In the early 1930s, the owners of the Buchanan Hall land at that time, Mrs. Anne C. Dulany and Mr. H. Rozier Dulany, Jr., decided to donate the land and building to a nonprofit that would carry on its central role in the life of the community. On May 25, 1933, they and others created 501(c)3 charitable organization for this purpose under the simple name of “Buchanan Hall” in recognition of General Buchanan’s construction of the building and his gift of its use to the community.
As stated in the founding documents, the Buchanan Hall nonprofit corporation would own and operate the building as Upperville’s community center, noting that it was established “to hold meetings of a civic, patriotic, social, religious, educational and charitable nature.” The first trustees appointed to the board on that date were Mrs. Anne C. Dulany, president; Mr. H. Rozier Dulany, Jr., secretary; and A. Cook Reid, trustee. On June 9, 1933, in fulfillment of their plan, the Dulanys very generously donated the Buchanan Hall land and building to the new nonprofit. Since then, Buchanan Hall has served as the cornerstone of social, cultural and civic events for Upperville and is adored by both the community and out-of-town guests.
