Tag: history
Old Annandale farmhouse is for sale, but owners won’t sell to a developer
There are many 100-year-old boxwoods around the house. If you’d like to live in the country but don’t want to give up the convenience of being close to the city, Boxhill Farm is the place for you. It’s a restored farmhouse on seven acres of land in Annandale just outside the beltway, and it’s for … Continued
150th anniversary of the raid at Accotink and Burke commemorated
John Vrana, in a coat like those worm by the Confederates, sets fire to a photo of the old Accotink bridge. A bunch of history enthusiasts gathered at Lake Accotink Park Dec. 30 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Confederate raids on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad trestle bridge and the railroad station in … Continued
Annandale Florist owner Gary Sherfey remembers the old Annandale
An old photo of Annandale Florist is on display in the shop. Many longtime Annandale residents will miss Annandale Florist when it closes for good at the end of the year. The owner, Gary Sherfey, however, is looking forward to retirement. “In a way, it’s bittersweet,” he says. “but it’s something I’ve been doing for … Continued
Central Annandale was once the site of ‘Anandale Farm’
A portion of a map of Northern Virginia from 1862 [Image from the Library of Congress]. The following article is an abbreviated version of a piece published on the Northern Virginia History Notes website Dec. 1 by Debbie Robison titled “The Garges Family of Anandale Farm: How a Family Who Built Up a Village Lost … Continued
Little White Church once housed Annandale’s first public school
The interior of the Little White Church. One of Annandale’s historic gems, “the Little White Church” at 6935 Columbia Pike by Gallows Road, was open to the public on Saturday. Inside there’s a simple sanctuary with wooden pews. Downstairs, there’s a small museum with historic items on display including a portable field organ, a Bible … Continued
Old cemeteries offer glimpse of Annandale’s past
The Gooding-Seaton Cemetery in Annandale. Despite all the developing going on around here, remnants of the past exist in the form of small, family cemeteries, often forgotten or hidden away in suburban backyards. So far, 415 cemeteries have been identified in Fairfax County, including church, community, and family cemeteries—many of them in the Mason District. … Continued
Descendants of historic families lend authenticity to marker dedication
Mason Supervisor Penny Gross points to the new interpretive sign in Mason District Park. Frank Vajda of the Park Board is on the far left, and Mary Munson Root is on the far right. Descendants of people who lived around here during the Civil War and before came to the dedication of a historic marker … Continued
Victorian Society members embrace lifestyle of an earlier era
Remember how fun it was when we were children spending an afternoon with the costume trunk, piling on the dress-up clothes? For some grownups, the fun never stops. We met a couple of ladies a couple of weeks ago at Oak Hill Day in Annandale decked out in full Victorian regalia, complete with big hats … Continued
Oak Hill, Annandale’s historic gem, welcomes visitors once a year
Oak Hill Once a year, Amanda and Dave Scheetz open their house for public tours, while county leaders greet visitors. While the Scheetz’ are gracious hosts, the event is a county requirement: It’s part of the easement they must comply with for living in Oak Hill, the oldest house in Annandale, in the midst of … Continued
David Scull, of Annandale, took civil rights advocacy to Supreme Court
David Scull, from the Scull Studios website David H. Scull (1914-1983), a civil rights advocate who lived in Annandale and stood up in support of integrating Virginia’s schools, has largely been forgotten. But that could change if the new Mason Crest Elementary School in Annandale could somehow find a way to honor Scull’s legacy. Craig … Continued
New signs explain Civil War events that happened near Annandale
A new sign in Mason District Park explains the significance of the area during the Civil War. Two interpretive signs were installed in the Annandale area June 20 to commemorate Civil War actions. A sign next to the parking lot in Mason District Park provides information about Mason’s Hill, a strategic location during the war, … Continued
Summer camps at the Clark House
For the first time, the Fairfax County Park Authority will be having summer camps at the historic Clark House. There will be five science and technology-focused sessions for school-age children. The Victorian-era farmhouse, at 6332 Barcroft Mews Drive and Columbia Pike, is used for occasional meetings and can be rented for weddings or other private … Continued
What should be in the Annandale museum?
We asked random Annandale residents this question: “If Annandale had a museum, what should be in it?” Here’s what people suggested: Mementos from the Annandale High School football team’s state championship wins [in 1965, 1967, 1972, 1978, 1993, and 1994]. The 2011 bed race A bed from the Annandale Chamber of Commerce’s annual bed race. … Continued
Oliver farmhouse on Gallows Road for sale for $1.65 million
The old Oliver farmhouse, on 4011 Gallows Rd., is on the market for $1.65 million, which raises the possibility the house could be torn down and replaced with infill development. The sales listing on the online site Home Finder says the property offers an “opportunity for up to four million dollar-plus homes.” The 1.54-acre property … Continued
Civil war skirmish took place in Annandale 150 years ago
A sketch of the Annandale skirmish from the Civil War Washington, D.C. blog. It was originally published in the Illustrated London News. Thanks to local resident and history enthusiast Steven Berkowitz for pointing out an important sesquicentennial: Friday, Dec. 2, was the 150th anniversary of the skirmish in Annandale, which took place between Union and … Continued