Sugarland Run History

The History of Sugarland Run

Have you ever wondered how Sugarland Run got its name? In 1692, Gover­nor Sir Francis Nicholson commissioned David Strahan, along with his Rangers of Potomac, to scout the area for possi­ble Indian activity. During one of these scouting expeditions, Strahan and his Rangers noticed a juice on the maple trees. The Rangers found this strange substance to have a sticky, molasses-like, texture. Over the days they watch­ed the juice turn into a hard candy. Curiosity led the Rangers to taste this crystallized juice. They found this sub­stance to be very sweet — like sugar. So, the explorers began to refer to this area as the Sugarlands. David Strahan and his Rangers are believed to be the first explorers to enter Loudoun County.

The original Sugarlands encompassed a broader area than today’s 541 acre Sugarland Run. The Sugarlands had quite a few owners. Captain Daniel Mc­Carty of Westmoreland received the first land grant in Loudoun County which included the Sugarlands. The McCartys owned most of the land through the eighteenth century. In the nineteenth century, Charles Eskridge, Clerk of Loudoun Court, obtained ow­nership. The land next became the pro­perty of John Austin in 1857. Mr. Aus­tin paid $8,120 for 427 acres of what is most of today’s Sugarland Run commu­nity. In 1868, the land was willed to John’s wife Jane. Jane gave the Sugarland Run tract to her daughter Georgia Carper. During this period of time the Sugarlands were known as Carper. The familiar Route 637 leading to Carper was known as Scott’s Road or Scott’s Landing. Scott was the caretaker of the warehouses on Carper. During the Civil War, Route 637 was also known as Rowzie’s Ford Road. The Sugarlands stayed in the Carper family until 1919.

In 1919, Page Wrenn bought Carper (475 acres) for $14,000. Wrenn also – farmed the land with corn, wheat, oats, rye, and sortie livestock. Wrenn was forced to sell Carper in 1929 due to the stock market crash. Mr. Wrenn took a loss on the land, selling it for only $13,250.

During the Depression, Carper had several owners. One of the more lively owners was an Oklahoman. The Okie enjoyed showgirls and airplanes, and is believed to have been one of the first to own an airplane in Loudoun. He was known to have frequent crashes, always walking away from them. The neigh­bors didn’t have much sympathy when the plane wrecked because he would land it almost anywhere.

In 1937, Carper was bought by a more stable owner, John T. Hepner. Mr. Hepner was able to purchase Carper for $7,500 from the bank. John Hepner was a cavalry man in charge of the remount station at Fort Royal. Oliver Hepner, John’s brother, farmed Carper. Oliver converted the ware­houses into barns and started a dairy farm. Thirty years later, in 1967, the last stock of cows were sold. The Hepners gained a profit of over one million dollars selling to Louis Zucker­man and Gerard Luria, owners of Shadyside, a Maryland developing com­pany.

In April of 1969, Shadyside sold out to Boise Cascade Building Corporation. Boise Cascade executives dreamed of a planned community and the logical name of the community was Sugarland Run. Loudoun County Planning Com­missioners worked with Boise Cascade, and together developed a ‘planned com­munity with the added assistance of some California firms. By January of 1971, the first homes were ready for oc­cupancy. Sheila and Leslie Clark, along with their three children and pets were the first Sugarland Run residents at 30 Thrush Road.

Today, Sugarland Run has a total of 1,027 single family homes, and 1,035 townhomes.

Source: Loudoun Times-Mirror, April 2, 1981 edition.

THE HISTORY OF SUGARLAND RUN – 2/27/1991

Captain Daniel McCarty of Westmoreland received the first land grant in Loudoun County which included “the Sugarlands” and the McCarty’s owned most of the land through the eighteenth century.

In the nineteenth century, Charles Eckridge, Clerk of Loudoun Court, obtained ownership of the land. In 1827, John Austin paid $8,120 for 427 acres of the land that is now most of Sugarland Run. The land was willed to Austin’s wife, Jane, in 1868. She, in turn, gave the tract to her daughter, Georgia Carper. During this time the property was known as Carper. At that time Route 637 was called Scott’s Road or Scott’s Landing, named after the caretaker of the warehouses on Carper. During the Civil War, Route 637 was also known as Rowzie’s Ford Road.

In 1919, Page Wrenn bought the 475-acre Carper for $14,000. Wrenn farmed the land with corn, wheat, oats, rye and some livestock. Wrenn was forced to sell Carper in 1929 due to the stock market crash. Mr. Wrenn took a loss on the land, selling it for only $13,350.

During the Depression, Carper had several owners. One of the most lively owners was an Oklahoman who enjoyed showgirls and airplanes. He is believed to have been one of the first people to own an airplane in Loudoun. He was also known to have frequent crashes, which he fortunately was able to walk away from.

John T. Hepner bought Carper from the bank for $7,500 in 1937. He was a cavalryman in charge of the remount station at Front Royal. John’s brother, Oliver, farmed the land turning Carper into a dairy farm; he converted the earlier warehouses into barns. Thirty years later, in 1967, the last stock of cows were sold and the Hepner family gained a profit of one million dollars when they sold the land to Louis Zuckerman and Gerard Luria, owners of Shadyside, a Maryland developing company. A stipulation to the sale was that the Hepner’s farm house and the 17-acre portion of land surrounding it would remain an excluded parcel for Mrs. Hepner’s use. The family lived there and operated a Christmas tree farm until the early ’70s, That parcel of land, originally referred to as “Sugarland West” was eventually developed. The original stone farm house still stands on Kale Avenue and is the only house in Sugarland with a detached two-car garage.

