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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02373 4228
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/industrialhistor00fair 0
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Industrial and Historical Sketch of Fairfax Omutty Hirninta
"Ener charming, curr nem. Tiring neuer to the nict"
Prepared and published under authority of THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS by the following committee: M. D. HALL. FRANKLIN WILLIAMS, Jr.
S. R. DONO IOE. J. S. PEARSON. M. E. CHURCH. 1907
1707667
Cameron Run Farm.
Fairfax Conmty Officials
JUDGE-HON. LOUIS C. BARLEY, Alexandria Commonwealth's Attorney-C. VERNON FORD, Fairfax Clerk --- F. W. RICHARDSON, Fairfax Sheriff-J. R. ALLISON, Fairfax Treasurer-ROBERT WILEY, Fairfax Superintendent of Schools-M. D. HALL, Burke Commissioner of the Revenue, North District-S. A. WRENN, Herndon Commissioner of the Revenue, South District-J. N. BALLARD, Pender
COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS: George Auld, Chairman, Alexandria R. C. Triplett. Alexandria R. L. Spindle, Centreville Franklin Williams. Vienna J. S. Pearson, Springvale George H. Burke, Burke
FAIRFAX COUNTY
Introductory
AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL FEATURES CLIMATIC AND TOPOGRAPHICAL ADVANTAGES-SPECIAL INDUCE- MENTS TO CAPITAL, RARE OPPORTUNITIES TO HOME SEEKERS.
It is designed to present here the agricultural and industrial features of Fairfax County, together with its climatic and topographical advantages, so as to show that the county offers special inducements for the investment of capital, and rare opportunities to the home-seeker, whether for agricultural, industrial, or residential purposes.
Captain John Smith said of Virginia: "Heaven and earth never agreed better to frame a place for man's habitation." George Washington declared, in some of his correspondence, that "no portion of our country offered more natural advantages than that part lying in the Potomac River bed." J. Sterling Morton, when Secretary of Agriculture, after a visit to Fairfax County, expressed his amazement at the bargains in land the county offered. and the excellent crops he saw on every hand. He said: "Within three hours' drive of Washington there were bargains and opportunities unexcelled anywhere in the West." Verily, Fairfax County, old in its history, and hoary in its traditions, is throbbing with a new life of activity and enterprise. Only yesterday were her advantages and possibilities appreciated; yet. to-day she is attracting settlers from all parts of the Union, and even from foreign countries. Certainly no other section extends a more cordial welcome and more attractive inducements to the investor and home-seeker.
Location.
Fairfax County is situated in the northeastern portion of Virginia. It lies. as elsewhere stated. on the west bank of the Potomac River, seventy- eight miles north of Richmond. The eastern part of the county is in the
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immediate vicinity of the cities of Washington and Alexandria; while all sections of it are within a few hours' drive of these cities. In addition to the accessibility to these cities by roadways, three steam and three electric railways connect the county with Washington. The greatest trunk lines north and south traverse Fairfax County. Through trains on the Pennsylvania, Southern, Chesapeake and Ohio, Norfolk and Western, Seaboard Air Line, and the Atlantic Coast Line, are hourly passing through this county, affording convenient and direct connection with all parts of the country. Every sec- tion of the county is within easy reach of some one of these roads; and with their double track facilities, and consequent excellent local accommodations, great activity in suburban home-building is observed on every hand. Especially is this true along the lines of the electric railways, where numerous villages are springing into existence.
The proximity and accessibility to Washington, the most magnificent city in the world, together with the splendid natural advantages of Fairfax, must inevitably make the county rich, populous and great.
Towns.
There are six incorporated towns in the county-all reached by one or more railroads. and all in a thriving and prosperous condition.
