The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Virginia Village

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Title: A Virginia Village

Author: Charles Alexander Stewart

Release date: November 6, 2009 [eBook #30054]

Most recently updated: October 24, 2024

Language: English

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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A VIRGINIA VILLAGE ***

A Virginia

VILLAGE

Reprinted by the Centennial Committee of the Falls Church Village Preservation and Improvement Society

April 1985.

"Celebrating Our

Centennial Year"

1885-1985

President

Sue Bachtel

Vice President

Rowland Bowers

Treasurer

Delores Cannon

Recording Secretary

June Douglas

Corresponding Secretary

Vivian Norfleet

Immediate Past President

Col. Merl M. Moore

Elected Directors

Louis & Sue Olom

Mary Bowers

Charles A. Hobbie

Howard & Betty Hughes Melton

Robert & Susan Wayland

B. J. & Judith Segel

Harry Cannon

Florence Murphy

Dick & Betty Allan

Jerry Blystone

Kenneth & Melena Huffman

Harold & Ida Silverstein

Raymond & Marie Stewart

Martha Vinograd

James M. Boren

Honorary

Life Members

Ruby and Mel Bolster

Leath B. Bracken

Mrs. Edgar D. Brooke

Mrs. Meres G. Brown

Major General and

Mrs. William Carter

Elizabeth Graham (Mrs. John A.)

Miss Helen MacGregor

Mrs. Charles G. Manly

Mrs. Paul Schlager

Louise Shepard (Mrs. Ernest)

Mrs. Calvin W. Smith

Lorraine Williams (Mrs. Fonda)

Pat Wollenberg (Mrs. Roger)

Dear Friends,

The Falls Church Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS) is pleased to be able to reprint A Virginia Village by Charles A. Stewart as part of its Centennial observance in 1985. We are especially grateful to the Mary Riley Styles Public Library of Falls Church for permission to use their copy of A Virginia Village for the reproduction.

A Virginia Village provides a snapshot of Falls Church at the turn of the century, at a time when the predecessor of VPIS, the Village Improvement Society (VIS) (pp. 16-18), was in full swing. Thus it is a fitting backdrop to our year of special activities.

As you will note, many of the buildings and settings in the 1904 edition have been lost or altered in the past 80 years. To make the book more useful and enjoyable to current readers, we have added a Foreword, Comments on the Structures Pictured, a Name and Street Index, and a biographical sketch and photograph of the author. The new information is not all inclusive and we invite you to cross-reference your reading with the other sources listed in the Foreword.

The Society is indebted to several of its members who worked long and hard to made this edition possible. In particular, we would like to thank the chairman of the project, Colonel Merl M. Moore (a former VPIS President); Mr. Edmund F. Becker, who wrote the Foreword; Mr. Henry H. Douglas, who as usual is an indispensable resource on the history of Falls Church; and Mr. Richard T. Allan, whose editing skills were invaluable.

We hope this 1985 edition will become a cherished reminder of The Society's 100th anniversary and a valuable edition to your personal library. Sincerely,

Susan Bachtel

President

Rowland Bowers

Vice President

Harold Silverstein

Chairman, Centennial Committee

Falls Church

Village Preservation

& Improvement Society

ABOUT THE FALLS CHURCH VILLAGE PRESERVATION AND IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY

In 1985, its Centennial Year, the Falls Church Village Preservation and Improvement Society comprises over 750 citizens and businesses dedicated to improving the quality of life in Falls Church.

The Society recognizes that it is the inheritor of the civic purposes and activities of the Village Improvement Society (VIS) of Falls Church established in 1885 and which group was modeled after the famous Laurel Hill Association of Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and that VPIS' purposes, objectives and activities represent a continuum of the earlier organized and volunteer civic organization and effort to improve and preserve the historic tradition, residential character, quality of life and appearance of Falls Church, Virginia.

The values articulated by the founders in 1885 have not changed to the present:

- to preserve the historic and predominantly single family detached residential and village character of Falls Church;

- to preserve its historic structures and landmarks;

- to promote architectural harmony and aesthetic values;

- to beautify the community by planting trees, flowers, and shrubs; and to work with governmental bodies and community groups

to promote and fulfill these goals.

Archives of the Society may be found in the Virginia Room of the Mary Riley Styles Library, Falls Church, Virginia.

FOREWORD

Charles A. Stewart's A Virginia Village is a charming depiction of the early days of Falls Church. It is the earliest attempt to put on paper the story of the Falls Church area. In addition to interesting stories about people and organizations and life generally in the small town of 80 years ago, the book contains photographs of 107 Falls Church houses, stores, and churches then standing. Reading it is a trip into nostalgia for old-timers—but the book is more than nostalgia. It pictures many elements which we associate with the community's lovely historic character and interest, and which intrigues newcomers and older residents alike.

Charles A. Stewart produced the book with the help of friends, including M. M. Ogden, who wrote the preface, and Pickering Dodge, who took the photographs. Joseph H. Newell printed it in a small backyard shop owned by his father, which was located on what is today North Washington Street next to the Columbia Baptist Church.

Not all of the structures standing in the town of Falls Church in 1904 are pictured in A Virginia Village. Some owners perhaps were not asked, or they did not wish to pay the two-dollar fee, or they declined for other reasons. A number of these absent structures were well-known features of the community, including the two W.&O.D. railway stations (East and West Falls Church, now gone), Mt. Hope, Shadow Lawn (or Whitehall), Tallwood, Jefferson School (no longer standing) and the old I.O.O.F. Hall (also gone). Falls Church—By Fence and Fireside, published in 1964 by the Rev. Melvin Steadman, mentions many others, such as Big Chimneys, which was still standing in 1904.

Of the 107 structures pictured, 24 were located near the present City, particularly in what was then known as the "East End" or East Falls Church. This former part of the town of Falls Church was returned to Alexandria County (now Arlington) in 1936. A large number of homes, stores, and other business establishments which constituted East Falls Church disappeared with the building of I-66, especially that part of the highway that lies between Westmoreland and Sycamore Streets in Arlington County. East Falls Church extended from the present City/County line down Lee Highway, and thus was located on both the north and south sides of I-66.

A review of the available records and the recollections of older residents indicates that 57 of the buildings shown are no longer standing; of the some 50 not pictured, 14 are no longer standing. Thus, of at least 157 buildings known to have been standing in town in 1904, 71 are known to have been lost (almost half).

The sources consulted (other than the book itself) include extensive notes made about 1970 by Mrs. John C. (Frances Butterworth) Cline, who died in 1979; Falls Church—Places and People, by Henry H. Douglas, published by the Falls Church Historical Commission in 1981 (still available in paperback); Rev. Melvin Steadman's Falls Church—By Fence and Fireside, published in 1964 (out of print); Henry H. Douglas' Falls Church Historical News and Notes, published between May 1970 and October 1972; Henry H. Douglas himself, who has made a hobby of Falls Church history; Mel and Ruby Bolster, charter members of VPIS; and many others.

