Category: History
A ceremony commemorates a tragedy in Annandale
By Shane Gomez A small crowd gathered at Howrey Field Park in Annandale on May 31 to honor the six U.S. Army soldiers who died there while installing a flagpole 58 years ago. A ceremony is held every year at a memorial commemorating the tragedy. The memorial consists of a flag, a plaque for each … Continued
Mason District is a treasure trove of modern architecture
A survey of modern architecture in Fairfax County lists 151 properties, neighborhoods, and commercial developments built between 1950 and 1985 that could be historically significant. The study includes dozens of properties in Mason District, including a retail strip in Annandale, homes in Lake Barcroft, and office buildings in Seven Corners. The study was carried out … Continued
Falls Church section of Wilson Blvd. to be designated Saigon Blvd.
The Falls Church City Council is expected to approve a resolution on Nov. 12 to designate the section of Wilson Boulevard in front of the Eden Center as “Saigon Boulevard.”
Community center renamed to honor Minnie Peyton, the matriarch of Springdale
A new sign was unveiled designating the Bailey’s Community Center as the Minnie H. Peyton Community Center at Bailey’s in honor of the matriarch of Springdale.
Koreans made Annandale unique
Community activist, business owner, and longtime Annandale resident Steve Lee talked about the history of Annandale’s Koreatown at a recent discussion session at George Mason Library.
Public input sought on renaming the Bailey’s Community Center
Last month, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors agreed to begin the process to rename the Bailey’s Community Center for Minnie Peyton, the matriarch of the Black community of Springdale. The county is now asking the public to consider three options: You can vote online for one of those names through July 11. A public … Continued
BoS considers renaming the Bailey’s Community Center for Minnie Peyton
The Board of Supervisors passed a motion on renaming the Bailey’s Community Center for Minnie Peyton, a former leader of the Black neighborhood of Springdale. Peyton (1889-1985) had donated the land for a school in Bailey’s Crossroads before Virginia’s schools were integrated. Related story: A local Black community honors its history The Lillian Carey Elementary … Continued
Ilda was a mixed-race community on Little River Turnpike
Driving along Little River Turnpike at the western edge of Annandale – with houses on one side and shops and restaurants on the other – there is little evidence that there was once a small, mixed-race community here called Ilda. All that remains of Ilda is a historic marker and the name of the Ilda … Continued
Bailey’s Crossroads office building played a key role in the Cold War
A soon-to-be-demolished office building in Bailey’s Crossroads once housed a company that played an important played a role in the Cold War. The two-story cinderblock building at 5623 Leesburg Pike has a glass facade with red, yellow, and blue stripes. It is being torn down to facilitate a second drive-through lane and an expanded parking … Continued
Annandale ‘comfort woman’ statue is gone
The Statue of Peace in Annandale honoring the Korean “comfort women” has been removed. The statue was installed in front of an office building at 7601 Little River Turnpike in Annandale in October 2019 by the Washington Coalition for Comfort Women Issues (WCCW). The statue reminds the public of the sacrifices of the thousands of … Continued
A local Black community honors its history
More than a hundred current and former residents of Springdale came to the first-anniversary celebration of the Black American Registry of Bailey’s Crossroads to honor the people who made lasting contributions to the community. The event, in the Bailey’s Community Center on July 15, featured an awards ceremony, photo displays, and an opportunity for people … Continued
A Bailey’s Xroads resident is documenting the history of a vibrant Black community
The Springdale neighborhood in Bailey’s Crossroads has long been the center of a flourishing Black community. But now, the history of that community is in danger of being lost as younger generations have moved out, McMansions replaced many of the smaller houses, and new developments are encroaching on the neighborhood. Springdale is centered around Lacy … Continued
Fairfax County honors local heroes during Black History Month
Fairfax County honors local heroes of the African American community during Black History Month. A commemorative banner in honor of Dr. Edwin Bancroft Henderson is on display at the Providence Rec Center, and six new historic markers relating to Black history have been approved for installation around the county. Henderson (1883-1977), led the fight against … Continued
Oak Hill Day offers a history lesson
For the first time since before the Covid pandemic, the community got a chance to explore Oak Hill in person. The Oak Hill property in Annandale is the last remaining remnant of the 24,000-acre Ravensworth Tract granted to William Fitzhugh in 1685. On Oak Hill Day, on Sept. 17, local residents toured the first floor … Continued
Let’s preserve the unique character of Holmes Run Acres
By Edith MacArthur Put a lot of people in a bunch of houses and do you get a community? Maybe, but it is unlikely to be the kind of community that Holmes Run Acres (HRA) has been for 65 years: a place with a rich architectural history and a lot of natural beauty. Building parameters … Continued