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Blight Patrol now rolling; first stop Round Hill
What is Blight Patrol? Actually, it's a who and it's me. My equipment is a camera and a pen and pad of paper. My mission is to find the ugliest, most dilapidated-looking structures in Loudoun and in its seven incorporated towns.With unkempt lawns and unsightly homes dominating the local news of late, I thought I would scour the county to capture what constitutes blight. And despite Loudoun being one of the nation's wealthiest counties, it wasn't all that hard to find.
Occasionally, over the coming months, I'll feature on this blog the blight I come across. I will also attempt to answer why these structures (both residential and commercial) are in the conditions they are in.
Now, I am not looking to embarrass those who cannot afford to keep their homes in pristine condition. So, tall grass, I'm not interested. A broken fence, not ugly enough for me.
What I am searching for are the places that are complete dumps, as in no one probably lives or works there anymore, but vacancy is not a requirement.
So, look out public eyesores, the Blight Patrol is now rolling.
If you know of a structure the Blight Patrol should investigate, e-mail jjacks@timespapers.com or call 703-777-1111 and ask for me.
Regards.
The Hammerly House in Round Hill
With the press (including your's truly) focusing on overcrowded homes and unruly lawns in Sterling Park lately, I thought I would spare that beleaguered community for the time being and begin my journey in western Loudoun. So first up is this wreck in Round Hill (see photo above).
It's called the Hammerly House and it rests in a prominent spot in the middle of this adorable little town on West Loudoun Street next to the Round Hill United Methodist Church.
The picture above does not do these crumbling ruins justice. In person, it looks as if a stiff breeze could knock it over.
What paint is left, is peeling. The front porch, cluttered with old furniture, appears to be a safety hazard with strategically placed support beams holding up the porch's roof.
Also outside, the grass is overgrown in parts (it does look like someone recently mowed the portion along West Loudoun) and plastic trash cans and paint buckets litter the yard.
According to tax records, the two-story Victorian sits on a 1-acre lot and was built in 1897. Thomas Barry of Herndon is the property's owner. The county assessor's office last valued the property at $270,200. Surrounding homes range from $350,000 to $500,000.
I was unable to reach Mr. Barry, but Round Hill historian Pete Gray said the house, which was built by a former town council member, was bought by the Barry family, none of whom still live in town, in the late-1960s. However, it has sat empty for the last 20 years, he said.
What Gray heard is that some sort of "family affair" or falling out within the Barry clan has kept the home in its current blighted state. Apparently now, Mr. Barry refuses to sell the house, Gray added.
"It's been an eyesore for years," Gray lamented. "If the termites weren't holding hands it would probably fall down ... It's sad that he has let it go. But what can the town do; it is private property."
Hammerly House neighbor Craig Fredericks said he sees Mr. Barry at his property about once a month just "sort of puttering around." Barry told him he plans to fix up the house and retire there someday.
To speed up the process, Fredericks said he went as far as to get Barry a quote from a contractor on how much it would cost to renovate the house. However, after seeing the estimate, Fredericks said Barry refused to start the work fearing the price was too high.
"I think he has the money," Fredericks said, before cutting himself off. "But I better not say anymore."
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