FAIRFAX, the county seat, advantageously situated on a high and com- manding point between the main line and Bluemont branch of the Southern Railway, is a town of much interest and promise. Around it, as elsewhere noted, cluster many interesting historical associations. In the Clerk's Office is recorded, and can be seen, the last will and testament of the first President of the United States; and in the ime-worn and dust-stained volumes con- tained therein can be found many interesting records of Washington's time. On the beautiful court green is the old Court House, built in 1800, and near it is the old well, over which hangs the "Old Oaken Bucket" with the tradition that "He who drinks therefrom will return to drink again." A short distance from these stands a gray granite monument, commemorating the fact that in the nearby open was killed the first soldier of the Civil War. A short dis- tance to the west from these, on one of the principal thoroughfares of the town, is the Gunnell House (now the Rectory), where, in the mid-hour of night, the intrepid Mosby captured the dashing young General Stoughton. While on the hills and in the valleys hereabouts can be found many evidences of the great conflict in the early "sixties," yet the hand of modern improve- ment has left no trace of these in the town. Coming out of the Civil War as a mere hamlet. with de astation on every hand, and the fortunes of its people much impaired, Fairfax has grown into a thriving town of several hundred inhabitants, with well-paved streets, a national bank, a hotel, ex- cellent general stores, a well equipped and up-to-date drug store, a prosperous .
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Fairfax Court-House. Built in 1800. Monument in foreground indicates where first man was killed in battle in the Civil War.
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newspaper (the Fairfax Herald, more than a quarter of a century old), a carriage and wagon factory, private and public schools, four churches, and a Masonic and other lodges. Here terminates the Washington, Arlington and Falls Church Electric Railway, the completion of which. in the latter part of 1904, has not only infused new life into the town, but has assured its rapid and substantial growth.
Fourteen miles from Washington, and the same distance from Alexandria, with a refined, progressive and cultivated people, in the midst of an agricul- tural section equal in fertility to that of any portion of Piedmont Virginia, the town of Fairfax promises, in the near future, to become one of the most progressive and prosperous inland towns in the State.
FALLS CHURCH, one of the most beautiful suburban communities in Vir- ginia, is situated on the boundary line between Alexandria and Fairfax Counties, six miles from Washington, and contains a population of 1.100. It was incorporated in #875, and on account of the large area included within its corporate limits. it is frequently styled "The town of magnificent dis- tances." The Bluemont branch of the Southern Railroad, and the Washing- ton, Arlington and Falls Church Electric Railway pass through the town, furnishing excellent transportation facilities between Falls Church and the cities of Washington and Alexandria. The Southern Railway operates five trains daily each way during the year, with one or more extras during the
The Virginian Training School, Falls Church
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summer period. The electric cars run every half hour during the day, and as late as 12 o'clock at night. Commutation rates of travel on both roads are low, making it more economical to reside here than in Washington. The Great Falls and Old Dominion Electric Railway, constructed last year. is only two miles distant, and it is confidently expected that it will be, extended to Falls Church in the near future. The residents of the town are mostly business men of Washington city and Government employees, who, being people of culture, have not spared expense in beautifying, and making comfortable and attractive, their homes.
The beautifully shaded and well-paved streets, the tastefully and con- veniently constructed cottages, together with the ample gardens and large and beautiful grounds surrounding them, make Falls Church one of the most attractive towns in Northern Virginia. The moral and religious tone of the town is of the highest order. The licensed sale of liquor within one mile of the corporate limits of the town is prohibited by the charter, and thus is secured almost absolute freedom from the vices and annoyances that surround communities where intoxicating liquors are sold. There are ten churches. one excellent graded school, one private kindergarten school, one training school and sanitarium, a banking and trust corporation, a fire department, a public library, a public hall with comfortable lodge rooms, where the Masons, Odd-Fellows and Good Templars hold their meetings; two steam railway stations, two electric car stations, three postoffices, local and long distance telephone exchange, three telegraph offices, a printing office, three medical doctors, one dentist, three attorneys-at-law, twelve contractors and builders. drug store, feed store, bakery, two notion stores, seven grocery stores, paint and hardware store, three meat and provision stores, two wood and coal yards, feed mill, broom factory, two lunch rooms, two blacksmith and wheel- wright shops, two funeral directors, livery stable, plumber and gas fitter,
Burke Station Southern Railway
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Broad Street, Looking Westward, Falls Church.
lumber yard, shoe shop, three barber shops, and six real estate agents. On account of the excellent moral environment, the high altitude and general healthfulness of Falls Church, it is considered one of the most desirable suburbs of Washington city. The land is gently rolling, well drained, very productive, and especially adapted to poultry-raising and fruit culture, and on account of present low prices (compared with the prices of similarly situ- ated property with respect to Washington city on the Maryland side of the Potomac River), it is being rapidly taken up by prosperous and progressive people.
