The Mystery Shoes of Weston
By Mary Ashton - Fall 2026
A pair of 18th-century shoes bearing the scripted name “Nourse” was discovered in a trunk at Weston, offering a fascinating glimpse into Weston's history. Who were these shoes made for, and why were they carefully saved and preserved for so long? Read the following article to learn more about the mystery and the clues it offers.
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Photos of the Mystery Shoes
Native Plants and the Flora of Weston
Rebecca Wistar Nourse and Her Wildflowers
By Mary Ashton - Fall 2024
In 2023, in appreciation of the Nourse family’s love of flowers and native plants, the Warrenton Antiquarian Society applied for and received a small grant to document and share with others the vast number of wildflowers and native plants that live within the borders of traditional Weston, the property that includes the State of Virginia’s Wildlife Resource Area going to and along Turkey Run. This grant has been made available by the Piedmont Chapter of The Virginia Native Plant Society. We are most grateful for their support and encouragement and look forward to sharing the products of this project with our Friends and others. The first article below is one written about Rebecca Nourse, mother of Charles Nourse of Weston. As an artist, naturalist and collector and painter of wildflowers, Rebecca has left a legacy of art and a deep appreciation of nature that today’s Weston is inspired to honor and share.
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Artwork by Rebecca Wistar Morris Nourse
