SIDEBURN

The Sideburn Civic Association consists of individuals from the Fairfax/Burke area. According to Nan Netherton and Whitney Von Lake Wyckoff's Fairfax Station: All Aboard! in 1865 there were 2,941 African Americans living in Fairfax County: "They were mostly scattered about except for a concentration in three communities: about 130 in Fairfax Court House, 30 in Lewinsville and 30 in Fairfax Station." The little African American community in the Fairfax Station area grew. Some of the families in the Zion/Sideburn area were: the Wrights, the Roots, the Goins, the Honestys, the Suggs, Barbers, Whites, Mundys, Halls, Buckners, Hamiltons and Pinns. While many landowners have sold their property for development, many descendents of the original families remain and continue to play an active role in the community.

During the early 1900's landowner David R. Pinn dedicated a portion of his property for construction of the Little Bethel Church. In the 1950's this property was given to an organization called the Immediate Relief Association. With the demise of that organization, the property was used to provide a playground for youth in the neighborhood. The property is now owned by the Sideburn Civic Association. Area Godfather, the late James Goins, was instrumental in establishing the David R. Pinn Recreation Center on the site. Throughout the years, the County has provided wonderful programs for youth and senior citizens at the Pinn Center.

With the death of Jim Goins, the community experienced a period of inactivity. Programs and attendance dwindled at the Pinn Center, until in the summer of 1999 County officials felt that it was not cost effective to continue programs there. Faced with the potential closure of their community center, nearby residents mobilized and requested a one year delay. They promised that the community center could once again be the neighborhood gathering place that it had once been. Members of the Sideburn Community association were true to their word and the center today is a beehive of activity. Local civic associations joined with members of the Sideburn association to create a stronger-than-ever sense of community there. On Saturday, April 21, 2001 Braddock District Supervisor Sharon Bulova presented members of the Sideburn Civic Association and the Zion Community with a Certificate of Recognition from the Board of Supervisors "for a remarkable and significant history coupled with a stronger-than-ever sense of community."