Dover, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Dover is an unincorporated community in Loudoun County
, Virginia
, USA. Dover is located east of Middleburg
at the intersection of U.S. Highway 50, Champe Ford Road (629 South), and Cobb House Road (629 North). The Little River
begins following Route 50 at this point.
Dover as a geographical entity is somewhat exaggerated, seeing as the bend in Route 50 it refers to consists of only few houses, but it has a long pedigree as a named area, appearing on state and national maps. Most likely, it understanding as a geographical entity stems from the fact that the Little River Turnpike (first toll road
in America) and Aldie-Ashby's Gap Turnpike terminated approximately together here, 1.3 miles west of Aldie
.
s at the site, commemorating John Champe, Revolutionary War
Hero, and three Civil War
markers, including one mentioning the Battle of Aldie
.
Its two distinguishing features are Stoke (a prominent house where Teddy Roosevelt was a frequent guest) and the Champe Ford Memorial (an obelisk
commemorating John Champe, handpicked by George Washington
to re-capture Benedict Arnold
after his defection
to the British
side. He came very close to succeeding, but at the last moment, Arnold changed plans and the whole endeavor had to be called off. His house was at the crossing of the Little River where the monument stands today, but the house itself had collapsed (according to Col. Harris of Stoke) "sometime in the [19]20s." He only realized when reading an old journal that one of his old buildings had to have been Champe's residence.
Dover Mill, built in 1810 and demolished in 1923 (the stones were reused to build Middleburg Bank) was the original mainstay. Established by the Hixson family, it was a profitable enterprise before the Civil War, but never was able to recover from essentially being on the front line
s for several years of war.
Dover Mill was also a known landmark for people wishing to travel to the village of Landmark (now uninihabited), by traveling down what is now Champe Ford Road.
Dover Academy was a girls school in the mid-19th century as well. The house was eventually purchased by the McCormicks (related to McCormick Spice Company
) and is currently owned by a descendant, Jamie McCormick.
The Amazing Race (9.3)
shows many of the contestants passing '629' in the dead of night on their way to Dulles Airport. That is probably the only time Dover has appeared on national television.
Michael Dell
maintains a residence near Dover. Other notable residents include Virginia Warner (daughter of Sen. John Warner
) and billionaire Jacqueline Mars
of Mars Candy.
Loudoun County, Virginia
Loudoun County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county is estimated to be home to 312,311 people, an 84 percent increase over the 2000 figure of 169,599. That increase makes the county the fourth...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, USA. Dover is located east of Middleburg
Middleburg, Virginia
Middleburg is a town in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States with a population of approximately 976 as of July 2010.-History:The town was established in 1787 by American Revolutionary War Lieutenant Colonel and Virginia statesman, Levin Powell. He purchased the land for Middleburg at $2.50 per...
at the intersection of U.S. Highway 50, Champe Ford Road (629 South), and Cobb House Road (629 North). The Little River
Little River (Goose Creek)
Little River is a tributary stream of Goose Creek in Fauquier and Loudoun counties in northern Virginia. Via Goose Creek, it is a tributary of the Potomac River....
begins following Route 50 at this point.
Dover as a geographical entity is somewhat exaggerated, seeing as the bend in Route 50 it refers to consists of only few houses, but it has a long pedigree as a named area, appearing on state and national maps. Most likely, it understanding as a geographical entity stems from the fact that the Little River Turnpike (first toll road
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
in America) and Aldie-Ashby's Gap Turnpike terminated approximately together here, 1.3 miles west of Aldie
Aldie, Virginia
Aldie is an unincorporated village located on the John Mosby Highway between Gilbert's Corner and Middleburg in Loudoun County, Virginia. It is located in a gap between the Catoctin Mountain and Bull Run Mountain, through which the Little River flows...
.
Historical interest
There are four Virginia historical markerHistorical marker
A historical marker or historic marker is an indicator such as a plaque or sign to commemorate an event or person of historic interest and to associate that point of interest with a specific locale one can visit.-Description:...
s at the site, commemorating John Champe, Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
Hero, and three Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
markers, including one mentioning the Battle of Aldie
Battle of Aldie
The Battle of Aldie took place on June 17, 1863, in Loudoun County, Virginia, as part of the Gettysburg Campaign of the American Civil War.Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry screened Gen. Robert E. Lee's Confederate infantry as it marched north in the Shenandoah Valley behind the sheltering Blue...
.
Its two distinguishing features are Stoke (a prominent house where Teddy Roosevelt was a frequent guest) and the Champe Ford Memorial (an obelisk
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
commemorating John Champe, handpicked by George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
to re-capture Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold V was a general during the American Revolutionary War. He began the war in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces...
after his defection
Defection
In politics, a defector is a person who gives up allegiance to one state or political entity in exchange for allegiance to another. More broadly, it involves abandoning a person, cause or doctrine to whom or to which one is bound by some tie, as of allegiance or duty.This term is also applied,...
to the British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
side. He came very close to succeeding, but at the last moment, Arnold changed plans and the whole endeavor had to be called off. His house was at the crossing of the Little River where the monument stands today, but the house itself had collapsed (according to Col. Harris of Stoke) "sometime in the [19]20s." He only realized when reading an old journal that one of his old buildings had to have been Champe's residence.
Dover Mill, built in 1810 and demolished in 1923 (the stones were reused to build Middleburg Bank) was the original mainstay. Established by the Hixson family, it was a profitable enterprise before the Civil War, but never was able to recover from essentially being on the front line
Front line
A front line is the farthest-most forward position of an armed force's personnel and equipment - generally in respect of maritime or land forces. Forward Line of Own Troops , or Forward Edge of Battle Area are technical terms used by all branches of the armed services...
s for several years of war.
Dover Mill was also a known landmark for people wishing to travel to the village of Landmark (now uninihabited), by traveling down what is now Champe Ford Road.
Dover Academy was a girls school in the mid-19th century as well. The house was eventually purchased by the McCormicks (related to McCormick Spice Company
McCormick & Company
McCormick & Company manufactures spices, herbs, and flavorings for retail, commercial, and industrial markets. The company began in 1889 in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. One hundred years later, McCormick moved from downtown Baltimore to the suburb of Hunt Valley, Maryland. McCormick has...
) and is currently owned by a descendant, Jamie McCormick.
Other current structures
Pheasant's Eye was built by the Hixsons as their main resident in the 1820s. There are a few other old houses, as well as Dover Nursery and new farmhouse at the "intersection" (term used advisedly, as there isn't even a stoplight, nor a need for one).The Amazing Race (9.3)
The Amazing Race 8
The Amazing Race 8 is the eighth installment of the reality television show The Amazing Race...
shows many of the contestants passing '629' in the dead of night on their way to Dulles Airport. That is probably the only time Dover has appeared on national television.
Michael Dell
Michael Dell
Michael Saul Dell is an American business magnate and the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Dell Inc. He is the 44th richest person in the world, with a net worth of US$14.6 billion in 2011, based primarily on the 243.35 million shares of Dell stock worth $3.5 billion that he owns,...
maintains a residence near Dover. Other notable residents include Virginia Warner (daughter of Sen. John Warner
John Warner
John William Warner, KBE is an American Republican politician who served as Secretary of the Navy from 1972 to 1974 and as a five-term United States Senator from Virginia from January 2, 1979, to January 3, 2009...
) and billionaire Jacqueline Mars
Jacqueline Mars
Jacqueline Mars is the daughter of Forrest Edward Mars, Sr., and granddaughter of Frank C. Mars, founders of the American candy company Mars, Incorporated....
of Mars Candy.