Cooperative Living July 2016 - 34

'Growth must not
and shall not happen
at the price of destroying
this county's beauty, natural
heritage and its vital farm
industry,' wrote
Nick Arundel.
July 4th at Great Meadow
speeds on Route 55. Families concerned
about safety and rattling windows began to
leave. With fewer residents, many
businesses closed and left deserted
buildings. A town policeman tried to
control rampant robbery, illegal drugs, and
street brawls in the 1960s. After the fatal
fire in 1967, even harder times followed.
The Plains almost became a ghost town.
ARUNDEL REVITALIZES
'A HAMLET FALLEN ON
HARD TIMES'
The tide began to turn in 1974 when
media-publisher Arthur W. " Nick " Arundel
(1928-2011) and his family moved to
Merry Oak Farm near The Plains. That
year, the former Marine Corps captain
organized the Village Steering Committee
to revitalize the town. In 1977, they
received from the government a $19,000
Depressed Town grant. With this money
and Arundel's own, the Village Trust started
to acquire and renovate derelict properties,
replace wells and septic fields with water
and sewer systems, and plant trees along
restored sidewalks.
Heavy traffic moved off Main Street in
1979 to the newly expanded I-66. Feeling
relieved and inspired, townsfolk collected
230 tons of junk and rubbish during The
Big Cleanup of 1981. The Village Trust
lured restaurant and shop owners. Visitors
noticed, including Sen. John Warner and
his wife at the time, actress Elizabeth
Taylor, who lived nearby. The Magazine of
Virginia declared " A Heart Beats Again in a
Hamlet Fallen on Hard Times. "
PRESERVING LAND AND NATURE
Arundel, who started all-news radio
broadcasting, particularly loved newspaper
publishing. He moved to The Plains after
buying The Fauquier Times-Democrat. In
his first editorial, the Harvard University
graduate praised growth for creating jobs
and opportunities, but he wrote: " Growth
must not and shall not happen at the price
of destroying this county's beauty, natural
32 | Cooperative Living | July 2016
heritage and its vital farm industry. "
Arundel lived these words when in 1982
he rescued from development a 700-acre
dairy farm near the town and donated the
land to what became the nonprofit Great
Meadow Foundation to " preserve open
space in service to the community. " Great
Meadow began hosting the spring and fall
Virginia Gold Cup steeplechase races.
Today it also hosts Twilight Polo, July 4th
fireworks, Virginia Scottish Games, wine
festivals, rocketry events, search-and-rescue
police dog training, Virginia State crosscountry
tournaments, hound competitions,
bike and horse trail rides, and scientific
research projects.
" What John D. Rockefeller did to restore
Williamsburg, Nick
did on a smaller
scale for The
Plains, " explains
Jay Adams, the
foundation board's
vice president and
Northern Virginia
Electric
Cooperative
member. " Nick
wanted to create
a park for the
community. That's
what we're doing.
We're providing a
place where people
in towns and cities
can come and enjoy
outdoor activities
and nature. "
ARUNDEL'S
LEGACY
" In the first part
of your life, you
learn, " Arundel
wrote. " In the
second, you earn,
and in the third,
you give it all
back. "
In addition to revitalizing The Plains,
Arundel gave back by serving with more
than 20 historical, journalism, educational
and conservation groups, including
Friends of the National Zoo, which he
founded. The Virginia General Assembly
named Arundel the Outstanding Virginian
of 2011.
Because of Arundel, Adams, and many
other like-minded people in The Plains,
the little town that almost died now
welcomes visitors from around the world.
Be one of them! 
Sources: theplainsvirginia.org, greatmeadow.org,
patch.com/virginia/ashburn/obituary-arthur-wnick-arundel-1928-2011
THE
PLAINS ATTRACTIONS
Archwood Green Barns Farmer's
Market on Fauquier Avenue features
fresh produce, barbeque, and
homemade local products from the
last Sunday in April to the second
Sunday in November, and twice in
December, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Afro-American Historical
Association of Fauquier County,
4243 Loudoun Avenue.
Girasole (Italian) and The Rail
Stop restaurants, Front Porch
Market & Grill, and Crest Hill
Antiques & Tea Room. (Actor
Robert Duvall once co-owned
The Rail Stop. He lives on his farm
near town because he likes " the
vibes " in Virginia.)
Art galleries and shops for
people who love arts, crafts,
gardening, knitting, antiques,
coffee and bicycles.
The Great Meadow Foundation,
5089 Old Tavern Road, hosts many
outdoor events including the Land
The Rail Stop
Rover Great Meadow International
July 8-10. This competition will be
the final prep for the U.S. Olympic
Team before the 2016 Summer
Olympic Games in Brazil in August.
This first Fédération Equestre
International Nation's Cup™
CICO*** of Eventing held outside
Europe will bring the world's finest
horses and riders to Virginia. " Great
Meadow is a lovely facility with the
best footing I have seen in this
country, " says Capt. Mark Phillips,
chef d'equipe and coach, U.S.
Olympic Equestrian 3-day team. 
www.co-opliving.com
http://www.theplainsvirginia.org http://www.greatmeadow.org http://www.patch.com/virginia/ashburn/obituary-arthur-w http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living July 2016

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