Curse of the FTF #7 -- WLE -- Purcellville Traditional Cache

Cache is located in Purcellville's Fireman's Fields.

It is a small medicine container wrapped in camoflauged duct tape and attached with a string. PLEASE do not remove the string from the cache or the holder. You will be able to unscrew the container WITHOUT having to do anything with the string.

The cache only holds a log. You will need to bring your own pen/pencil.

There are lots of places to park in and around the park. If you would like to park close to the cache, enter the park using the gravel road off 20th Street. This will put you behind the baseball field. You can park in the gravel lot next to the gazebo.

Hours: Open daylight hours only, every day

NOTE: Please respect the 25 mph speed limit throughout the town (the local police are always on patrol).

Fireman's Fields History

The 13-acre Fireman’s Field park is located in the heart of the Purcellville Historic District and contains the last remaining vestiges of “Dillon’s Woods,” the Town’s most significant remaining urban forest populated with trees ranging in size from small dogwoods to majestic centuries-old white oaks.

In 1764, James Dillon, a Quaker from Bucks County, Pennsylvania became the first known settler of the Purcellville area and the remnants of his farm are the old trees known as Dillon’s Woods which are contained on the property known today as Fireman’s Field.

By 1878, Dillon’s Woods became the site of an annual week long temperance demonstration. At first the meeting was held under “bushes” placed across wooden crosspieces to shade the attendees, hence the name, The Bush Meeting Grounds. Later the bushes were replaced by tents. Each August, the Town’s population swelled by the thousands as revelers arrived on special excursion trains from Washington, DC to listen to impassioned evangelists and rousing orators such as Williams Jennings Bryan and to partake in picnics and concerts by local bands and gospel singers.

By 1904, the tent was replaced by the Tabernacle, an octagonal, German-sided building that could hold 3000 people. It was built by local master builder, Arch Simpson and until Dulles Airport was built in 1962, it remained the largest structure in Loudoun County.

Over the next few decades, the Bush Meeting Grounds became the locale for 4-H Fairs, wrestling matches, country singers (most notably Patsy Cline of nearby Winchester) and the Tabernacle became a skating rink where local teens could congregate on weekends. The Purcellville Volunteer Fire Company purchased the grounds in 1947 and built the first lighted baseball field in Loudoun County.

The park includes the historic Bush Tabernacle skating rink (built in 1903), two baseball fields with the main one selected as the site of the Babe Ruth League World Series in 2013, the sixth time the youth baseball organization has chosen Purcellville as a World Series destination. At the 2007 games, Babe Ruth’s own daughter, Julia Ruth Stevens, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Fireman's field is home to the Purcellville Cannons, a baseball organization who is part of the prestigious Valley Baseball League, which is NCAA Sanctioned and supported by Major League Baseball (MLB).

Today, Fireman’s Field park hosts numerous events, concerts, receptions, antique fairs, roller skating parties and is home to the annual Loudoun Grown Expo, Music and Arts Festival, Wine and Food Festival, and sports activities. The Fireman’s Field property is listed on the state and national registers of historic places. It also contains a 9/11 First Responders Memorial.

* * * * * CONGRATULATIONS Major_Dad for the FTF * * * * *