15527 Second Street
This Federal-style house was built in 1819 by Samuel Hough Jr., on land which he purchased for $240 in 1817. This is one of the most elegantly embellished houses in Waterford, with keystone lintels, an unusual and striking cornice, and beautifully carved interior woodwork.
Samuel Hough was a Quaker, but his bride was not. Waterford’s Quakers were not very tolerant of any deviation among their members, and Samuel was read out of the Meeting. He and his wife lived in the house only a year before moving out of Waterford. They sold the house to Samuel’s mother, Lydia Hollingsworth Hough, for $3,500, an enormous sum in those days. Lydia seems to have been very fond
of Samuel, and it was her way of passing his inheritance on to him in advance!
Jacob Scott lived in the house during the Civil War, and was “CEO” of Waterford’s largest enterprise, Loudoun Mutual Fire Insurance Co. Although the Board of Directors was split between Unionists and Secessionists, Scott and President William Williams provided the leadership to enable the company to emerge from the War in fine shape. It is still operating on High Street today.
This building is open through the courtesy of Corrine Jacques and Matt Donnelly.