While the City has lost much of its rural village character and charm, and has meanwhile acquired some ugly modernity in spots, the City's preservation ordinance, adopted in 1984, throws a protective cloak against further demolition around structures built as residences prior to 1911. Other buildings, such as churches and historic sites, are also protected by the ordinance, subject to certification by the Historical Commission to a Register. In addition, the Falls Church Village Preservation and Improvement Society and others continually seek ways to restore what aesthetic features have been lost.

Much additional information about houses, people and events in and around Falls Church will be found in the publications mentioned above and in other publications and documents making up the Falls Church Local Historical Collection in the Virginia Room of the Mary Riley Styles Public Library. The Collection is a veritable treasure-house of historical information waiting to be explored, and anyone looking for more information concerning any of the persons or places mentioned in this book is urged to consult the Collection in the Virginia Room.

Edmund F. Becker,

517 Meridian St.,

Falls Church, Va.

CHARLES ALEXANDER STEWART

Charles Alexander Stewart (1860-1950), who is best remembered in Falls Church for his estimable little book, A Virginia Village, which was published in 1904, was born at "Beechwood," the Stewart family farm at the intersection of the Dismal Swamp and Northwest Canals. He was the fourth in a family of five. His father, William Charles Stewart (1810-1865), died at "Beechwood."

In 1887 Charles A. Stewart married Mary Isabella Tabb (1866-1939), daughter of Dr. Robert Bruce Tabb (1833-1906) and Elizabeth Anne (Warden) Tabb (1837-1891). Elizabeth Tabb Stewart, born in 1890, was the eldest of ten children and lived in the family home in East Falls Church from 1894 until 1971.

Mr. Stewart had a distinguished career in the United States Treasury Department where he became chief clerk in the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and was a bank examiner when he retired in 1930. He was active in many community affairs. He was a vestryman of The Falls Church, was chairman of the Falls Church School Board continuously from 1910 to 1927, was active in the creation of Madison School and, while he was still living, the Charles A. Stewart Elementary School, on Underwood Street, was named for him. He was a trustee of Oakwood Cemetery in 1918, and was assistant secretary of the Arlington/Fairfax Savings and Loan from 1933 to 1940.

(From Falls Church Historical News & Notes, October 1972.)

COMMENTS ON THE STRUCTURES PICTURED

These comments provide information on the present status of the 107 structures pictured. They are arranged in sequence by item numbers, which correspond to the page numbers in the original book, and repeat the names exactly as given. The people named were the owners of the structures pictured. Present street addresses are given when the building is still standing. In the case of the 57 buildings now gone (they are marked by asterisks), the former or present street address is usually not known, and in such instances the approximate location is given. When the date of destruction is known, it is given; when a destruction date is not given, it presumably was some time prior to 1969, when the City's Architectural Inventory was prepared. Construction dates and other interesting details are provided when known, in capsule form.

Front

The Lawton House. 203 Lawton St. Also known as Lawton Manor and Home Hill. Built in 1859 but renovated many times. Once headquarters of Confederate Gen. James Longstreet and later the home of Gen. Henry Ware Lawton. Formerly housed Mattie Gundry's "Gun-Well" school. Yard formerly used by Louise and Ernest Shepard to hold the first VPIS Attic Treasures sales. Threat to house stimulated formation of VPIS in 1965. Owners: Donald Rice and Elizabeth Loker.

Front

Mr. A. M. Lothrop. Still standing at McKinley St. and Wilson Blvd. in Arlington. Beautiful estate known as "Fair Mount." Owner: Randolph Rouse.

*4

Mr. E. T. Fenwick. Was on Washington Blvd., East Falls Church, at the end of 24th Street.

5

Presbyterian Church. 225 E. Broad St. Built in 1884 with stone from the Tripps/Sisler quarry on S. Washington St., but the stone trim was transported from Seneca Maryland via the C.&O. Canal. Additions were built in 1968 from stone salvaged from the demolished old Columbia Baptist Church, thanks to architect and member, Kenton D. Hamaker, who died in 1982.

*6

Mr. W. M. Ellison. Is the house built in 1852 by Wm. Henry Ellison and later left to his son, Wm. McElfresh Ellison, who in turn left it to his daughter, Fannie May, who married Carroll Shreve. Once housed the Falls Church library. Was torn down in 1955 to make way for the present Sunoco Gas Station on W. Broad and West St. (934 W. Broad). Ellison owned at least four structures in the area, and Ellison Street no doubt is named for him.

7

Mr. George G. Crossman. Built 1892. Located on part of the former large Isaac Crossman farm near Lee Highway and Little Falls St. at 2501 Underwood St. in Arlington. Plaque on house describes it as the Crossman-Grey House. Home of Stephen B. Grey.

*8

Virginia Training School, Miss M. Gundry, Principal. Was at 309 W. Broad St., immediately west of the present Post Office. On the present site of the Winter Hill subdivision, formerly Tyler Gardens. Formerly the Schuyler Duryee House. Its large metal outside conduits, providing quick fire escapes for the mentally-handicapped inmates, attracted the attention of curious passersby.

*9

Dr. J. B. Gould. 120 E. Broad St.

10

Mr. W. H. Nowlan. 114 E. Columbia St. near the Crossman Methodist Church. Built 1885. Now owned by the City, which converted it for handicapped adults in 1981.

11

G. W. Poole. On N. Washington Blvd. in Arlington County just behind what is now the First Virginia Bank, 6745 Lee Highway.

*12

Mr. G. F. McInturff. Was on N. Maple Ave. on the present site of Garden Court Townhouses, adjacent to the George Stambaugh house, which was located on Great Falls St. (See item 61.)

*13

Mr. M. E. Church. Had a real estate and insurance office and drug store on W. Broad St. facing the present Brown's Hardware at 100 W. Broad St. Note windmill. On site of the George Mason Square complex, now under construction. (See p. 89 for more details about Mr. Church.)

*14

Mr. J. W. Brown Store and Residence. Old store and residence gone, torn down in 1959. Was on the N. corner of N. Washington and W. Broad Sts., next door to the "new" Brown's store. Business recently celebrated its 100th anniversary.

15

Mr. Geo. L. Erwin. 300 W. Great Falls St., on corner of Little Falls and Great Falls Sts. A good example of what Falls Church was like at the turn of the century. Owners: Polly and Adrian Richey. Built 1893.

16

Mrs. Emma Garner. 211 E. Columbia St. Built 1894. Home of David M. Garner, son of J. W. Garner. (See item 46.)

*17

Mr. E. C. Hough. Was on E. Jefferson St. next to 215 E. Jefferson on the left. E. C. Hough built this house in 1900. Parcel owned by L. F. Jennings.

