Fairfax County's Eighth Annual History Conference - November 12, 2012 - "Conflict & Courage: The Civil War in Fairfax County!"

The 8th Annual Fairfax County History Conference was held on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at the Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center in the City of Fairfax. A record 120 participants were in attendance to enjoy the theme of "Conflict & Courage: The Civil War in Fairfax County!"  (President Abraham Lincoln - masterfully re-enacted by Dan Storck, addresses the attendees of the 8th Annual Fairfax History Conference).

Over 20 authors & exhibitors also attended & the day was filled with much living history, including the re-enactment of the "Secession Vote in Fairfax County" by the Jon Vrana players. The passion of both sides was clearly portrayed, including the sad reminder of the silence women endured in not being able to share a voice in local or national elections.

Other living history included the premier of Chuck Mauro's play, "Chantilly: After the Storm" depicting three survivors from the Battle of Ox Hill/Chantilly on September 1, 1862.  Award-winning author & speaker, Greg Clemmer spoke on "Why the Civil War Still Lives" and captivated the audience by numerous references to how present the Civil War is in our daily lexicon - including the comparison of all Presidential speeches to the Gettysburg address & the presence of Civil War music still used in Hollywood today - with "Dixie" being the most commonly used song in movies.  

Kevin Knapp captured the audience's attention with his period dress & stories of Thaddeus Lowe - the Reconnaissance Balloonist who landed a balloon in our own Vienna, Virginia and literally launched the First American Air Force! Letters written by Clara Barton were read by Susan Rosenvold, Educator at the Clara Barton Medical Museum.  The Fairfax County Park Authority sent three of its premier historians, Mike Henry, John Rutherford & Jim Daniels & to speak on, "Echoes Still - This Land = Our Land" - a review of the many sites & stories that are the backdrop to Fairfax County's parks today.

The "Seeds of Independence" historic preservation group from Gunston Hall shared their video which had been released earlier this year, "The Story of Free Blacks Living on Mason's Neck During the Civil War" - a fascinating look at a prosperous & now forgotten part of Fairfax County - where numerous "free" blacks lived, owned homes, property & business establishments - yet who unfortunately got caught up in the horror of the war as it took place around them. The conference ended with a passionate "Appeal" from President Abraham Lincoln - masterfully re-enacted by Fairfax County School Board member, Dan Storck .

Guests included retired news correspondent Roger Mudd & Delegate Ken Plum from the Mclean/Great Falls area. Congressman, 11th District Gerry Connolly joined with Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairperson, Sharon Bulova to present awards to local historians who had contributed mightily to document & preserve the rich history of Fairfax County this past year.

It is the custom of the Fairfax County History Commission, to present Annual Awards to citizens who have given of their time & talents to create a document or media presentation that serves to preserve and protect the history of the vast historic resources of Fairfax County. The work of these individuals is tireless, laborious, tedious and yet authored with the same flame of enthusiasm as a professionally paid historian. The "Heritage Awareness" awards have associated monetary prizes. When the time & dedication involved in the creation of each of their submissions is taken into account, the same time and talents of a paid county employee would be immeasurably higher. The Fairfax County History Commission is proud this year to have presented the following Awards:

HERITAGE AWARENESS AWARDS

(1) C. Denise Barrett - The Nan Netherton Award for her work in researching & writing a narrative about Lakewood Estates in the neighborhood off Wolf Shoals in SW Fairfax County. She included information on the prehistory of the county - early land acquisitions, the American Revolution & the Civil War & on into 20th c. life. This is all documented with 304 endnotes and a bibliography of 26 sources. She will also receive a $500 prize for her thorough efforts.

(2) Lisa Friedrich Becker - The CJS Durhan Award for her nomination to the National Register of the Sydenstricker School - which she has also been extensively involved in renovating & "resurrecting" as a well-received community project. She will also receive a $250 prize for her thorough efforts & enthusiasm!

(3) David G. Farmer - The Beth Mitchell Award for his Automation/Indexing of the collection of Flint Hill Cemetery Records - reflecting its use back to 1875. His summary Excel spread sheet consisted of 3,500+ lines of data & a collection of information from more than 2,100 tombstones. He will also receive a $500 prize for his research & documentation efforts.

RECOGNITION AWARDS

(1) Distinguished Service Award - for the casting, performing & presenting three times as well as producing a video of same of a play called "Captain John Smith: a HiStory of McLean & Great Falls Virginia". It honored the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown & subsequent events that occurred in the McLean, Virginia area. Copies were distributed at local McLean, VA schools & libraries. EVELYN FOX was the coordinator (and attended the conference with her husband, Shawn, as a special trip from Texas - where she now resides). Assistants for the production are Wanda Hill, Joan Morton, Virginia Norton & Gail T. Nields.

(2) LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - SUZANNE LEVY. For her 30+ years of service in the Virginia Room of the Fairfax City Library & her tireless efforts to promote history, genealogy & historic preservation in the region. (Information is also available on the Fairfax County History Commission web site: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/histcomm/awardsprogram.htm)

Committee members who coordinated efforts for the conference included, Barbara Naef, Dr. Liz Crowell, Susan Gray, Esther McCullough, Naomi Zeavin, Sallie Lyons, Carole Herrick, Mary Lipsey, Mike Irwin, Rob Orrison. The Awards Committee includes Jack Hiller, Elise R. Murray, Robert Beach and Naomi Zeavin. Fairfax County History Commissioner Lynne Garvey-Hodge chairs both the Conference Planning Committee & the Awards Committee. The 9th Annual Fairfax County History Conference is scheduled for November 9, 2013 and will also be at the Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center in The City of Fairfax.

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.)

Ivakota Farm Marker Dedication

                                                  On May 12, 2007 the IVAKOTA Farm marker was dedicated. (Pictured at right Fairfax County History Commissioner Lynne Garvey Hodge, Clifton, VA with members of the Kate Waller Barrett Alexandria DAR Chapter)