“Pull over, there’s a sign”
My husband often tells stories of the road trips taken with his parents and sisters during the 50’s and 60’s. They would pack the station wagon, hitch up the “pop up” and go off to see the country. The trip, he noted, was often punctuated by his mother saying, “Henry, pull over, there’s a sign.” […]
Historic Maps of Burke, No. 1
In 1862, the United States was in the middle of a civil war. Maps were a key part of fighting an effective and strategic war. This map was created by engineers working for General Irwin McDowell, a career soldier of the United States Army and the chief commander of the troops at the Battle of […]
Remembrances of our Fairfax County Veterans
World War I started in Europe in 1914. The United States joined the war in April 1917. For almost two years the Fairfax Herald newspaper regularly published lists of the names of the Fairfax County men who were in service. During the war, 30 county men were recorded as dying while in service. There were […]
Burke’s Bluesman
It’s a good time to revisit the theme of “notable people from the Burke area.” On this occasion, we’ll look at one of our most renowned musicians. John Jackson was born February 25, 1924, in Woodville, Rappahannock County, Virginia, to tenant farmers Suddy and Hattie Jackson. (Sources vary as to a middle name, but his […]
Celebrating Our Regional Cryptids, Urban Legends, Folklore, and Mythology
Happy Halloween, Burke! This is not your typical BHS blog post about historical events and persons of note. Rather, it is to pose a question to you, Dear Reader: Shouldn’t your inner child be allowed to come out to play at least once a year?
Fairfax County Irish Residents
The early population of Fairfax County, Virginia was composed primarily of Northern Europeans, many of whom were holders of land grants or individuals designated to act as caretakers of land grants for their proper owners living in England. Over time, English paupers migrated to this country and served as laborers or overseers for the large […]
Changing Agriculture of the 19th Century in Fairfax County, Virginia
From the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia through the mid-19th century, the primary agricultural cash crop of the Commonwealth of Virginia was tobacco. The crop required large acreage (thousands of acres) and cheap labor. The labor was supplied by Africans.
History of Lake Accotink – Part Three
(In case you missed it, “A History of Lake Accotink- Part 1 and Part 2” can be found at https://burkehistoricalsociety.org/a-history-of-lake-accotink-part-1/ and https://burkehistoricalsociety.org/a-history-of-lake-accotink-part-2/ When we left Lake Accotink in Part 2 of the History of Lake Accotink it was the end of WWII. The lake, designed to be a reservoir for Fort Belvoir, and its surrounding […]
A History of Lake Accotink-Part 2
(In case you missed it, “A History of Lake Accotink- Part 1” can be found at https://burkehistoricalsociety.org/a-history-of-lake-accotink-part-1/) Where did we leave the story of Lake Accotink? Ah yes. In 1922 the first dam that created the first Lake Accotink was rendered unusable (that happens when you blow a big hole in it).
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) – Roosevelt’s “Tree Army” – 1933-1942 – By Mary Lipsey
In 1933 the United States elected President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who promised to ease the pains of the Great Depression. In 1929, the nation had suffered the worst stock market crash in its history. By 1933, the unemployment rate had increased to thirty-three percent. Many businesses and banks had closed and thousands of Americans were […]