Fair Map
2024 Fine Art Judge Eric Westbrook
We are pleased to announce that painter, illustrator, and art instructor Eric Westbrook will be judging our fine art entries this year!
Eric lives and works in the Washington DC area. His current and former teaching venues include The Yellow Barn at Glen Echo, The Smithsonian, and VisArts in Rockville, MD. He is an experienced judge of art shows and competitions.
Eric’s landscape and portrait paintings are frequently exhibited in solo, and group shows and are held in public and private collections.
His illustrations have appeared in the publications of prominent corporate, government, and editorial clients nationwide. Eric received a Bachelor’s degree in art and design at the University of Maryland, College Park MD. His formal training in figure and portrait painting continued at the Art League School in Alexandria, VA, and the Washington Studio School in Washington, DC.
Eric Westbrook’s work has been described as an “art of observation”—a reference to the artist’s close observation of a subject, both for its surface details and for the structure and rhythm of its underlying forms. At the same time, the work itself repays observation: the more the viewer sits with it, the more what drew the artist to it in the first place is revealed.
His work can be viewed at ericwestbrook.com.
Loudoun Mutual Insurance
15609 High Street
Join the celebration – 175 years!
The concept of spreading the risk of fire damage emerged after the Great Fire of London in 1666, which devastated much of old town London. Inspired by this, Benjamin Franklin established the first fire insurance enterprise in America in 1752. By that time, the community of Waterford had already been established for nearly 20 years.
Loudoun Mutual Insurance Company traces its roots back to 1849, when it was originally founded as The Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Loudoun County. The company’s first insurance policy was issued to Talbott Farm, a property that has remained insured by Loudoun Mutual for 175 years. The company’s name was changed to Loudoun Mutual Insurance Company in 1979.
Currently housed in a building constructed in 1949, this is the third office structure built for Loudoun Mutual. The previous two buildings, which predate this one, are still standing in Waterford. This building, designed to be fire-resistant, is constructed from steel, concrete, and brick, and was modeled after George Mason’s home, Gunston Hall.
Originally established to insure against fire damage, Loudoun Mutual has expanded its
offerings over the years to include various types of insurance. The company’s official logo, a hand water pumper, symbolizes its origins and enduring commitment to protection and community. To mark its 175th anniversary, a replica of an actual hand water pumper, named Endurance, was commissioned and now stands proudly in their lobby.
Loudoun Mutual’s history is a testament to the Quaker principles of integrity and
community-mindedness upon which it was founded. These principles, combined with sound business practices, have guided the company through 175 years of success and will continue to do so in the future.
This building is open through the courtesy of Loudoun Mutual Insurance.
Market Hill
15545 Butchers Row
The Mahlon Janney House also known as Market Hill is an exquisite example of Federal-style architecture. It was built in 1801 by Edward Dorsey for Mahlon Janney, son of Waterford’s founder. Located on Butchers Row, named for a historic slaughterhouse, this charming residence boasts 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, and sits on just over 1/3 of an acre.
Originally, the main entrance faced Main Street atop “The Big Hill,” but later renovations moved it to its current location. The home was a medical practice for Doctor Edwards in the early 19th century and underwent significant changes in the mid-20th century, including the removal of interior partitions and the addition of a new wing.
By the early 1900s, Market Hill had fallen into disrepair until the Waterford Foundation restored and resold it. The Acheson family, who purchased the house in 1948, placed it and an adjoining lot in a conservation easement to preserve its historic integrity. In 2020, a new owner dedicated to historical preservation acquired Market Hill and has worked to restore its original beauty.
Market Hill is open through the courtesy of Camilla Strongin.
Thank you for a wonderful 2023 Waterford Fair!
Save the date for 2024, Oct. 4-6
Demonstrating Artisans Apply Here
Holly Heider Chapple
Holly Heider Chapple is the creative director behind Holly Heider Chapple Flowers, a luxury wedding flowers brand and owner of Hope Flower Farm and Winery based here in Waterford. Holly is the mother of seven children and contributes much of her success to her late husband Evan Chapple’s contributions to their business and family.
After traveling the world to teach her design aesthetic, she and her husband Evan set their sights on a twenty-five-acre farm just outside the village of Waterford. Here they grew flowers and provided educational workshops. The farm boasts beautiful flower fields and prop closets full of inspiration for editorial spreads. In 2020 with travel and weddings shut down, they opened their beloved Hope Flower Farm to the public and began the next phase of their career by sharing their love of flowers with their community.
Visitors to Hope Flower Farm enjoy the vision and dream born from Holly and Evan’s love of flowers. The farm not only offers educational workshops, cut your own experiences but also has a fantastic gift shop and is now a farm winery for tasting and experiencing all the farm has to offer.
Holly Chapple Floral Design Challenge*
Join us Friday, October 6th at 9:15 am as international floral artist and Waterford resident Holly Heider Chapple returns to her roots, just as she did when she was starting her floral career, using items foraged and harvested from her garden to make beautiful arrangements. Holly will walk the three Second Street gardens, harvesting flowers & greens as she goes, and then return to the Ephraim Schooley House garden to complete her arrangement, talking us through her process.
Gardens include the Charles Merchant House, the Ephraim Schooley House and Mahlon Schooley House. History docents and master gardeners will also be available to discuss these historic gardens.
*Early Bird Ticket required. Hope Farm is offering a 15% off wine, gifts, and flowers for all Waterford Fair guests that show their lanyard ticket upon arrival to the farm on Fair weekend, Oct. 6-8, 2023.