Tag: history
Fairfax County forced Black families to vacate land for Justice Park
Edwin Henderson (right) at Justice Park. On the left is Spanish translator Fernando Ferrufino. Long before Justice High School and Justice Park were built on Peace Valley Lane in Seven Corners, the land was owned by a handful of Black families. The community learned about that “hidden history” at an event at Justice Park Sept. … Continued
Public invited to visit Oak Hill virtually
Before the pandemic, people got to explore Oak Hill in person. Oak Hill Day will again be virtual this year. Oak Hill is the oldest house in Annandale. Under an agreement ensuring its preservation, the owners are required to host an open house for the public every fall. The event also typically includes presentations and … Continued
Public invited to event highlighting the hidden, Black history of Justice Park
Justice Park The community is invited to “Discover the Hidden History of Justice Park” at a special event Sept. 18 hosted by the Fairfax County NAACP’s Environmental and Climate Justice Committee. Edwin Henderson, founder of the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation, will talk about the Black families who once owned land on the site and were … Continued
The plantation and the Pizza Hut: A suburban county reconsiders its history
The Oak Hill plantation in Annandale. This article is an excerpt from a longer piece in Route Fifty that also discusses the history of the Ilda community in Fairfax. By Tom Shoop On Nov. 5, 1861, Pvt. Edward S.E. Newbury and Cpl. Thomas Edwards of the Third Infantry Regiment of the New Jersey Volunteers went … Continued
Historic marker to commemorate Vietnamese immigrants
A new historic highway marker will commemorate Vietnamese immigrants in Northern Virginia, Gov. Ralph Northam announced. It is one of five historical markers highlighting Asian American and Pacific Islander history in Virginia. The suggestions for the new markers were submitted by students in a contest for AAPI Heritage Month.
Margaret White wouldn’t have wanted a ‘resident curator’ for the park that bears her name, her son says
The flowering plants at the White Gardens are being overtaken by invasives. The Fairfax County Park Authority is seeking a “resident curator” to live in and restore the house at the Margaret White Gardens, but that’s not what Margaret would have wanted, says her son Doug White. “She didn’t care whether the house was torn … Continued
Park Authority seeks ‘resident curator’ to restore the house at the Margaret White Gardens
The house at the Margaret White Gardens. The Fairfax County Park Authority is seeking a “resident curator” to live in and rehabilitate the house at the Margaret White Gardens in the Falls Church area of Mason District. There will be a public information meeting on the Resident Curator Program for the house July 27 at … Continued
Explore a Park: The woods in Poe Terrace Park draw homeless campers
Poe Terrace Park as seen from Hillbrook Drive. This article is part of our series on parks in the Annandale/Mason District area. The last piece in this series explored Pine Ridge Park in Annandale. Poe Terrace Park is a 14.3-acre undeveloped park at the intersection of Little River Turnpike and Hillbrook Drive in Annandale across … Continued
Board of Supervisors appoints task force to consider renaming roads that honor Confederates
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on July 13 appointed a 30-member task force to examine renaming Lee Highway (Route 29) and Lee Jackson Memorial Highway (Route 50). The Confederate Names Task Force, chaired by Evelyn Spain, includes residents and representatives of civic organizations, homeowner associations, faith groups, historical groups, and the business community. The … Continued
Explore a Park: Pine Ridge Park displaced a small Black community
The Bo White Community Gardens This article is part of our series on parks in the Annandale/Mason District area. The last piece in this series explored Toll House Park. The 42.7-acre Pine Ridge Park in Annandale features several ball fields, community gardens, a trail through the woods, a cemetery, and a fascinating history. The site … Continued
Explore a park: Toll House Park is the focal point of Annandale
Toll House Park as seen from Little River Turnpike. This article is part of our series on parks in the Annandale/Mason District area. The last piece in this series explored Bren Mar Park. Toll House Park is a tiny “pocket park” at the intersection of Little River Turnpike and Annandale Road. Some county documents … Continued
When Justice Park was created, Black families were displaced
By Marie Reinsdorf As previously reported in the Annandale Blog, Fairfax County Public Schools and the Park Authority have plans to pave over a portion of Justice Park to build a satellite parking lot for Justice High School. FCPS would construct the parking lot, demolish the basketball/multi-use court to make room for the parking lot … Continued
Explore a Park: Bren Mar Park is a woodsy oasis in an urban area
This article is part of our series on parks in the Annandale/Mason District area. The last piece in this series explored Mason District Park. The 32.4-acre Bren Mar Park is off Edsall Road west of Interstate 395 in a densely populated area of Mason District. Features: There is a playground, trails, picnic shelter, baseball field … Continued
Explore a Park: Roundtree Park has been recently upgraded
The newly remodeled picnic shelter at Roundtree Park. [Keith Pham] This article is part of the Annandale Blog’s Explore a Park series. Previous parks in the series include Manassas Gap Park, Luria Park, and Fitzhugh Park in Annandale and Lillian Carey Park and Hogge Park in Bailey’s Crossroads. Features – Roundtree Park is on Annandale … Continued
Explore a Park: Hogge Park get an upgrade
This article is part of Annandale Today’s Explore a Park series. Previous parks in the series include Manassas Gap Park, Luria Park, and Fitzhugh Park in Annandale and Lillian Carey Park in Bailey’s Crossroads. Updated June 3, 2023: The 6-acre Boyd A. and Charlotte M. Hogge Park, at 3139 Glen Carlyn Road in Bailey’s Crossroads, … Continued