Preservation of Historic Winchester (PHW) has presented the Winchester-based business with the Katherine G. Rockwood Revolving Fund Award for outstanding renovation work done at 311 S. Loudoun St., also known as the Simon Lauck House.
Richard Bell and Sarah Adams Bell of The Adams Companies recently held an open house celebrating the property and the firefighters who were instrumental in saving it from total devastation.
Three and a half years ago in the middle of the night, a catastrophe was averted thanks to serendipity. Most of the city was peacefully sleeping, but Winchester firefighters Allen Ballenger and Trent Phillips were on duty. As they approached the house, they saw smoke.
“When we noticed the fire, we were actually going to another call,” recalled Ballenger, as he stood inside the freshly renovated property during the open house. “We turned down Loudoun Street and we noticed smoke. As we were rolling past the house we saw flames underneath the door.”
They called for extra help and began the preparations for putting out the fire that was quickly burning the interior of the log structure. The damage was substantial but primarily contained to the interior of the home.
The cause of the fire was determined to be a burning cigarette discarded in the mulch outside the front door.
The Adams Companies hired Vintage Restoration to meticulously repair and resurrect the building. Richard Bell says the building will be available in the near future for professional office space.
This wasn’t the first time the building was saved from destruction.
Sarah Adams Bell listened to Ballenger’s memory of that night in 2021, and responded that the firefighters’ drive-by at just that time was “providential.”
“What I love about hearing this story — right here and right now in this house — is that 50 years ago PHW, from the Jennings Revolving Fund, purchased this house to save it so it wouldn’t be demolished,” she said. “It’s important for the community to all understand the value of working together for the best of Winchester.”
PHW’s first house purchase
In 1974, the Salvation Army purchased a duplex at 309-311 S. Loudoun St. with plans to demolish the building to expand operations of its then-headquarters at 303 S. Loudoun St. PHW was interested in preserving the building because hidden inside the three-story, white-sided duplex was the 18th-century, two-story log cabin of a renowned early owner, Simon Lauck.
Simon Lauck, whose brother Peter Lauck built the circa 1783 Red Lion tavern at 204 S. Loudoun St.,) set up a gunsmithy on this property. Signed Simon Lauck rifles are highly collectible.
When PHW approached the Salvation Army to purchase the Simon Lauck house, they were offered the logs that would be left over after the house would be razed. After much back-and-forth negotiation with regional Salvation Army leaders, PHW was able to purchase the intact building. The 1976 restoration involved removing the siding, the third story and the addition, bringing the building back to its 1796 form.
Richard Bell said The Adams Companies purchased the property in December 2010 after its previous occupant, Northern Virginia Travel, closed down their business.
“We owned the adjacent properties and also had the parking lot and other infrastructure in the rear to support the use. And it was just a cool building and we wanted to make sure it was cared for properly.”