Paxton Trust Begins Long Road to Restore Carlheim Manor

Contact: Paige Buscema

703-443-6410

beseen@eyetopiainc.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 1, 2021

Paxton Trust Begins Long Road to Restore Carlheim Manor

Leesburg, Va – The Margaret Paxton Memorial Trust (established in 1922 from the Estate of Rachel Paxton and simply known as the Paxton Trust) is charged with the care and keeping of the Estate to serve children in need in perpetuity. In 2022, the Paxton Trust will begin the long road to restoring the Estate’s crown jewel, the 149-year-old Carlheim Manor.

Carlheim Manor has been used by the Paxton Trust’s primary tenant, The Arc of Loudoun, for more than 10 years as the renowned, award-winning haunted house fundraiser, Shocktober. Unfortunately, years of wear and tear from the traffic generated by Shocktober, in addition to the natural decay of the home from it standing vacant for most of each year, have created concerns for public safety as well as the historic preservation of such an important Leesburg landmark.

The Arc of Loudoun’s lease required that it prevent Carlheim Manor from deteriorating from its 2008 condition. However, in recent discussions between the Paxton Trust and the Arc of Loudoun, it became clear that the Arc did not have funds available to maintain Carlheim Manor. Rather than require the Arc to divert funds from its mission of helping children in need, the Paxton Trust proposed, and the Arc agreed, that the Paxton Trust would take back possession of Carlheim Manor and release the Arc from its obligation to maintain Carlheim Manor, in exchange for a small distribution of this year’s Shocktober proceeds that will be used to address urgent maintenance issues.

The Trustees of the Paxton Trust have started work on a comprehensive plan for the entire Estate. The objectives of this plan include (i) a new State of the Art facility specifically designed for the Arc of Loudoun, and (ii) the renovation of Carlheim Manor. “Bringing the campus up to date, providing the Arc of Loudoun the infrastructure they need to grow their services for children in need here long-term, and making sure that Carlheim Manor can stand proud in the service of children for another 100 years is of the utmost importance to us and the community at large.” said Trustee, Paige Buscema.

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Published by Meredith Lefforge

Community Outreach Coordinator