Tag: history
Falls Church HS’s historic mosaic will be protected during renovations
When the renovation/expansion of Falls Church High School is completed, the historic jaguar mosaic will be preserved.
Racial covenants – widespread in Mason District – can be removed
You probably aren’t aware of this but if you’re a homeowner in the Annandale/Mason District area, there’s a strong likelihood that your property has a restrictive covenant prohibiting non-White ownership and occupancy.
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.
It’s now the Minnie H. Peyton Community Center at Bailey’s
The Board of Supervisors on July 16 approved a motion by Mason Supervisor Andres Jimenez to rename the Bailey’s Community Center the Minnie H. Peyton Community Center at Bailey’s.
Luther Jackson Middle School celebrates its 70th anniversary
Luther Jackson High School opened in 1955 as Fairfax County’s first high school for Blacks. Ten years later it was converted to an integrated middle school.
New name proposed for Wilson Library
The Fairfax County Public Library Board of Trustees is considering changing the name of the Woodrow Wilson Library in Bailey’s Crossroads. The Library Board “has received significant community input” calling for renaming the library, said Brian Engler, board chair and trustee representing the Braddock District. A segregationist president “Over the past few board meetings, residents … Continued
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
Annandale church commemorates Juneteenth
Members of Little River United Church of Christ in Annandale observed Juneteenth on June 19 with a demonstration on Little River Turnpike. Drivers passing by honked as they saw people’s signs with such messages as “Black History is American History,” “Black Lives Matter,” and “Honk for Juneteenth.” Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people. President … 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
The dislocation of Little Saigon offers lessons for preserving the Eden Center
Clarendon was once known as Little Saigon due to the many Vietnamese refugees who opened small businesses in the area in the 1970s. But when Arlington County began efforts to promote redevelopment, those small business owners were forced out. The Viet Place Collective believes that understanding what happened in Clarendon is critical to ensuring that … 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
Explore a park: Monch Farm Park
This article is part of our series on parks in the Annandale/Mason District area. The last piece in the series explored Deerlick Park. Monch Farm Park, at 6570 Edsall Road in the Alexandria area of Mason District, consists of a former farmstead that has evolved into a 10-acre meadow. There is a trail around the perimeter, … Continued