*18

Major M. S. Hopkins. Arringdon Hall, as this impressive house was known, was on N. Washington St. next door to the Village House Motel, razed in 1984 to make way for the Kaiser-Permanente Medical Center, now under constructions on N. Washington between Park and W. Great Falls St. Arringdon Hall was demolished in the mid-60s.

*19

Mr. S. H. Thornburg. Was next door to the right of present Nowlan/Pendleton House at 114 E. Columbia St. on the present site of the Crossman Methodist Church parking lot (See item 10).

*20

Mr. Nathan Banks. Was on the site of a present condominium apartment house on the North side of the 6800 block of Washington Blvd. in East Falls Church, Arlington.

*21

James A. Dickinson, M. D. Was at 351 N. Washington St. Demolished in 1963 to make way for the Columbia Baptist Church parking lot. The owners were Mr. and Mrs. John H. (Frances Butterworth) Cline. Their daughter, Elizabeth Hughes Cline (Mrs. Howard Melton) and her husband are currently members of the VPIS Board.

22

Dr. Geo. B. Fadeley. 260 W. Broad St., corner of Little Falls St. opposite the Post Office. Was his office and residence, later the Falls Church Beauty School, and now the Potomac Academy of Hair Design. Built 1890.

*23

Mankin Pharmacy. Demolished and replaced by tool-rental and restaurant businesses. Was on N. Washington St. to the right of the present State Theatre at 220 N. Washington. It was a small, real drug store, handling mostly drugs and pharmaceuticals, but may have had a "soda fountain."

24

Mr. Charles Crossman. House saved from demolition in May 1983 and moved from 421 N. Washington St., near the Columbia Baptist Church, to 345 Little Falls St. Moved by Col. Lawrence Pence and his wife Carol of Arlington, who are also renovating Shadow Lawn, (formerly Whitehall) at 335 Little Falls St. Built 1871. Crossman House was once affectionately known as Aunt Pansy's. Owners: Mr. and Mrs. Richard Morde.

*25

Dr. J. B. Hodgkin. Was on E. Fairfax St. on the site of the present Southgate Shopping Center facing The Falls Church (Episcopal).

*26

Mr. D. O. Munson. Dr. Munson's house was probably part of the Munson Nurseries near Munson Hill, just off Leesburg Pike (Route 7) toward Baileys Crossroads. He was also a Colonel, and planted the silver maples that lined and overarched Broad St. House was demolished to make way for the Lafayette Condominiums, at 6141 Leesburg Pike.

27

Mr. Henry Crocker. 319 N. Maple, near Thurber Ct. Built 1890. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Vogel. Thurber Court is named after James Thurber, who once lived nearby.

*27

Mr. E. F. Crocker. Was at 321 N. Maple. Demolished when Thurber Court was built.

*28

Mr. G. W. Mankin. Was third building west of the original Brown's Hardware at 100 West Broad Street. Was the home of Mr. George W. Mankin after he moved out of the Clover House (not pictured in this book; referenced in Falls Church: Places and People, pp. 76, 77). Was approximately on the site of the present D&F Office Furniture at 134 West Broad.

*29

Mr. C. H. Buxton. Was home of Charles Buxton, which was at E. Broad St. and Buxton Rd., but now replaced by a newer home next door to the Dulin United Methodist Church at 513 E. Broad St.

*30

Mr. Summerfield Taylor. Lived over the Falls Church Market, a grocery formerly at the south-east corner of E. Broad and S. Washington Sts. Later replaced by the Falls Church Garage and Kent Cleaners. The "Historic Triangle complex," created by the City, is being replaced by the Independence Square Complex, now under construction.

31

Mr. A. P. Eastman. House still standing in East Falls Church at 6733 Lee Highway. He was a charter member and treasurer of the Village Improvement Society. Owner: Mrs. Charles R. Fenwick (Eleanor Eastman). House known as Everbloom.

32

Mr. Geo. F. Rollins. 109 E. Columbia St. Large house built in 1888. Also known as the Vosbury/Hall house. Owners: Dr. and Mrs. George Hall.

33

The Old Colonial Church. Interesting name for The Falls Church (Episcopal) at 115 E. Fairfax St. Has undergone considerable enlargement and renovation. Present brick church built in 1769 and thus the oldest church in the area. The City took its name from the church. On the National Register of Historic Places.

*34

Mrs. C. E. Mankin's Store. Mr. Mankin's store was on the corner of N. Washington and E. Broad Sts. and was known as Mankin's Notion and Dry Goods Store. Mankin's wife Valinda ran the store in 1904 after he died the previous September. He served in the Confederate Army and saw Stonewall Jackson shot by his own troops. Now Robertson's office building.

35

Mr. Charles A. Stewart. House at 6857 Washington Blvd. in East Falls Church, Arlington. Author of A Virginia Village and other published and unpublished works. His daughter Elizabeth Tabb Stewart lived there until 1971. Name of new owners is unknown, but it is scheduled for demolition soon.

*36

Mrs. Charles A. (sic) Mankin. Believed to be a picture of Home Hill which Charles E. Mankin built for his wife Valinda. It was located across the street from the then I.O.O.F. Hall on the site of the Post Office parking lot at 301 W. Broad St. The grounds were given to Mrs. Mankin by her mother. (There was no Charles A. Mankin.)

37

Mrs. Annie Eells. 414 W. Great Falls St. Built 1885. Known as the Eells/Roberts/Pierce Home. Enlarged and renovated. Owners: Mr. and Mrs. Harold L. Pierce.

38

"Eastover," Mr. Pickering Dodge. 6763 25th St., corner of Washington Blvd. and 25th St., East Falls Church. Mr. Dodge took the pictures for A Virginia Village. Later owned by Mr. and Mrs. Hughes Butterworth (daughter was Frances) from 1917-1933. Present owners: Michael and Rita Flott.

39

Mr. W. A. Ball. 117 E. Columbia St. next to Rollins/Hall house at 109 E. Columbia. Probably refers to Rev. Samuel A. Ball, who was pastor of the Crossman Methodist Church across the street. Known as the Ball/Jackman house. Built 1890. Owners: Mr. and Mrs. George E. Jackman.

*40

Mr. T. B. Snoddy. Was next to the N.E. corner of N. Washington and E. Columbia Sts. Now occupied by an office building at 400 N. Washington St.

*41

Dr. T. M. Talbott. Was located on a piece of farmland across from the A. M. Lothrop place at the corner of McKinley Rd. and Wilson Blvd. in Arlington. Christian Science Church, 809 N. McKinley Road, now on the site.

*42

Mr. C. L. Blanton. Mrs. Cline stated that this house was then (about 1970) on Washington Blvd. in East Falls Church. Location unclear. (See poultry ad on p. 108).

*43

Mr. Geo. W. Hawxhurst. Was on the N.E. corner of N. Washington and E. Columbia Sts., opposite the Charles Crossman House and next door to Snoddy's. The garage once housed the beginnings of the Falls Church library.

