Timeline
|
1700’s |
Purcellville area is first settled by James Dillon in mid 1700’s |
1790’s |
Village became known as Purcell’s Store |
1822 |
On January 28, Valentine Purcell is appointed postmaster of Purcell’s Store |
1841 |
First known stagecoach comes through Purcell’s Store. It leaves Washington, D.C. at 4 a.m. and arrived in Winchester at 6 p.m. |
1852 |
Purcell’s Store is renamed Purcellville on July 9. |
1861 |
On May 29, Purcellville residents casts eighty-two votes for secession and thirty-one against. |
1874 |
The Washington & Ohio Railroad comes to town on March 14. A sixty-by-twenty-foot railroad depot was completed in April. |
1886 |
Phone service comes to Purcellville. |
1904 |
First automobile seen in Purcellville. |
|
The Tabernacle at the Bush meeting grounds is built for $2,500. |
1908 |
Purcellville incorporates on March 14. |
|
First town taxes: Fifty cents for every male twenty-one and over, and eleven cents on every one hundred dollars of assessed valuation. |
1910 |
Town Council establishes first speed limit at 8 m.p.h. |
|
The Loudoun County Emancipation Association builds their headquarters on the Emancipation Grounds. |
1912 |
Electricity comes to Purcellville provided by a diesel powered plant. The plant also manufactures six tons of ice daily. |
1914 |
On November 22, fire destroys most of the downtown businesses. A second fire occurs a week later. |
1915 |
The Town Council enacts a building code in the business district requiring buildings to be erected of brick, stone, or concrete. |
1920 |
Carrie Emerick is the first woman in Loudoun County to pay her poll tax, making her eligible to vote. |
1921 |
The first catholic church, St. Francis de Sales, is built. |
1923 |
The town organizes its first fire company on March 15. |
1924 |
Installation of the first fifty-eight street lights. |
1925 |
The Bethany Methodist church is built. |
1927 |
The main street of Purcellville is paved. |
1928 |
The Town Council votes to install municipal water. |
1933 |
Prohibition is repealed in a county wide vote. Purcellville residents vote seventy-four to seventy-two to repeal. |
1938 |
Purcellville Library is dedicated on Labor Day. |
1947 |
The eight-room George Washington Carver School is built. |
1949 |
The firemen provide lights at their baseball field. |
1951 |
Passenger service on the W&OD is discontinued. |
1967 |
Integration occurs at Emerick Elementary. |
1993 |
Purcellville’s Library addition is completed in July. |
2008 |
Purcellville celebrates its 100th anniversary. |