Printer
TextHistory Commission Events
Previous Events
Fairfax County's Seventh Annual History Conference - November
12, 2011 - "The Civil War Comes to Fairfax County!"
Art Candenquist, Civil War Historian speaks on the Centreville Military Railroad A year in the planning, the 7th Annual Fairfax County History Conference was held at the beautiful Stacey C. Sherwood Conference Center in Fairfax City, Virginia. The Fairfax County History Commission, Fairfax Museum & Visitor Center, Fairfax County Park Authority & Preservation Virginia, Northern Branch co-sponsored this annual event - with this year's theme, "The Civil War Comes to Fairfax County!" A crowd of over 115 guests enjoyed breakfast & lunch catered by Jason's Deli, as they listened to a variety of historians speak on topics reflecting the coming of the Civil War to Fairfax County. Board of Supervisors Chairman, Sharon Bulova bestowed six Service Awards to citizens, including: Tom & Janey Nodeen for their tireless efforts in restoring & saving the Crouch School House in the Clifton area; Kathe Gunther, Distinguished Service Award for her work researching information about Goodings Tavern in Annandale and the Goodings family; HMS Productions: Don Hakenson, Chuck Mauro & Steve Sherman received a Distinguished Service Award for their documentary film, "Mosby's Combat Operations in Fairfax County"; Daniel P. Courtney received the Nan Netherton award for his well-documented & researched book, "The History of the Fairfax County Police Department"; The Friends of Vale Schoolhouse, Inc. Carol Cross & Trish Strat received the C.J.S. Durham Award for their work to research and document for National Register Status the Vale Schoolhouse; and Mike Johnson, 30 year veteran Archaeologist with the Fairfax County Park Authority received a Lifetime Achievement Award. Noted Archeologist Stephen Potter spoke on "'No Maneuvering & Very Little Tactics': Archaeology & the Battle of Brawner Farm" - sharing with the audience information about the archeology work he has conducted at the site in Manassas - considered the location of the first major Civil War battle in Northern Virginia. Rich Gillespie from the Mosby Heritage Area spoke on "1861 - The Spring the Civil War Came to Northern Virginia." Sharing statistics reflecting the painful decisions around succession from many areas in Northern Virginia - he helped the audience see that Fairfax was heavily influenced by decisions outside of her boundaries. Sharing an early version of the Confederate Stars & Bars, Rich regaled the audience with passion & song. David Blake, President of the Buckland Preservation Association told the history of that land - & his ancestors - dating back to the Revolution and also how events there connected to Civil War events in Fairfax County. A short lunch time presentation from Bull Run Civil War Roundtable member, Jim Lewis on "Red River" reflected how out of touch business tycoon Donald Trump is/was with Virginia history. Susan Hellman, Director, Woodlawn Plantation, National Trust for Historic Preservation, spoke on the realities around Woodlawn on "The Eve of the Civil War - a Changing Cultural Landscape". She provided insights as to the Quaker influence in the area and the fact that 20% of the county's Free Blacks lived within the Woodlawn Plantation area at that time. Art Cendenquist, donning Confederate dress, shared the story of Major Thomas Sharp who masterminded the Centreville Military Railroad. Sons of Confederate Veteran member Gar Schulin spoke of Robert E. Lee & those in the 20th century that have found his legacy enduring - including President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The Conference Planning Committee included Esther Mccullough, Naomi Zeavin, Barbara Naef, Anne Barnes, Sallie Lyons, Mary Lipsey, Mike Irwin (all County History Commissioners); Susan Gray, Director, the Fairfax Museum & Visitor Center, Dr. Elizabeth Crowell, The Fairfax County Park Authority, Rob Orrison, Preservation Virginia, Northern Branch & Lynne Garvey-Hodge, Chair (Fairfax County History Commission). After a team de-brief on November 11, plans will begin for the 8th Annual History Conference. Evaluations from attendees will help determine content & location. Registration was $20 and the day was clearly enjoyed by all! Laurel Grove Colored School and Church Marker Dedication  On June 13, 2009, the grounds of the Laurel Grove Colored School and Church were filled with people who came together to celebrate the dedication of a historical roadside marker that memorializes the actions of a community of freedmen and freedwomen who organized a congregation and provided educational opportunities for their children after the Civil War. (Pictured in photo from left, Fairfax County History Commissioners Esther McCullough, Debbie Robison, Anne Barnes, Naomi Zeavin, Phyllis Walker Ford, and Sallie Lyons at the Laurel Grove Colered School and Church Marker Dedication.) |
Fairfax County’s Fourth Annual History Conference – November 15,
2008 “Our 20th Century” Fairfax County’s Fourth Annual
History Conference – November 15, 2008 “Our 20th Century”
Nearly 100 Fairfax County history lovers descended upon NOVA’s
Ernst Community Cultural Center on November 15th to learn of
numerous Fairfax County historical events that occurred in the
20th Century. The keynote speaker was The Honorable Vince
Callahan (pictured at right), a 40-year member of the Virginia
House of Delegates who shared his reminisces about the time he
has served and what all was occurring on the Virginia, Fairfax
County, and national stage during his tenure. He witnessed the
de-segregation of schools, the Kennedy assassination, the war in
Viet-Nam, the growth and blossoming of George Mason University,
and the diverse population shifts of this great county. Many
attendees encouraged him to write a book about his many,
colorful, amusing, and also dramatic experiences! Newly-elected
Congressman of Virginia’s 11th District and Chairman of the
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Gerry Connolly kicked off
the well-attended conference by reminding us of the urgent need
to preserve history – the people, places, and events that have
marked Fairfax County’s history – particularly as they have
affected the history of the United States. He presented two
Distinguished Service Awards to Barbara Smith and David Bettwy
who have given countless hours of volunteer time to preserve
history in their areas of McLean and Great Falls, respectively.