*44

Mr. W. W. Biggs. Was on the corner of W. Great Falls and Little Falls St., facing Little Falls St. on the site of the Falls Church Community Center at 223 Little Falls. Later owned by the Cobb and O'Halloran families.

45

Mr. C. C. Walters. 900 Park Ave. at Spring St. Built 1891. Owned by Philip Brophy.

46

Mr. J. W. Garner. 219 E. Columbia St. Built 1890. Owned by Larry Lee Gregg and Cynthia Garner.

*47

Town Sergeant John N. Gibson. East Falls Church. Was located on the south side of Washington Blvd., east of Lee Highway, between Moncure (p. 91) and Thompson (p. 97). Gibson, as town officer, had many duties. House demolished when I-66 was built.

*48

Mr. J. C. Elliott's Store. East Falls Church. Was at Lee Highway and N. Fairfax Drive, with the electric trolley running on Fairfax Drive. The W.&O.D. R.R. was on the south side. Was Snyder's Hardware when it burned in 1948. It was replaced by the new Snyder & Co. store, 6847 Lee Highway, Arlington.

49

Miss Ada Rhodes. 110 W. Great Falls St. Now known as the Rhodes/Lennon House. Built in 1889 but has been completely renovated after a substantial fire in 1975. Front yard has been terraced and landscaped. Mr. Michael Lennon, the present owner, teaches renovation and restoration procedures.

*50

Mr. W. W. Kinsley. Was on Lee Highway in East Falls Church, across from the present Continental Federal Savings and Loan, at 6711 Lee Highway, on a site now occupied by townhouses.

51

Mr. H. A. Fellows. On the S.W. corner of Roosevelt St. and Washington Blvd. in East Falls Church at 6404 Washington Blvd. Harry Andrew Fellows was for six years mayor of Falls Church. Wife Alice, who died about 1971, at age 105, was very knowledgeable about Falls Church. Owners: John and Marlys McGrath and three children, Michelle, Michale and Megan. Current owners are trying to restore the house to what it used to be. Now called Memory Lane.

52

Residence of Mr. G. A. L. Merrifield. 282 N. Washington St. Large imposing house built in 1895. House at 210 W. Great Falls St. also attributed to him. Was given an "Excellence in Design" award by VPIS for outstanding interior renovation. Owned by Craver, Matthews, Smith and Co., mail order and restoration consultants.

53

Cottage of Mr. G. A. L. Merrifield. 306 N. Washington St. Built 1870. Skinrood Realty once housed here. Renovated and owned by Craver, Matthews, Smith and Co., who own 282 N. Washington St., across Great Falls St.

*54

Mr. Frank M. Thompson. Was on south side Washington Blvd., in East Falls Church, Arlington. Torn down for I-66.

55

Mr. Thomas Hillier. 116 S. Oak St. Built 1890. Now owned by Mrs. Alvin Tasker.

56

Mr. J. S. Riley. 312 Park Ave. Cherry Hill farmhouse, built c. 1840 on what was originally the 248-acre Trammell grant by Lord Fairfax. Was the home of "Judge" Joseph S. Riley, responsible for chartering the town of Falls Church in 1875, and of Miss Elizabeth "Betty" Styles. Owned by the City and administered by the Historical Commission. On the National Register of Historic Places.

*57

Mr. O. H. Billingsley. Was on the North side of the 100 block of W. Broad St. near the present Brown's Hardware Store.

*58

Mr. A. O. Von Herbulis. Was near St. James Church, on site of St. Joseph's School at 203 N. Spring St. He designed St. James Church and Rectory.

59

Mr. Andrew M. Smith. 316 N. Maple Ave. Built 1904, the year A Virginia Village was published. Also known as the Sheldon Cline House (brother of John H. Cline). Now owned by the Columbia Baptist Church.

60

Major Jos. T. Hiett. 115 E. Jefferson St. Built c. 1890. Hiett was an officer in the Confederate Army. Very unusual construction. Owners: Donovan and Joan Miers.

*61

Mr. George Stambaugh. Was at the N.W. corner of N. Maple Ave. and W. Great Falls St., facing Great Falls St., now the site of the Garden Court Townhouses. Note that it had a windmill.

62

The Falls Church (Episcopal). A photo made during the Civil War. (See also pp. 33 to 61 for another photo and descriptive text.)

63

Mr. Charles A. Marshall. 215 E. Jefferson St., facing Cherry St., on a 3-lot parcel. Built c. 1900. Owned by L. F. Jennings.

*64

Mr. John S. Garrison. Was on the S.W. corner of Washington Blvd. and Lee Highway in East Falls Church. Later the office of Dr. Howard Berger. Demolished for I-66.

*65

Mr. F. A. Niles. Was near Seven Corners on Route 7. Later the home of the Duffys and Higgins.

*66

Dr. T. C. Quick. Was on the N.W. corner of N. Washington St. and W. Great Falls, across the street from the present Trammell's Gate Housing Development. Tunis Cline Quick was a classmate of President Taft, who spoke from the steps of another former Quick home now occupied by the Ives-Pearson Funeral Home at 472 N. Washington St.

*67

Miss Ellen W. Green. Was on the corner of N. Washington and E. Columbia Sts., on the present site of the parking lot of the Crossman Methodist Church.

*68

Mr. Jno. D. Payne. Was at Seven Corners near Koons Ford, located at 1051 E. Broad St. Payne's Corners (now Seven Corners) was named for him. He was a former mayor of Falls Church, 1906-07.

*69

The Rectory. Rev. George S. Somerville. Was the Rectory of The Falls Church (Episcopal) from 1900 to 1912 on S. Oak St., next to 116 in the present parking lot of 803 W. Broad St. Both houses were built by Thomas Hillier. (See item 55.)

*70

Dr. L. E. Gott. Was on 15th Road, near the end of E. Columbia St., in what is now Arlington County. Dr. Louis Edward Gott was a surgeon in the Confederate Army. He apparently did not sign the Ordinance of Secession and helped draw up the town charter in 1875.

*71

Mr. R. J. Yates. Was located in the middle of the 100 block of W. Columbia St. on the present site of the Columbia Baptist Church. It was once the site of the Forbes Institute, a private school run by the Forbes family.

72

Mr. S. A. Copper. 206 E. Jefferson St. Built 1889. On a very attractive lot. House and barn have been renovated. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Quinn.

73

Mrs. J. L. Auchmoody. 400 Great Falls St. Built in the 1850s. Julia L. Smith was married to Walter Auchmoody and helped run the Star Tavern, at the S.W. corner of Broad and Washington Sts. The Tavern once also served as the post office. House then known as "Mother Auchmoody's." More recently owned by the Hinman family and then Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Smith (now both deceased). Lot was subdivided under the terms of an easement, and a large house was built next door by Robert Daube. 400 W. Great Falls now owned by Elizabeth G. Warden.

