“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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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) […]
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 […]
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 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 […]