Connolly also received a Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of
the Fairfax County History Commission for his consistent and
passionate support of maintaining Fairfax County’s historical
resources and for being willing to so deftly open all the Annual
Conferences to date. He generously offered to join us, again,
next year! Other Fairfax County Supervisors in attendance
included Sharon Bulova, Braddock District and Penny Gross, Mason
District. The focus of the conference included three topic
areas:
(1) Breaking Barriers – which included presentations on “Asian American Arrivals” (team led by Anne Cahill, Cora Foley & Brigette Le) in Fairfax County; “The Progressive Era - Suffragists, Single Mothers & Society’s Sinners” (Lynne Garvey-Hodge, Fairfax County History Commission) and “The De-segregation of Fairfax County Schools” (Megan Garnett, FCPS teacher). (2) Bricks & Mortar – involved three presentations including, “The Preservation of Mt. Vernon – Setting the Preservation Stage” (Dr. Dennis Pogue, Mt. Vernon Ladies Association); “20th Century Architecture” (John Burns, Chairman, Fairfax County’s Architectural Review Board) and “Seven Corners: A Post WWII Transformation” (Dr. Chris Martin, Historian, Fairfax City). (3) Changing Patterns – “Fairfax County: Rooted in Agriculture” (Yvonne Johnson, Fairfax County Park Authority); “Roosevelt’s Tree Army: the Civilian Conservation Corps” (Mary Lipsey, Fairfax County History Commission) and “All Roads Lead to Fairfax: Tourist Courts & Diners” (Randy Lytton, George Mason University) |
Ira Gabrielson Marker Dedication
On Saturday April 26, 2008, a roadside historical marker (pictured, right) honoring the achievements in wildlife conservation of Dr. Ira Gabrielson was dedicated at the Oakton Library. Trish Strat, an Oakton resident, spearheaded the effort. Through her research, text development, and coordination with the History Commission, Ms. Strat has provided the public with an appreciation and understanding of Dr. Gabrielson’s accomplishments. Oakton resident Dr. Ira Noel Gabrielson was a pioneer conservationist, distinguished field ornithologist, and renowned author. He served as the first director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and an international leader of conservation projects. Gabrielson was a founder and the first chairman of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority and first president of World Wildlife Fund-US. For his life’s work, he was inducted into the National Wildlife Federation’s Conservation Hall of Fame in 1978. His land, between Leeds Road and Difficult Run, is a Fairfax County park known as Gabrielson Gardens Park . |
Civilian Conservation Corps Marker Dedication
 A
county marker was dedicated on April 5, 2008 in Lake Accotink Park
on the 75th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps. It
marks a fire trail carved out of the forest by the CCC in the
1930s.
|
|
2007 History Conference
Fairfax County played host to its Third Annual History Conference, Saturday, October 27, 2007 at the Annandale campus of the Northern Virginia Community College. "The Fairfax Four Hundred: 400 Years of Fairfax County History" was the theme of the event, referencing the Jamestown 400 celebration in May that marked 400 years of the Commonwealth of Virginia History. Dr. Doug Owsley, who provided much of the Jamestown 2007 anthropological and archaeological work, was the keynote speaker at the Oct. 27 conference. |
|
Ivakota Farm Marker Dedication
|
|
The Orange and Alexandria Railroad Trestle
 Nearly two dozen people braved blustery winds and light rain to attend the unveiling of Fairfax County's newest historic marker on June 5, 2004. It commemorates a Civil War-era Orange & Alexandria Rail Road (O & ARR) trestle that once spanned Accotink Creek. Completed in the 1850s, the O & ARR was a vital transportation link through Fairfax County into central Virginia. Lake Accotink Park Manager Tawny Hammond summarized the research and fundraising done to place the marker. Fairfax County Park Authority Board Chair Winnie Shapiro also made remarks, along with History Commissioner Jack L. Hiller and Fairfax County Supervisors Sharon Bulova and Dana Kauffman. Speaking over the roar of Accotink's spillway less than 100 feet behind him, Supervisor Kauffman acknowledged the continued importance of transportation within Fairfax County, remarking, "Although I can't imagine someone putting up a marker to the Beltway 100 years from now!" (Pictured admiring the newly unveiled historic marker at Lake Accotink Park in Springfield on June 5, 2004, are (from left) Fairfax County Supervisor Dana Kauffman and son, Fairfax County Supervisor Sharon Bulova, Lake Accotink Park Operations Manager Lee Ann Shenefiel, and Fairfax County Park Authority Board Chair Winnie Shapiro.) |
Website Survey 