Tag: history
Holmes Run watershed in Falls Church is the site of a colonial plantation and military base
This was the site of the Dulin farmhouse in the 1700s. The wooded area along the upper section of Holmes Run near Providence RECenter in Falls Church was once a part of a slave-holding plantation in the 1700s. The Camp Alger military base was there in 1898. And in the 1920s, it was the site … Continued
Fairfax County to review Confederate place names
John Marr Drive in Annandale is thought to be named for the first Confederate soldier killed in the Civil War, although there is no evidence that John Marr had a connection to Annandale. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on June 23 approved a request by supervisors Dalia Palchik (Providence) and Walter Alcorn (Hunter Mill) … Continued
Library is collecting COVID stories
Historians will one day study the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, and your personal story of how you got through the pandemic can be a part of that history. The Fairfax County Public Library’s Virginia Room is collecting materials that will help future generations understand what it was like to live in Fairfax County during … Continued
Large property in Seven Corners could be developed
The Febrey-Lothrop house. [ARLnow] The Febrey-Lothrop House, a vacant home with a fascinating history on a 9+-acre lot in Arlington adjacent to Seven Corners, could be headed to the market soon, ARLnow reported on March 4, although it is not currently for sale. The property, at 6407 Wilson Blvd., which includes a couple of outbuildings, … Continued
Springdale community celebrates Black History Month
A few of the family photos on display at the Black History Program at Bailey’s Community Center. Residents of the historically black community of Springdale in Bailey’s Crossroads celebrated their heritage at a Black History Month program at Bailey’s Community Center Feb. 22. The program honored the history and life of the community with music, … Continued
Green Spring Gardens was created 50 years ago, thanks to a generous gift from a fascinating family
The horticultural center at Green Spring Gardens. In recognition of Green Spring Gardens’ 50th anniversary in 2020, the park is scheduling a series of events all year, including a big celebration in October. The anniversary year kicked off Jan. 18 with a winter lecture about how the county acquired the land from the Straight family … Continued
Annandale village in the 1950s
Anne Sansbury’s former home on Walton Lane was between Hummer Road and Annandale Road. Click to enlarge. By Anne Sansbury, a resident of Annandale. There are many theories about the origin of the name Annandale, but a likely one is that it was named after the valley of the Annan River (i.e., Annan Dale) in … Continued
Annandale memories: Columbia Pines’ first residents
Linda Hollis at Annandale Elementary School in 1958. This is the third article in the Annandale Oral History series. These stories, about what it was like growing up in Annandale when it was still a semi-rural community, are based on interviews conducted on Oct. 5 in the Pop-Up Park during the 2019 Taste of Annandale. … Continued
Annandale memories: Mom and pop shops, Topps, and donkey baseball
Eighth-graders at Annandale High School in 1954 or 55. This is the second article about what it was like growing up in Annandale when it was still a semi-rural community. We invited people to share their stories for the Annandale Oral History Project, and the interviews were conducted on Oct. 5 in the Pop-Up Park … Continued
Annandale memories: Unpaved roads, free-roaming kids, and the ‘Jolly-ettes’
Schoolchildren walking home from school on Hillbrook Drive, Annandale, in 1952 before it was paved. From the left: Nancy Hoffman’s brother, Peter McAdams; Nancy McAdams Hoffman; Donna Jean Rittenhouse; and Joanne Beury. This is the first in a series of articles about what it was like growing up in Annandale when it was still a semi-rural … Continued
Annandale Statue of Peace honors Korean ‘comfort women’
Annandale has a new statue memorializing the “comfort women,” a euphemism for the Korean women forcibly taken by the Japanese military to serve as sex slaves during World War II. The “Statue of Peace,” featuring a seated girl next to an empty chair, was installed at 7601 Little River Turnpike in front of the … Continued
Members of the AHS Class of 1959 recall fun times in semi-rural Annandale
The Annandale High School 60th reunion. When Annandale was a semi-rural community in the 1950s, teens used to ride horses down the streets, enjoyed sock hops in the school gym, and in some cases, quit school to get married. Those are some of the memories shared by Annandale High School alumni at an informal celebration … Continued
Share your memories with the Annandale Oral History Project at the Taste of Annandale
The Annandale firehouse in 1948. Did you grow up in Annandale when it was a semi-rural outer suburb? We’re inviting you to share your memories with the Annandale Oral History Project during the Taste of Annandale on Oct. 5. There will be a table set up with an interviewer to record your stories at the … Continued
New interpretive signs installed at Mason District Park
Mason District Park in Annandale has a dozen brand-new interpretive signs, thanks to the efforts of local residents. David Siegel, who lives next door to the park, got the ball rolling about three years ago. He noticed the signs had gotten “ratty” and needed to be replaced. He offered to contribute $500 to the cost of … Continued
Annandale cannon lovingly restored and back in place
It was a huge project that took nearly a year, but the Annandale cannon is completely restored and back in place at the intersection of Columbia Pike and Backlick Road. Boy Scout Mark Witkowski worked on the cannon for a project to earn an Eagle Scout badge under the supervision of American Legion Post 1976 … Continued