OUR KEY ACTIVITY AREAS

Historical Research

• Maintain a central repository of local historical information.

• Conduct research; e.g. underground railroad, oral histories, historical sites and buildings.

Preservation

Current preservation and restoration projects

•Brick and mortar restoration and preservation of the former Grace Methodist Episcopal Church and creation of the Grace Heritage Site.

•The Grace Heritage Site will highlight the history of the African American struggle for freedom and emancipation, and house a tribute to local African American veterans.  

•Physical preservation of the African American Cooksville Cemetery between Purcellville and Lincoln.

Information and Awareness

• Maintain an active website and social media.

• Create and publish papers, newsletters, information flyers.

• Maintain awareness & info on changes/threats to the community, e.g. new developments, new roads, key county meetings/decisions affecting us.

• Sale of publications, e.g. LPF publications, maps, and items.

Fund Raising

•Targeted fund raising includes grants: e.g. individual sponsors, corporate sponsors, and county and federal grantors.

• Sale of publications, e.g. LPF publications, maps, and items.

History

The Goose Creek Historic District is a nearly 10,000-acre rural historic district in western Loudoun County, Virginia. Europeans first settled the area in the 1730s. By 1750, the Quakers had established a meeting house in the village of Goose Creek; the name later changed to Lincoln. Eventually, Goose Creek became home to the largest concentration of Quakers in Virginia. The village and surrounding farmlands were also inhabited by free blacks. In the mid-19th century, Lincoln was a thriving village offering a variety of services to its residents and surrounding farms. These Quaker farms were typically a few hundred acres - large enough to provide an income but small enough to be farmed by a single family. Quakers did not believe in slave labor. This farm pattern is still evident on the landscape today.