*74

Dr. Samuel Luttrell. Was at 133 E. Broad St. next to the Murphy House that was once the City Hall (See item 86). Was also once the home of the Edmonds family. Now on the site of the Bear's Head restaurant.

75

Mrs. C. Larner. 329 N. Maple Ave. at W. Columbia St. Built in 1850-53 but has had many alternations. Hip-roofed house painted red. Still has a well and pump and said to have a ghost. Has an underground room in back yard believed to have been a hiding place for slaves during the Civil War. Minie balls have been found on the grounds. Owners: Theodore W. and Mary Louise Jones.

76

Mr. W. H. Barksdale. 6403 Washington Blvd. across from the Fellows house in East Falls Church, Arlington. (See item 51). Owners: Col. and Mrs. Samuel Greenberg.

*77

Mr. Wm. B. Wright. Was at 424 E. Broad St., but was demolished in 1979 to make way for the Tollgate Townhouse Development. Built 1870. Known as the Wright/Galpin House. Archeological investigations as the possible site of the Wren's Tavern were negative.

78

Mr. J. W. Seay. 116 W. Great Falls St. Built c. 1890. Known as the Seay/Porter/Oliphant/Kuhn House. Owners: Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Beckham.

*79

Mr. J. W. Wells. Was at 103 E. Jefferson St. across from Dr. Macon Ware's home at 108 E. Jefferson St. which is still standing with three new houses nearby.

80

M. H. Brinkerhoff. 200 E. Broad St. Built 1890 (?) Owner: Mr. Lawrence Proctor.

81

Mrs. A. V. Piggott. 400 E. Broad St. Better known as the Albert Brown Piggott House. Built about 1904, it basically is unchanged, but looks different. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Rene Ossorio.

82

Mr. G. B. Ives. 209 E. Broad St., next door to the Falls Church Presbyterian Church, which now owns it. Known now as the Westminster House. Built in 1855 by Mr. Ives.

83

Mr. Nathan Lynch. 304 E. Broad St. Built in 1898. William Nathan Lynch had a two-level barn where he kept cows and sold milk. A gazebo and fishpond were added about 1928 by his son William Henry Lynch. Gazebo was built from the old Birch barn and the horses' teeth-marks are still visible. Rear of the property was subdivided in 1983 for four townhouses, part of The Wrens. Extensive renovation, inside and out, has been carried out by the present owners, Mr. and Mrs. John R. Seline.

*84

Mrs. Mary G. Sims. Was located at 210 Little Falls St. between Park Ave. and W. Great Falls St. Now an office building across from the City Hall.

85

Mr. A. E. Rowell. 923 W. Broad St. The Rowell House was also known as the "Old Brick House." Built in 1855 by George B. Ives, the Rowell family lived here for 62 years. Formerly had a barn with a harness room and a glass conservatory for flowers. Was an antique shop several years ago and the yard was also used for antique sales. While the house still stands, it has been renovated and surrounded by a townhouse complex known as Rowell Court, and bears no resemblance to the original structure. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Rolander.

*86

Dr. S. S. Luttrell. Was at 155 E. Broad St., and later known as the Murphy House. It served as the last temporary City Hall in the 1950s.

87

Oakwood Cemetery. Located off N. Roosevelt St. behind Koon's Ford. Many old time residents of Falls Church are buried here. A corner of the foundation of Fairfax Chapel, built about 1790, and demolished during the Civil War by Union soldiers, was recently (1984) revealed by the falling of a tree during a storm.

*88

Mr. H. N. Ryer. Was in East Falls Church, Arlington.

89

Dr. M. E. Church. Description under his photo is eloquent. For photo of his home, see p. 13.

90

Miss B. C. Merrifield. 210 W. Great Falls St. Built 1876. Known as the Merrifield/Orme House. Once owned by Harry O. Bishop and Mayor Albert Orme. Presently owned by Mr. and Mrs. John A. Payne.

*91

Mr. R. C. L. Moncure. Was on the south side of Washington Blvd. east of Lee Highway in East Falls Church, Arlington. Demolished when I-66 was built.

*92

Mr. George M. Newell. Built 1896. Was on N. Washington St. on the present site of the parking lot next to the Columbia Baptist Church, and next to the James A. Dickinson house at 351. The 1904 edition of A Virginia Village was originally printed in his small shop at the rear, by Joseph H. Newell, his son. (Newell-Cole Printing is now located in Alexandria, Va.)

95

Mr. H. C. Birge. 610 Fulton Ave. Built 1890. Now known as the Schefer School. Originally part of a 25-acre tract of the Cherry Hill Farm. Rothsay Street along the rear of the property was dedicated to provide access to the Rothsay Station on the W. and O. D. railroad, between Pennsylvania Ave. and N. Lee St. Also known as Woodland. Owner: Mrs. Eileen L. C. Schefer.

*96

The Inn. Another name for the Eagle House Hotel, which burned down about 1920. Was located near the present site of the State Theatre at 220 N. Washington St. Occupants from about 1915 to 1919 were Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon S. Cline, Sr. He was the Managing Editor of old The Washington Star. Several of their children have remained in the Falls Church area. Eli Northrup, an undertaker, was once the proprietor.

*97

Mr. Henry R. Thompson. Was on the S. side of Washington Blvd. in East Falls Church, on the E. side of Lee Highway. Demolished about 1975 to make way for I-66.

*98

Columbia Baptist Church. Was located in the 100 block of E. Broad St. Demolished in 1909. A new stone church was relocated on the corner of N. Washington and W. Columbia Sts. The stone building has been replaced by a much larger brick structure. Address: 103 W. Columbia St.

99

Dulin Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church (South). Now the Dulin United Methodist Church, 513 E. Broad St. Built on land donated by William Dulin about 1869, shortly after the Civil War, following the separation into the Northern and Southern branches of the Methodist church.

100

Mrs. M. E. DePutron. 508 Lincoln Ave. Was also known as the Sherwood Farm, on 210 acres. Included the hill on which Mt. Daniel Elementary School (2328 N. Oak) is now located. Built in 1893-94 by Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Coleman DePutron. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. J. Roger Wollenberg. Roger is currently a member of the City Council and a former member of the School Board. Pat Wollenberg was formerly Vice-chairman of the Historical Commission and a re-founder of the VPIS in 1965.

101

Mr. G. W. Cassilear. 502 Walden Court. Known also as the Cassilear/Lamont/Bell House, or Bonnie Briar. Built about 1898 on what was part of the Crossman tract. Property originally consisted of the house, a summer house (now gone), a fish pond, a sheep house (now gone), a concrete ice-house, and a barn, on 11.66 acres. Was owned by Mrs. William (Aloise) Bell, who died in February 1985.