HERNDON, situated on the Bluemont branch of the Southern Railway on the highest point between Washington and Bluemont, is a thriving town of 1,100 inhabitants, with four churches, one graded school, a young ladies' seminary, a public library, a newspaper (the Observer), a bank, a large merchant mill, fifteen stores of various kinds, a canning factory operated entirely by white help, drug store and livery stable, with blacksmith, carriage and carpenter shops. Surrounded by an agricultural section noted for its fer- tility, Herndon has become the center of a large grain trade. No point on either the main line or Bluemont branch of the Southern Railway ships more milk than Herndon. The town was incorporated in 1879. and was named for Capt. W. L. Herndon, a Virginian, who commanded the steamer Central
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America, when lost between Panama and New York in 1857. Six trains each way from Washington afford excellent freight and passenger facilities. It is confidently expected that the Old Dominion Electric Railway will soon build a line from the Great Falls on the Potomac to Herndon. The people of the town are intelligent and progressive. Within the last five years they have subscribed thousands of dollars toward making permanently good the principal roads leading into the town. With its high and healthy location, its excellent water, good society, good schools, splendid agricultural sur- roundings and public-spirited population, Herndon, in a few years, must necessarily become a large and prosperous town.
VIENNA, also on the Bluemont branch of the Southern Railway, five miles north of Fairfax, was first called "Ayr Hill," a name given it by a Scotchman for his native place. Later, some time in the "fifties," there came a man, by . name Hendricks, who agreed to locate here if the name of the place were changed to that of his native place in New York-Vienna. Then, as now, the welcome hand was gladly held out to the new-comer, and, flattered by his intention, the village, maiden-like, was willing to change her name if it pleased the stranger; thus she became Vienna-"Vee-anna" to the dwellers, "Vi-anner" to those who would be familiar, and yet know not.
Before Vienna had time to increase greatly the sad days of the great Civil War had come, and her people wakened for years to the bugle calls of first one army and then the other as they, in turn, encamped upon the nearby
Historic "Stone Bridge" across Bull Run
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Bird's Eye View of Herndon
hills. One of the earliest skirmishes of the war took place on the edge of the town, five being killed and sixteen wounded of the Federal forces, while the Confederates loss is unknown. A fruitless crop of buttons, buckles, can- · teens and bayonets was sown to be gathered in the peaceful years to come by the children, who often find bullets side by side with the flint arrows of the earlier Indian warriors. Survivor- of the Civil War "come on pilgrimage," seeking the places where they fought and camped, and weep ofttimes at the wrong spot, and delight in "location assured." Each year finds these pilgrims fewer in number and more bent in form, and soon, yea too soon, there will be left none to come.
The memory of those sad days has grown dim in Vienna. To-day the principal warfare of the town is centered in the clubs and secret societies, for which it is famed. Here can be found the Woman's Club, the Business Men's Club, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Masons, the Junior Order of the United American-, the Odd-Fellows, the United Wood- men, the Good Templars, and the Village Improvement Society.
The town has three white churches (the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Episcopal) and two colored churches tthe Baptist and Methodist), and each of these has its own church building.
Vienna is justly proud of her pmibbe schools, and can point with pride to the record made by her graduates, who have done her credit in high schools
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and Colleges. Advanced pupils take advantage of the educational opportuni- ties afforded in nearby Washington, and many go there daily.
The Commuter is an important factor in the town of Vienna. Over fifty of the five hundred inhabitants of the town are employed in Washington, and go back and forth on some one of the steam or electric cars, leaving the town every liour. Vienna is surrounded by a fine farming and fruit-growing section, and with her unsurpassed railroad facilities, excellent water and healthy climate, will doubtless rival. if not surpass, many of the thrifty towns on the Bluemont branch of the Southern Railway.
