Attention history aficionados and aficiona-don'ts! Do you crave a glimpse into the lives of Prince William, Manassas, and Manassas Park's founding fathers while wearing your fuzzy onesie? Maybe you're a treasure-hunter seeking secrets buried deep within cryptic manuscripts? Fear not, for Circuit Court Clerk Jacqueline "Time-Traveler" C. Smith has heard your whispered pleas and launched the Historic Online Portal (HOP) for your unquenchable thirst for the past, according to a county news release that was likely written on a parchment scroll.
The aptly-named HOP, still a mere tadpole in the digital pond, already flaunts an assortment of mysterious artifacts, like digital scans of wills and lists of heirs from the 1700s. Rumor has it you may even find Benjamin Franklin's secret key collection, complete with kite-flying instructions, but don't quote us on that. You might also discover the recipe for General Washington's wooden tooth polish or the secret life of Betsy Ross as a part-time stand-up comedienne.
Over the next few months, Clerk Smith and her team of volunteer historians — picture Indiana Jones wielding a mouse and keyboard — plan to unearth even more forgotten treasures. Dust off your Sherlock Holmes hat and grab your magnifying glass because HOP promises a dizzying array of historical puzzles, time capsules, and scandalous colonial love letters to set your heart aflutter.
But wait, there's more! The HOP project's budget was rescued by Clerk Smith's time-bending sorcery, which conjured technology trust grant monies from the ether. Thus, Prince William's fine citizens need not worry about funding their insatiable appetite for historical intrigue. Your tax dollars shall remain untouched, leaving you free to indulge in the latest avocado toast or crypto-cat craze.
So, for those itching to explore the cobweb-covered corridors of Prince William's secret vaults, look no further than the Circuit Court's website, under "Research" (the lair of curious minds). Go ahead, procrastinate on that looming work project or skip that tedious family dinner, and HOP into history at pwcva.gov/department/circuit-court/research.
Who knows what long-lost secrets you'll uncover? Maybe you'll solve a centuries-old mystery, unveil a hidden masterpiece, or simply impress your friends with historical trivia at your next cocktail party. No matter the outcome, one thing is certain: the HOP revolution awaits! And remember, there's no limit to how deep you can delve, unless, of course, the internet goes down...