102

St. James Roman Catholic Church. 905 Park Ave. Built about 1902 to replace the old church on West St. at the St. James Cemetery. Has been renovated and enlarged. Designed by A. O. Von Herbulis (See item 58).

*103

The Methodist Episcopal Church. Isaac Crossman donated the land and funds for the Crossman Methodist Episcopal Church, built in 1875. It was demolished in 1963. The new Crossman United Methodist Church is now on the same site on the corner of N. Washington and E. Columbia Sts. This was the Northern Methodist church; Dulin was the Southern Methodist church.

*104

Mr. V. E. Kerr. Was one of the group of houses south of the Falls Church Bank (now the site of George Mason Square) on the west side of South Washington Street about opposite The Falls Church (Episcopal). Other houses in this group were the Updike House, the James Walter Antique Shop and the Edith Thompson House (all gone).

*105

Mr. Herbert G. Hopkins. Location unknown.

*106

Dr. N. F. Graham. Was on the present Safeway grocery site at 7397 Lee Highway, at the end of West St. in Fairfax County.

107

Capt. M. S. Roberts, 409 S. West St. Known as the Roberts/Burdick house. Capt. Roberts, who was wounded at Antietam, built the house in 1867 with wood and hardware shipped by his brother from Maine. Milton E. Roberts inherited the property from his uncle about 1915 and began a poultry business. Subsequently sold part of the property to the City for Roberts Park. House now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Edward A. Burdick.

109

The Misses Birch. The Birch House, 312 E. Broad St. Built about 1835 but added to and renovated several times. Sold by Mr. and Mrs. Milton T. Birch in 1976 to Historic Falls Church, Inc., which in turn sold it to Mr. James Reid to build "The Wrens" on the side and rear portion. The old barn had been converted to a garage and has since been renovated into a handsome carriage house, as part of "The Wrens." VPIS was the first patron, donating $1,000 toward the preservation of the structure. On the National Register of Historic Places. Now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Samuel A. Mabry. Kenneth and Patricia Loustalot were the first owners after restoration (April 1980).

110

Rev. H. A. Beach. 212 E. Jefferson at Cherry St. Built c. 1904. There was once a pump and a pulley for drawing water. Originally part of the Copper property (p. 72). Owners: John and Nancy Whitman.

111

Congregational Church. 222 N. Washington St., next to the State Theatre. Formerly used as a police station, town hall, school, recreation center and library, and finally became the Washington House, the current headquarters of the Woman's Club of Falls Church. Used for meetings and special events.

*112

Mr. Eli J. Northrup. Was located on the E. side of N. Washington St. in the 100 block. Northrup helped organize the Oakwood Cemetery Assn. and the Falls Church Telephone and Telegraph Co. He was an undertaker and ran the Eagle House (p. 96) at one time.

STRUCTURES LISTED BY NAME

Auchmoody, Mrs. J. L.

73

Ball, W. A.

39

Banks, Nathan

20

Barksdale, W. H.

76

Beach, Rev. H. A.

110

Biggs, W. W.

44

Billingsley, O. H.

57

The Misses Birch

109

Birge, H. C.

95

Blanton, C. L.

42

Brinkerhoff, M. H.

80

Brown, J. W.

14

Buxton, C. H.

29

Cassilear, G. W.

101

Cherry Hill (Riley, J. S.)

56

Church, Dr. M. E. (Portrait)

89

Church, M. E.

13

Columbia Baptist Church

98

Congregational Church

111

Copper, S. A.

72

Crocker, Henry

27

Crocker, E. F.

27

Crossman, Charles

24

Crossman, George G.

7

Crossman Methodist Episcopal Church

103

DePutron, Mrs. M. E.

100

Dickinson, Dr. James A.

21

Dodge, Mr. Pickering

38

Dulin Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church (South)

99

Eagle House

96

Eastman, A. P.

31

Eastover (Dodge, Pickering)

38

Eells, Mrs. Annie

37

Elliott, J. C.

48

Ellison, W. M.

6

Erwin, George L.

15

Fadeley, Dr. George B.

22

Fellows, H. A.

51

Fenwick, E. T.

4

Garner, Mrs. Emma

16

Garrison, John S.

64

Gibson, John N.

47

Gott, Dr. L. E.

70

Gould, J. B.

9

Graham, Dr. N. F.

106

Green, Miss Ellen W.

67

Gundry, Miss M.

8

Hawxhurst, George W.

43

Hiett, Major Joseph T.

60

Hillier, Thomas

55

Hodgkin, Dr. J. B.

25

Hopkins, Herbert G.

105

Hopkins, Major M. S.

18

Hough, E. C.

17

Inn, The

96

Ives, G. B.

82

Kerr, V. E.

104

Kinsley, W. W.

50

Larner, Mrs. C.

75

Lawton House

Front

Lothrop, A. M.

Front

Luttrell, Samuel

74

Luttrell, Dr. S. S.

86

Lynch, Nathan

83

McInturff, G. F.

12

Mankin, Mrs. Charles A.

36

Mankin, George W.

28

Mankin Pharmacy

23

Mankin, Mrs. C. E.

34

Marshall, Charles A.

63

Merrifield, Miss B. C.

90

Merrifield, G. A. L.

52, 53

Moncure, R. C. L.

91

Munson, D. O.

26

Newell, George M.

92

Niles, F. A.

65

Northrup, E. J.

112

Nowlan, W. H.

10

Oakwood Cemetery

87

Payne, J. D.

68

Piggott, A. V.

81

Poole, G. W.

11

Presbyterian Church

5

Quick, Dr. T. C.

66

The Rectory (Somerville, Rev. G. S.)

69

Rhodes, Miss Ada

49

Riley, J. S.

56

Roberts, Captain M. S.

107

Rollins, George F.

32

Rowell, A. E.

85

Ryer, H. N.

88

St. James Roman Catholic Church

102

Seay, J. W.

78

Sims, Mrs. Mary G.

84

Smith, Andrew M.

59

Snoddy, T. B.

40

Somerville, Rev. George S.

69

Stambaugh, George

61

Stewart, Charles A.

35

Talbott, Dr. T. M.

41

Taylor Store

30

The Falls Church

33, 62

Thompson, Frank M.

54

Thompson, Henry R.

97

Thornburg, S. H.

19

Virginia Training School

8

Von Herbulis, A. O.

58

Walters, C. C.

45

Wells, J. H.

79

Wright, William B.

77

Yates, R. J.

