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Fairfax County gets funds to preserve historically significant map marking Alexandria boundaries

Published February 1, 2023 at 3:15PM | Updated March 4, 2024 at 3:55PM

Part of the West End annexation map (image via Fairfax County)

A newly awarded grant will help the Fairfax County Circuit Court preserve some historical records dating back to the 18th century, including one map that laid out the battlefield in a small legal war between the county and Alexandria City.

The 4-foot-long, 3-foot-tall Alexandria Annexation Map was impossible to fully photograph in its entirety because of its rough shape, but restoration work should help clear it up, said Heather Bollinger, the historic records manager at the Fairfax County Historic Records Center.

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Goodbye Lee: Board of Supervisors formally renames district “Franconia”

By Vernon Miles

Published December 8, 2022 at 11:50AM

Franconia sign (image via Fairfax County)

General Robert E. Lee has suffered another defeat in Virginia — the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has voted to rename the Lee District to the Franconia District.

The board unanimously approved changing the county code to reflect the new name on Tuesday (Dec. 6), formalizing a change that it had already supported in June.

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Virginia history standards criticized by local teacher unions sent back to drawing board

By Matt Blitz

Published November 21, 2022 at 3:00PM

The Virginia Board of Education held a public hearing last week on new draft standards for history and social studies (via VDOE/YouTube)

Fairfax County’s teacher unions expressed relief after new state-proposed history standards were rejected by a governor-appointed board late last week.

On Thursday evening (Nov. 17), Virginia’s Board of Education voted unanimously to again delay approving new history standards drafted by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE).

Around Town

Fast-food chain Roy Rogers, named after Hollywood’s cowboy king, was born in Fairfax County

By Matt Blitz

Published November 14, 2022 at 3:00PM | Updated November 14, 2022 at 4:23PM

The Roy Rogers on Belle View Blvd (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

(Updated at 4:20 p.m.) On an April day in 1968, Roy “King of the Cowboys” Rogers and his wife — “Queen of the West” Dale Evans — appeared in front of thousands along Leesburg Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads to open America’s first Roy Rogers.

“Inside the shoppe, Roy and Dale served up hot Roast Beef sandwiches to the first several customers,” promotional materials said at the time. “Over 5,000 autographed pictures of Roy and Dale were passed out to customers.”

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County won’t rename Sully District, pushing instead for more education on its history

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 2, 2022 at 2:15PM

The Sully District Governmental Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Fairfax County has opted not to move forward with a potential Sully District renaming.

Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith announced at yesterday’s board meeting that she believes “the best step forward at this time is to retain” the name of the magisterial district, which encompasses the southwestern corner of Fairfax County.

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Herndon caboose on W&OD trail to get facelift

By Fatimah Waseem

Published October 24, 2022 at 2:15PM

The caboose in Herndon is undergoing repairs (Photo via NOVA Parks/Twitter).

The iconic caboose in Downtown Herndon next to Herndon’s Railroad Depot and the Washington & Old Dominion Trail is getting a facelift.

Earlier this month, crews began working on repairing the exterior structure of the caboose. The project is expected to wrap up some time next month, according to the Town of Herndon’s Department of Public Works.

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Vienna hopes to unearth new history with proposed archaeological dig at Freeman Store

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 18, 2022 at 11:00AM

The Freeman Store and Museum in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Town of Vienna could have a historical gold mine waiting to be found in old-timey toilets underneath the grounds of its Freeman Store and Museum (131 Church Street NE).

Historic Vienna Inc., the nonprofit that has operated the store since 1976, plans to fund an archaeological dig of the property after a survey identified several potential areas of interest, including two sites that might have the remains of either wells or outhouses.

Around Town

Built for WWII veterans, Jefferson Manor neighborhood celebrates 75th anniversary this weekend

By Matt Blitz

Published September 30, 2022 at 3:00PM | Updated September 30, 2022 at 11:31PM

Jefferson Manor neighborhood in Alexandria (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

One of the oldest neighborhoods in southeastern Fairfax County is holding its birthday party this weekend, despite the likelihood of rain.

Jefferson Manor near Groveton is celebrating its 75th birthday tomorrow (Saturday) with a block party that will include food trucks, music, beer, a kids’ zone area, and a magician. Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk and Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay are both expected to attend.

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Fairfax County to honor Black history with six new historical markers

By Matt Blitz

Published September 19, 2022 at 3:30PM | Updated September 19, 2022 at 5:34PM

A historical marker for the McLean Volunteer Fire Department was installed outside the Old Firehouse Center in 2020 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 5:35 p.m.) Fairfax County will install six new historical markers over the next year honoring Black and African-American history. The markers will highlight local civil rights activists, enslaved peoples, educators, and a famed four-star general.

At last week’s Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting, it was revealed that a Board-appointed committee had chosen the winners of the inaugural “Historical Marker Contest.”

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County seeks input on whether Sully District should be renamed

By Fatimah Waseem

Published August 31, 2022 at 11:45AM

The Sully District Supervisor's office is seeking feedback on whether the district should be renamed (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The public engagement process regarding a possible name change for the Sully District is kicking off next month.

A virtual meeting to discuss changing renaming the district is set for tomorrow (Thursday) at 7 p.m. A brief presentation by county staff will be followed by an online forum. Interested participants can email sully@fairfaxcounty.gov to receive a meeting link.