Tag: history
An annual ceremony commemorates a tragedy at Howrey Park
By Julia Key On Monday, the fifth annual memorial ceremony was held at Howrey Field in Annandale to commemorate the 58th anniversary of a tragic accident that claimed the lives of six soldiers. The soldiers, from the 77th Port Construction Engineer Company at Fort Belvoir, were developing what is now Howrey Field Park as a … Continued
The NoVA Lights Chorale hosts a free ‘America Celebrates 250’ concert
The NoVA Lights Chorale invites the public to a free concert next Sunday celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The concert will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 3439 Payne St., in Bailey’s Crossroads, at 4 p.m. on June 7. A free reception will follow the concert. This event is … Continued
Write a brief play for a Mason Arts 250 performance
A new call for one-act plays or recitations joins a busy cultural summer season in Annandale. The Mason District Arts Council is looking for community members to pen original short-form scripts or perform recitations of historical narratives. This project is part of the larger Mason Arts 250 initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration … Continued
The Mason District Arts Council hosts a poetry contest
Calling all poets, including those who’ve never written a poem before: Submit a poem to the Mason District Arts Council’s poetry competition. The contest is part of the council’s community art events aimed at reimagining the ideas of the American Revolution and engaging the public through the arts. The council is convening a series of … Continued
Mason Arts 250: Reimagining the Ideas of the American Revolution
By James Albright, chair of the Mason Arts Council This summer, the Mason District Arts Council is sponsoring a community-wide commemoration of the Declaration of Independence. The Mason Arts 250 program is aimed at engaging the public through the arts based on the ideas at the heart of the American Revolution. Artists and community members … Continued
Annandale High School has a secret chamber
By Shane Gomez Annandale High School has a secret underground chamber that stems from its establishment in 1954, the height of the Cold War. That history lives on in the school’s nuclear age iconography, like its mascot, the Atoms, red and white colors, and newspaper, the A-Blast. Annandale also has a lesser-known feature from that … Continued
Annandale Terrace celebrates 60th anniversary
By Shane Gomez The past, present, and future came together on a sunny Thursday evening in Annandale, as Annandale Terrace Elementary School celebrated its 60th anniversary. The May 5 event included remarks by Principal Ingrid Badía and several teachers, a xylophone performance by students, creation of a time capsule, a guided tour, and an exhibit … Continued
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 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.