Carlheim
Encyclopedia
Carlheim, a mansion, also called Paxton, was constructed in about 1872 for Pennsylvania industrialist Charles R. Paxton (1816–1889) and his wife Rachel who continued to live there until her death in December 1921. It is located in the northeast part of Leesburg, Virginia
. When constructed, it sat on over 760 acres (3.1 km²) roughly bounded on the north end by the Red Rock Wilderness Overlook Regional Park
, the Balls Bluff Battlefield and the Potomac River
. In accordance with Mrs. Paxton's will, the buildings and 50 surrounding acres were preserved and organized into a charitable trust to benefit "needy children."
Designed by New York architect Henry Dudley
, the nearly 20,000 square foot 32-room Second Empire building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1979 for its architectural and local significance. In 2004, the property became a non-contiguous part of the Leesburg Historic District
. The estate of Mr. and Mrs. Paxton was originally entered down a long tree lined driveway off of King Street. Today, that entrance is gone and there are two more contemporary entrances; Wildman Street (normally closed) and the new main entrance that was completed in 2009 at 601 Catoctin Circle.
Among the buildings that remain from the original estate but are outside the present campus include the Farm Managers Home (now the Exeter Community Club House) and the stabilized creamery ruins at Red Rock Park along Edwards Ferry Road.
The mansion and remaining 16 acres (64,749.8 m²) grounds are currently the home of the Margaret Paxton Memorial Learning and Resource Campus (also known as the Paxton Campus) which includes The Arc of Loudoun (Larc), The Aurora School, the ALLY Advocacy Center and the Open Door Learning Center. The Aurora School serves children and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Open Door is a pre-school serving disabled and typically developing children. The ALLY Advocacy Center provides advocacy services to the disabled community. The Paxton Campus is a registered non-profit organization registered under its legal name, The Arc of Loudoun. The Campus is privately owned property but may be visited with permission.
The major annual fundraising events on the Paxton Campus include:
Leesburg, Virginia
Leesburg is a historic town in, and county seat of, Loudoun County, Virginia, United States of America. Leesburg is located west-northwest of Washington, D.C. along the base of the Catoctin Mountain and adjacent to the Potomac River. Its population according the 2010 Census is 42,616...
. When constructed, it sat on over 760 acres (3.1 km²) roughly bounded on the north end by the Red Rock Wilderness Overlook Regional Park
Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority
The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority is an interjurisdictional organization that owns and operates more than 10,000 acres of woodlands, streams, parks, trails, nature reserves, countryside and historic sites in Northern Virginia in the United States. The Authority was organized in 1959...
, the Balls Bluff Battlefield and the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
. In accordance with Mrs. Paxton's will, the buildings and 50 surrounding acres were preserved and organized into a charitable trust to benefit "needy children."
Designed by New York architect Henry Dudley
Henry Dudley
Henry C. Dudley , known also as Henry Dudley, was an English-born North American architect, known for his Gothic Revival churches...
, the nearly 20,000 square foot 32-room Second Empire building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1979 for its architectural and local significance. In 2004, the property became a non-contiguous part of the Leesburg Historic District
Leesburg Historic District (Leesburg, Virginia)
The Leesburg Historic District in Leesburg, Virginia is a historic district that includes Classical Revival, Greek Revival, and Georgian architecture and dates back to 1757...
. The estate of Mr. and Mrs. Paxton was originally entered down a long tree lined driveway off of King Street. Today, that entrance is gone and there are two more contemporary entrances; Wildman Street (normally closed) and the new main entrance that was completed in 2009 at 601 Catoctin Circle.
Among the buildings that remain from the original estate but are outside the present campus include the Farm Managers Home (now the Exeter Community Club House) and the stabilized creamery ruins at Red Rock Park along Edwards Ferry Road.
The mansion and remaining 16 acres (64,749.8 m²) grounds are currently the home of the Margaret Paxton Memorial Learning and Resource Campus (also known as the Paxton Campus) which includes The Arc of Loudoun (Larc), The Aurora School, the ALLY Advocacy Center and the Open Door Learning Center. The Aurora School serves children and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Open Door is a pre-school serving disabled and typically developing children. The ALLY Advocacy Center provides advocacy services to the disabled community. The Paxton Campus is a registered non-profit organization registered under its legal name, The Arc of Loudoun. The Campus is privately owned property but may be visited with permission.
The major annual fundraising events on the Paxton Campus include:
- The Paxton Music Festival (May)
- 8K Run for Independence (July)
- The Paxton Manor Haunted House aka "Shocktober" (October)