Shadyside sold the property to Boise Cascade in April of 1969. Boise Cascade’s executives envisioned the planned community of Sugarland Run and worked with Loudoun County Planning Commissioners to develop the community with the added assistance of some California firms.

Sugarland Run was originally approved as Loudoun’s second planned community in August, 1969. It provided for livable open spaces and a ‘cluster’-type construction similar to California houses.

In May of 1970 Boise Cascade’s construction equipment started to clear the land for the planned community which was located just west of the Fairfax border, across Route 7 from Sterling Park on a tract of several hundred acres.

In June of 1970 the Loudoun County Planning Commission approved a preliminary plat for a 100-townhouse section in Boise Cascade’s planned development in eastern Loudoun. The projection at that time was for a population of about 7600 people living in over 1000 single-family houses, 658 townhouses and over 500 garden apartment units.

Model homes for the first section of single-family detached dwellings first opened in September, 1970. During the first private showing of the models, development officials reported that over 70 houses had already been sold in the first section although none had been built. By the end of September, 1970, the plat was approved for 284 more single-family dwellings and 100 townhouse units. In addition, a preliminary plat for another 129 townhouses was approved by the Planning Commission.

In January, 1971 the first Sugarland houses were ready for occupancy. Sheila and Leslie Clark, their three children and their pets were the first family to move into Sugarland Run. The Clarke family still lives in that same house on Thrush Road.

The first issue of the Sugarland Run News was published in 1971 by the Community Management Corporation of Falls Church. The one-pager stated, “The purpose of this monthly publication is to keep the residents of Sugarland Run informed on the happenings within the community. It will be your means of recording and becoming apprised of plans, activities, services and just plain news of interest to you and your neighbors.” That tradition continues to this day.

In May, 1971, plats were approved to allow construction of 188 single-family homes and 129 townhouses; in March, 1972 the Board of Supervisors approved plats for 566 more housing units. Later in March of 1972 Boise Cascade sold out to the Larwin Group from Beverly Hills, California, a major West Coast building firm.

The Sugarland Run Community Center was built in June, 1972. Designed by B. A. Berkus and Associates, the California-style clubhouse featured soaring ceilings and tiered decks, accented in rich, brown wood overlooking a man­made lake. The Center complex included a large swimming pool, tot wading pool, tennis courts and ball fields.

The Sugarland Run swimming pool opened in August of 1972 and initiated a swimming instruction program which continues to this day.

A commercial shopping center was developed in 1973. The 1,000th family moved into Sugarland Run in November of 1973. Sugarland Elementary School was built in 1974 and was completed by the start of the 1975 school year. Built by an Alexandria contractor, the projected capacity was more than 700 students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

In March, 1976 the Sugarland Run Jaycees planted sixty Bradford pear trees on the medians on Sugarland Run Drive. Over 1000 pine seedlings were planted in April, 1976 on the grounds of Sugarland Elementary School.

Seneca Ridge Middle School opened its doors to students in the Fall of 1977, followed by Meadowland Elementary in 1979.

Houses in Sugarland West, formerly the Hepner’s exclusive parcel, were built in 1979­ – 80. The last phase of building, Sugarland Square, was completed in 1985.

On April 18, 1985, community volunteers joined together to construct the Creative Playground located near the Community Center. Volunteers, organizations and businesses that contributed to the project were invited to the playground’s ribbon cutting ceremony on June 23, 1985.

Due to a continuing list of depreciating mechanical services, structural aging, a weakening of the concrete footing caused by a shift in the ground water flow from Willow Lake, the decision was made in 1988 to construct a new Community Center. SRHOA entered in a contract with Charlton Ridge Homes Inc., Manassas, VA in 1.989. The Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Sugarland Run Community Center was on September 20, 1990. SRHOA Board of Directors, HOA staff members and interested residents were in attendance as Board President Wes Waters and building contractor Vince Charlton, used “golden shovels” to symbolize the official beginning of construction.

The single-level structure, designed by John K. White, structural engineer from Arlington, VA, encompasses approximately 3400 square feet. The new building houses the administrative offices of the Sugarland Run Homeowners Association and contains three meeting rooms which are utilized by countless community groups for meetings and by residents for private functions.

The HOA staff moved office furniture, records and themselves into the new building on April 8, 1991. The Grand Opening of the new Community Center took place on May 19, 1991. Board President Wes Waters and HOA Executive Director John Shields performed the “Official Ribbon Cutting” which was followed by a dedication ceremony. The community was invited to the Grand Opening/Open House to walk through the building and meet the SRHOA Board of Directors and staff.

Currently, Sugarland Run consists of 1027 single-family houses, 1035 townhouses, a small shopping area and two elementary schools.

1991 marked the 20th anniversary of Sugarland Run. Anniversary Celebration plans for September 28 and 29 included a parade, antique car show, 5K Race, entertainment, food and craft vendors, children’s games, prizes and much more.