CLIFTON, an incorporated town on the main line of the Southern Railway, twenty-seven miles southwest of Washington, is situated in a fertile valley on Pope's Head Creek, a branch of historic Bull Run. It is four miles from Manassas, five miles from Centreville, and nine miles from the first Bull Run battlefield. This beautiful little town is surrounded by pine-clad hills, af- fording many very desirable building sites. Numerous springs gush forth from these hills, affording an ample supply of pure soft water. The town contains a population of 200. with four churches, one graded school, a Masonic Lodge, two general merchandise stores, one butcher shop, one un- dertaker, one grist, saw, and planing mill, one livery stable, one hotel, and several boarding houses. One of the churches, the Presbyterian, is a beau- tiful Gothic structure, constructed of stone quarried from the nearby hills. The Baptist, Episcopal, and colored Baptist congregations, all occupy struc- tures well suited to their needs.
Elden Street, Herndon. Va.
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Residence of Lieut .- Gov. Jos. E. Willard Fairfax, Va.
Clifton has an excellent graded school, conducted in a commodious and attractive building. The higher department of this school aims to prepare pupils for the Washington city schools, which can be reached, at a small cost, by the main line of the Southern Railway. The town has an acetylene gas plant, affording excellent illumination for the streets, stores, and many dwellings. The business enterprises are all in a prosperous condition, and are in the hands of energetic, intelligent and broad-minded young men, who love their town, and who have borne conspicuous parts in its progress and development. With an attractive and healthy location, excellent railroad, telegraph and telephone facilities, and surrounded by a fine agricultural section, where dairying, stock and poultry-raising, and general farming can be followed with pleasure and profit, Clifton is destined to become one of the important towns on the main line of the Southern Railway.
WEIHLE, while in population the smallest town in the county, yet as a manufacturing and trading point is a town of no mean importance. The Weihle Manufacturing Company's plant is here. This enterprise, with a store and summer boarding houses, constitute the business interests of the town.
Villages.
In addition to the six incorporated towns, Fairfax County has a large number of villages of more or less importance. With respect to location,
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these villages are either inland or on some railroad. Among the former are Annandale, Langley, Lewinsville, Forestville, Dranesville, Floris. Chantilly, Centreville, and Accotink. Among the latter are West End, Burke's Station, Fairfax Station, on the main line of the Southern Railway, and Dunn-Loring and Wedderburn on the Bluemont branch of the same road.
ANNANDALE, on the Little River turnpike, midway between the town of Fairfax and the city of Alexandria, is a promising village, having a church, school, store and blacksmith shop. The people hereabout are engaged in dairying, trucking, and general farming.
LANGLEY, three miles from the "Chain Bridge" over the Potomac River, is a village of much promise, with a church, school, and blacksmith shop. This village is surrounded by one of the most fertile sections in the State. Here is Salona, elsewhere referred to, built in 1801, with brick imported from England, which sheltered Dolly Madison in her flight from the National Capital in 1814. Dairying, trucking and general farming, constitute the em- ployment of the people. The Great Falls and Old Dominion Electric Railway runs near, and real estate values are rapidly advancing.
LEWINSVILLE, a few miles west from Langley, is situated in a fine farming and fruit-growing section. It has a church, school, store, and blacksmith shop. The employment of the people is similar to that of Langley.
Fairfax County Clerk's Office.
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Cedar Lane, Vienna.
FORESTVILLE is a thrifty village, near the Great Falls of the Potomac, one of the great water-powers of the country, situated in a fine grazing and fruit- growing section. It has a church, store, and school, and has made rapid growth within the last few years. This village is not far from the terminus of the Great Falls and Old Dominion Electric Railway.
DRANESVILLE, hoary with age, is situated on the Middle Pike, one of the ways over which a part of Braddock's army marched in April, 1755. The country hereabout is high and rolling, and is well adapted to fruit-growing and general farming. Here were enacted some of the stirring scenes of the Civil War. Many of the buildings are of great age, and are objects of inter- est to the thoughtful visitor. The village has a church, school, store, and blacksmith shop.
FLORIS is one of the new villages of the county. It is situated three miles . from Herndon, near Old Frying Pan Church, on the main thoroughfare be- tween Herndon and Chantilly. It has a graded school, church, store, and blacksmith shop, and is in the midst of a fine farming and stock-raising sec- tion.
