Celebrate history at Rippon Lodge

Mike Cecere
Published: July 1, 2008

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our nation with fireworks, parades, picnics and ball games, thousands of folks will visit historic landmarks like Mt. Vernon and Monticello. In doing so, they will pay
homage to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, two Virginians who were instrumental to American independence. The homes of these patriotic leaders have become monuments to the men
themselves, and while few would dispute that they deserve to be honored, it is also true that they did not act alone. Thousands of individuals contributed to American independence. Unfortunately, most of
these patriots have faded from our memory and little exists to identify or remind us of THEIR important contributions.

Such is not the case in Prince William County. A few years ago, county leaders purchased and restored Rippon Lodge, the home of Colonel Thomas Blackburn, one of those unsung American patriots
who helped gain American independence. Colonel Blackburn was one of two members of the House of Burgesses from Prince William County in 1774 to 75.

He was also a delegate to the Virginia conventions of the same time period. Blackburn was a leader in the Prince William County independent militia and a member of the county committee charged with
enforcing the boycott on British goods. He was in attendance when Patrick Henry called for “liberty or death” and supported action to strengthen Virginia’s military when war looked unavoidable. 

Learn more about Colonel Blackburn at Rippon Lodge. The site is currently open for tours, Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is located at 15500 Blackburn Road in Woodbridge.

MIKE CECERE

Montclair