HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL NR 2022-08-10 Leesburg Town Council Approves New Potter’s Field Memorial
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release
August 11, 2022
Media Contact:
Kara Rodriguez, Public Information Officer
pio@leesburgva.gov 703-669-1425
Leesburg Town Council Approves New Potter’s Field Memorial
Leesburg, VA (August 11, 2022) – On Tuesday, August 9,
the Leesburg Town Council authorized Town staff to
move forward with plans to erect a memorial at Union
Cemetery to honor some of its late community members.
In 1839, the Town purchased land just outside of its
boundaries that served as a free burying ground for the
poor, convicted criminals, and those not associated with a
local church. Known as Potter’s Field, the land, at the
corner of East Market Street and Catoctin Circle, was
annexed into the Town in 1958.
Prior to development on the site occurring, remains from
the graves that were identified were recovered and buried in a single plot at Union Cemetery. The goal
of the new memorial aims to do a better job of honoring and telling the stories of those individuals.
Tuesday night’s Town Council action will authorize an additional $46,000 to be spent on a larger
memorial in Union Cemetery to recognize those buried at Potter’s Field. It will also allow several
cemetery plots to be purchased in order to allow land for the memorial. The Town Council had
previously authorized $15,000 in its Fiscal Year 2023 budget for a permanent memorial.
The design of the memorial was created by Bill Ference, a longtime staff member of the Town’s Parks &
Recreation Department who now assists with special Town projects. Feedback was solicited from the
Diversity Commission, Thomas Balch Library Advisory Commission, Commission on Public Art, and the
Parks & Recreation Commission to move the project forward.
“I am very proud of the efforts of all the stakeholders in making this project a reality,” stated Town
Manager Kaj Dentler. “This is one of those projects that has a long-term, lasting impact to the
community.”
The monument is expected to be installed in the spring of 2023. A summer 2023 dedication ceremony is
anticipated.
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