CHANTILLY, on the Little River turnpike, seven miles from the town of Herndon, is one of the old villages of the county. Near this village was fought, while a terrific thunder storm raged, a noted battle of the Civil War. It has a church. a two-room school building, store, postoffice, and blacksmith shop. The farms about the village are large, well watered, and splendidly adapted to grass. Near here is the cek brated Chantilly farm, on which is now being bred some of the finest stock in the country. Within a radius of five miles of the village can be found a section better suited to stock-raising than anywhere else in the State.
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CENTREVILLE, seven miles from the town of Fairfax, is another old village. In olden times it was known as New Gate. It has two churches, a school, postoffice, store, and blacksmith shop. The land in the vicinity, while high and rolling, is fertile and well adapted to the raising of grass and grain. This village, being situated on the' main thoroughfare between Washington and Manassas, many traces of the Civil War yet remain. Several times in the early "sixties" both armies pitched their tents on the hills surrounding the village. The earthworks then constructed still remain.
ACCOTINK, two miles from Accotink Station on the R. F. and P. Railroad, is a village of great age. As elsewhere seen, it is situated on the old King's Highway, and was a busy place in Colonial times. It has a church, graded school, postoffice, two stores, and two blacksmith shops. The flouring mill here, which flourished in General Washington's time, is still in operation, turning out each year a large quantity of excellent flour. The vegetables and small fruits produced here are not only of fine quality and flavor, but so well developed as to stand shipping, even to the distant Pitts- burg market. The old plantations here are fast being divided up into smaller ones, and practically where "One blade of grass grew before, two blades grow now."
OAKTON, midway between Fairfax and Vienna, on the Washington, Arling- ton and Falls Church Electric Railway, is a thriving village, containing two churches, a graded school, two stores, and a blacksmith shop. It is situated in a fine farming and fruit-growing section, and has in its midst, the largest plant and flower mail order business in the country. Here is grown annually about two hundred thousand plants, the large part of which are roses and dahlias. Among these are one hundred and fifty varieties of roses, and two hundred varieties of dahlias. The fields of dahlias, in season, are a show in
Maple
Avenue. Vienna.
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themselves, and in the months of September and October, are visited by many people. This village was formely known as Flint Hill, and was the scene of some military activity during the Civil War.
WEST END, a suburb of Alexandria, in point of population, is one of the most important villages in Fairfax County. It was named for the West family, who held, under regal grant, the land on which the village was first projected. It is a community of four or five hundred inhabitants, having a church, a graded school. the mion depot of all the railroads touching Alex- andria, a glass factory, distillery, several stores, the Alexandria Water Com- pany's plant, and the old Cameron Run Mills. The old Cameron Run Mills, now owned by the Roberts family, is an enterprise of great age. When Alexandria was only a frontier hamlet. these mills were in full operation. In this village reside many employees of the different railroads passing through, and other persons having business in Washington and Alexandria. Many of the residences are beautiful, modern structures, supplied with hot and cold water. Since the establi-liment of the union depot here. West End has taken on new life, and with its splendid natural advantages, no village in Virginia offers greater opportunities for mmufacturing enterprises.
BURKE'S STATION. fourteen miles from Mexandria, on the main line of the Southern Railway, is an enterprising and promising village, with three stores, a school, private hall, saw and grist mill. and postoffice, from which is dis- tributed the mail for one of the principal rural routes of the county. Near here is the plant of the Fairfax Heading and Stave Company, which ships weekly large quantities of barrel steck to distant points. The village was named for the Burke family, the old heads of which bore in the past promi- nent parts in the industrial and official life of the county. Lumbering and general farming and dairying constitute the chief industries of the neigh- borhood.
FAIRFAX STATION. three miles from Fairfax, and eighteen miles from Alexandria, on the main line of the Southern Railway, is a progressive and enterprising village, having two stores, two churches, a school and black- smith shop. In addition to a large read trade, one of the stores makes a specialty of jobbing, and enjoy- a trade not surpassed by any country store south of Baltimore. General farune, durymg, and lumbering are the prin- cipal occupations of the people. The Fairfax Nurseries are near here, and annually ship large quantities of nursery shock both South and West.
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