71

STRUCTURES LISTED BY ADDRESS

Broad Street, East

100 block (Mankin's Store)

34

100 block (Columbia Baptist Church)

98

120 (J. B. Gould)

9

133 (S. Luttrell)

74

155 (S. S. Luttrell)

86

200 (M. H. Brinkerhoff)

80

209 (G. B. Ives)

82

225 (Presbyterian Church)

5

304 (N. Lynch)

83

312 (The Misses Birch)

109

400 (A. V. Piggott)

81

424 (W. B. Wright)

77

513 (Dulin Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church (South))

99

500 block (C. H. Buxton)

29

1000 block (J. D. Payne)

68

Broad Street, West

100 block (M. E. Church)

13

100 block (J. W. Brown)

14

100 block (O. H. Billingsley)

57

100 block (G. W. Mankin)

28

200 block (C. A. Mankin)

36

260 (G. B. Fadeley)

22

300 block (Virginia Training School, Miss M. Gundry, Principal)

8

923 (A. E. Rowell)

85

934 (Ellison, W. M.)

6

Columbia Street, East

on 15th Road (L. E. Gott)

70

109 (G. F. Rollins)

32

114 (W. H. Nowlan)

10

117 (W. A. Ball)

39

211 (E. Garner)

16

219 (J. W. Garner)

46

Columbia Street, West

100 block (R. J. Yates)

71

Fairfax Street, East

115 (The Falls Church)

33, 62

100 block (J. B. Hodgkin)

25

Fulton Street

610 (H. C. Birge)

95

Great Falls Street and Maple Avenue

(G. Stambaugh)

61

Great Falls Street

110 (A. Rhodes)

49

116 (J. W. Seay)

78

210 (B. C. Merrifield)

90

300 (G. L. Erwin)

15

400 (J. L. Auchmoody)

73

414 (A. Eells)

37

Jefferson Street, East

103 (J. H. Wells)

79

115 (J. T. Hiett)

60

206 (S. A. Cooper)

72

211 (E. C. Hough)

17

212 (H. A. Beach)

110

215 (C. A. Marshall)

63

Lawton Street

203 (The Lawton House)

Front

Lee Highway

6700 block (W. W. Kingsley)

50

6733 (A. P. Eastman)

31

and West Street (N. F. Graham)

106

Lincoln Avenue

508 (M. E. DePutron)

100

Little Falls Street

200 block (M. G. Sims)

84

200 block (W. W. Biggs)

44

Maple Street, North

316 (A. M. Smith)

59

319 (E. F. Crocker)

27

321 (H. Crocker)

27

and Great Falls (G. F. McInturff)

12

329 (C. Larner)

75

McKinley Street

(T. M. Talbott)

41

Oak Street, South

114 (The Rectory—Rev. G. S. Somerville)

69

116 (T. Hillier)

55

Park Avenue

312 (J. S. Riley)

56

900 (C. C. Walters)

45

905 (St. James Roman Catholic Church)

102

Roosevelt Street

Oakwood Cemetery

87

Spring Street

(A. O. Von Herbulis)

58

Underwood Street

(G. G. Crossman)

7

Walden Court

502 (G. W. Cassilear)

101

Washington Blvd., Arlington

near Lee Hwy. (R. C. L. Moncure)

91

east of Lee Hwy. (F. M. Thompson)

97

(H. R. Thompson)

97

at Roosevelt (W. H. Barksdale)

76

at Roosevelt (H. A. Fellows)

51

6831 (G. W. Poole)

11

6839 (E. T. Fenwick)

4

6857 (C. A. Stewart)

32

at 25th Street (P. Dodge)

38

Washington Street, North

100 block (Mankin Pharmacy)

23

100 block (E. J. Northrup)

112

200 block (The Inn)

96

222 (Congregational Church)

111

223 (M. S. Hopkins)

18

282 (G. A. L. Merrifield)

52

305 (T. C. Quick)

66

306 (G. A. L. Merrifield)

53

351 (J. A. Dickinson)

21

353 (G. M. Newell)

92

384 (The Methodist Episcopal Church)

103

at s.e. corner of Columbia St. (E. W. Green)

67

at n.e. corner of Columbia St. (G. W. Hawxhurst)

43

400 block (T. B. Snoddy)

40

421 (C. Crossman)

24

Washington Street, South

104

(V. E. Kerr)

104

West Street, South

409 (M. S. Roberts)

107

Wilson Blvd. and McKinley Street, Arlington

(A. M. Lothrop)

Front

* * * A Virginia Village * * *

Historical Sketch

of

Falls Church

and the

Old Colonial Church

PRESS OF J. H. NEWELL

FALLS CHURCH, VA.

1904

School House

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTORY

1

THE TOWN OF FALLS CHURCH

3

THE OLD COLONIAL CHURCH

33

FALLS CHURCH IN THE CIVIL WAR

62

CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES, ETC.

77

Mr. A. M. Lothrop

PREFACE.

In preparing this little book it has been the aim of the Editor to obtain facts of the early history, as well as to set forth what changes time has wrought in the erstwhile veritable hamlet of years gone by. To this end he has exerted every effort in the examination of records, that authentic data only, in describing the old church and village, may appear in these pages. Aside from the descendants of the old settlers, the heads of many households in the village of Falls Church have left kindred and friends in other sections of the country, and identified themselves heartily in the work of developing and beautifying the natural advantages of the spot they have selected for the building of new homes. It is but natural that interest should be taken in the evidence of their thrift and enterprise, by those whose lives were linked with theirs in times past, as in the town they have helped to build up. The attempt has been to join the past with the present, in reciting incidents of the early days, to show no less the improvements that have come as the years roll on.

The joint work has been done by Messrs. Chas. A. Stewart, Pickering Dodge and George M. Newell, Mr. Stewart having collected, edited and compiled the text, Mr. Dodge the photographic work, and Mr. Newell the printing.

The Editor is indebted for courtesies and assistance to Mr. H. H. Dodge, Superintendent of Mount Vernon, a vestryman of Pohick Church, Mr. H. S. Ryer, stenographer, Mr. F. M. Richardson, Clerk of the Court, Fairfax Co., and Rev. George S. Somerville, Rector of the Falls Church. Valuable information was obtained from Howe's History of Virginia, Snowden's Old Landmarks in Virginia and Maryland, as from the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies.

M. M. O.

The Lawton House

A Virginia Village.

Introductory.

Falls Church, while a Virginia village, is thoroughly cosmopolitan. According to a recent census only about fifty per cent. of its inhabitants are natives of Virginia, the rest coming from the various States of the Union or from foreign countries.

Falls Church might properly be called a national village, since its citizens are chiefly employees of the government, and the interests of its eleven hundred people naturally center at the National Capitol.

Every geographical section of the United States has here a representative type of citizen who has chosen this quiet village for a home. For this and other reasons Falls Church is probably the most thoroughly American community in the country. This distinction, if admitted, must come as a natural sequence from its situation as a suburb of the Nation's capital, from the cosmopolitan character of its society, and from the fact that so many of its residents are connected with the Executive Departments as a part of the machinery of representative government.

