Rectortown Historic District

Rectortown is a small crossroads village in northeastern Fauquier County, Virginia, laid out under a 1772 act of the Virginia Assembly on land owned by John Rector. It is considered the oldest town in the county. The historic district covers roughly 115 acres and includes 81 contributing resources, mostly dwellings, along with churches, a school, an Odd Fellows hall, a post office, commercial buildings and cemeteries. Early buildings are log, stone and brick, including Maidstone Ordinary, the Rector-Slack Log House, Aspendale and the Brick Store House. Later frame houses show Federal, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival and Craftsman touches. The arrival of the Manassas Gap Railroad in 1852 spurred growth. During the Civil War the village served as Colonel John S. Mosby's unofficial headquarters, and General George McClellan was there when he learned he was relieved of command in 1862. The northern part of the district developed in the early twentieth century under African-American ownership. The district was recognized for its architecture, transportation history and military associations.