Prince William County has purchased the Keys Farm property abutting the county landfill. Much of the property lies within the area designated as a buffer between the landfill and surrounding communities. However, it is also an area of historic significance as noted recently at meeting of the Mid-County Civic Association.

From MIDCO’s website recapping their July meeting:

“In 1901, James Kindsloe purchased the 99-acre property (now 55 acres) from the Lynn family, who had previously purchased it from the Bacher family. Born in 1878, Kindsloe died in 1905. His grave, in a cemetery about 150 feet behind the farmhouse, is marked by a bronze grave marker manufactured by a company that closed in 1914 whose products were at one time sold by Sears and ranged in price from ten dollars to several thousand dollars. Stanley Keys, who purchased part of the property after James Kindsloe’s death, died on September 9, 1911.

In the discussion following Cuff’s talk, Jack Kooyoomjian noted that a 1901 map showing the Kindsloe property also showed the Barnes family farm discussed at last month’s MIDCO meeting and praised local historian and activist Bill Olson for his many years of identifying and helping to preserve cemeteries in Prince William County. Jeter noted that the county was in negotiations to buy the Kindsloe Farm next to the Keys Farm and said that it would be great to establish a park and/or historic area comprising both farms. He responded favorably to a suggestion by Lori Fenn that it be used for a farm museum and added his praise for the “incredible job” done by Bill Olson in preserving the county’s history.”

– Coles District Staff