Open House for FOWB Members, May 16th
- 13 hours ago
- 3 min read
Open House for FOWB Members
Saturday, May 16th, 2026
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
31497 Indiantown Road, Locust Grove, VA 22508
Please join us for a special Open House for FOWB Members Only on Saturday, May 16, between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM. to come see the historic property we have recently acquired. The property consists of 42.3 acres and has a historic structure and a family cemetery on site. The property was part of the Payne's Farm Battlefield during the Mine Run Campaign and was thick with Union soldiers in late November 1863.
The property was owned by William Ambler Morris and his wife, Sarah Jane Mason Morris, during the American Civil War. William's nickname was "Gunsmith Billy" and he was, indeed, a gunsmith by trade. One of his pistols is on display in the Fredericksburg Area Museum. There is an insurance policy which dates the original house back to 1824, but that may or may not be accurate. Experts from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources have come out and believe that many of the features of the house are original to 1824. William and Sarah Jane bought the property prior to the Civil War and owned it into the 20th Century. Members will be able to see parts of the original logs that were used to build the house, and the downstairs fireplace mantel is thought to be original.
The house was originally a middle-class, story and a half farmhouse log cabin. The house does have an original set of stairs, which are a bit steep, so caution is advised if you want to venture upstairs. There is not much to see up there, but you will want to at least peek up them when you are checking out the main level!
The house will require extensive renovation and eventually we will house our library there and make it our official FOWB Headquarters. We will open it up for visitors on a limited basis and we hope to have some living history events on the grounds. We also plan to create walking trails and have interpretive panels to help visitors understand the importance of the site. There is much to be done before any of that can happen, but we are off to a great start!
During the Open House, FOWB board members will be on hand to talk with members about plans for the property. We can also answer questions about the process toward bringing it under easement with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
We can explain which troops were on the property, plus we are reaching out to an expert on historic gunsmithing to see if he is available to talk with visitors about what making and repairing guns was like during the Civil War.
Who is buried in the cemetery? We do not know, but we are researching and trying to find out. Sarah Jane's obituary states she is buried on the old homestead next to her late husband, but is she still? Was it a slave cemetery perhaps? We just don't know yet. We are working on it!
Please wear sturdy walking shoes and bring bug spray in case you want to walk out to the cemetery. It is a very short walk, like maybe 20 meters off the driveway, but it is on a trail in the woods, and it is tick season. The driveway is about a 1/2 mile long, and needs grading, so know that before coming. Regular cars have done fine driving on it, but your vehicle might get a little dusty.
Come share our excitement as we move forward with this project! Let us know how you would like to help! We hope to see you there!