The village is situated in a county of the Old Dominion rich in events of historic interest. In Colonial days, in the times of the Revolution, as in the days of the civil strife, Fairfax County furnished her quota of illustrious sons. At Gunston Hall on the Potomac dwelt George Mason, author of the Virginia Bill of Rights, pronounced the most remarkable paper of the epoch, and the foundation of the great American assertion of independence as afterward draughted by Jefferson. In Fairfax County lived and died the immortal Washington, and his ashes repose in its soil at his beloved Mount Vernon. During the late civil war every part of its territory was a battle ground and breast-works thrown up by contending armies over a generation ago may still be seen here and there within its borders. At the beginning of our war with Spain twenty-five thousand volunteer soldiers from a dozen States pitched their tents on a favored spot in this ancient county, where they were schooled to proficiency in the art of modern warfare.

The old Episcopal church, from which Falls Church takes its name, still stands as a monument linking colonial days with the present. Around it cluster memories of great events in American history, for past its substantial walls have marched soldiers of all our leading wars since the day Washington guided the lordly Braddock over the road hard by down to the time of our recent war with Spain. The old church has passed through many vicissitudes since Washington worshipped there. It served as a recruiting station for patriots of the Revolution, then abandoned as a house of worship for a long period of years; subsequently it was reopened and throughout the civil war used alternately as a hospital and a stable by the Union Army. To complete the chain of events in this connection soldiers enlisted for the Spanish-American war were encamped near by and pickets of the camp stood guard under the shadow of its walls.

Falls Church thirty years ago was a mere hamlet of, perhaps, a dozen houses. It is to-day the largest town in the county of Fairfax and its population is steadily increasing. Forces are now at work which may eventually make it the largest town in Northern Virginia, with the possible exception of Alexandria. Upon the completion of the new bridges now in course of construction across the Potomac and the improved facilities for reaching Washington by means of steam roads and trolley lines, the tide of suburban home-seekers from the capital city must turn this way, whereby this Virginia village is destined to become a Virginia city which may bind the old mother commonwealth closer than ever before to the Federal City and the National government.

The Town of Falls Church.

Falls Church is an incorporated town of about eleven hundred inhabitants. Endowed by State law with the name of town when a mere hamlet, it is still "the village" to its citizens. It is situated on the Bluemont branch of the Southern Railway 9 miles from Alexandria, and 45 miles from Bluemont at the foot of the Blue Ridge. An electric railway connects it with Georgetown, D. C., 6 miles distant, and it is 13 miles over the Southern Railway to the business center of Washington. Located originally in Fairfax County its growing area has overlapped into the adjoining county of Alexandria, taking within its corporate limits the extreme southwestern part of what was at one time the District of Columbia.

It is essentially a village of homes, nearly all of which are set in ample grounds adorned with rare trees, well-kept lawns, and tasteful shrubbery and hedges. Its fourteen miles of streets are bordered with beautiful maples, and in summer the principal avenues are bowers of living green.

Like the National Capital in its inception, Falls Church is a town of magnificent distances. Within its corporate limits is room for ten thousand people without overcrowding.

At an altitude of 300 feet above Washington, summer days here are pleasant and summer nights cool and sleep-inducing.

The social atmosphere is most refined, and the moral tone of its citizens cannot be surpassed. No saloons have been allowed in Falls Church since its incorporation as a town thirty years ago.

The town has an excellent graded public school with a high class of instructors, besides a number of private schools. Eleven churches, including three for colored people just outside the town limits, afford ample accommodation for all church-goers within a radius of many miles. All the leading religious denominations are represented. The church edifices are most creditable for a town of its size, and two are fine examples of church architecture.

Mr. E. T. Fenwick.

The history of Falls Church begins with the building of the old Episcopal Church from which the place takes its name, but the town itself is of modern growth. By a strange series of coincidences the old church, as well as the town at a later period, has been in touch in various ways with the National Government since Colonial days. Washington was a vestryman and at times attended service here. It served as a recruiting office for patriots of the Revolution. Dolly Madison took the road for Leesburg leading past this church when fleeing from the White House during the panic of the British invasion. Capt. Henry Fairfax went forth with his company of Fairfax volunteers from the Falls Church to the Mexican war and his body, borne home from far Saltillo, found a resting place within its churchyard. Skirmishes between Union and Confederate troops occurred all around its walls, and during the war of '61 it served the purposes of a hospital for Union soldiers. To make the chain of incidents complete, a farm near by was chosen at the outbreak of the Spanish-American war as a training camp for United States volunteer soldiers.

Presbyterian Church

Few events of moment in government affairs can occur without directly affecting some resident of Falls Church, since this little town has its quota among the officers of the army and navy, in the rank and file of the army, and on the forecastle of the man-of-war, to say nothing of a full representation on the rolls of the several executive departments. When the battle ship Maine was blown up in Havana harbor two jackies from Falls Church were on board, fortunately escaping with their lives. After Aguinaldo's capture by General Funston, it was a Falls Church man who commanded the gunboat which conveyed the captive around the Island of Luzon to Manila. The brave General Lawton, killed on the firing line in the Philippine war, had so recently been a citizen of the town that his death was deplored as a personal loss by his former neighbors.

Mr. W. M. Ellison

About the middle of the last century there was a large influx of settlers to Fairfax County from Northern New York and the New England States, attracted by the milder climate and the cheaper lands then offered for sale. Among the families who came about that period and settled nearest the old Falls Church were the Baileys, Birches, Barretts, Coes, Ellisons, Iveses, Lounsberrys, Munsons, Osbornes, Ryers and Sherwoods—all familiar names, and many of them or their immediate descendants now prominent residents of this village.

Mr. George G. Crossman

Early in the seventies two government clerks drove over the rough and hilly road from Washington and looked around the little hamlet of a dozen houses scattered along the Leesburg turnpike from the old brick church to the railroad station at West End. They were impressed with its inviting hills as the ideal situation for country residences. The excellent water from unlimited springs, the cool breezes and pleasing prospect from the hilltops overlooking hot and dusty Washington in the distance, persuaded them to make their homes in this ideal place. At that time the railroad facilities to Washington were most unpromising. The coaches were little better than the present freight car caboose, the schedule was unreliable, the trains slow, and a change of cars had to be made at the Alexandria junction. Such drawbacks did not deter these men from carrying out their purpose of locating here. They decided to ride or drive back and forth to their work in the department at Washington. Others soon followed these pioneers, and a settlement of government employees was the result. Many of those who followed the first two pioneers were from New England. They were families for the most part endowed with all those sturdy qualities of integrity, frugality and piety, characteristic of their section, and soon the church of their fathers stood within a stone's throw of the church of the early Virginians.

Since the day our townsmen, Mr. Charles H. Buxton and Prof. W. W. Kinsley, the pioneers of modern Falls Church, first settled here, the increase of population has been slow, but it has been of steady and sterling growth. The conservatism of the land-owners has given less rapid growth than were its tone purely speculative. The population as reported by the United States census for 1890 was 792; the census of 1900 gives the population at 1007, an increase of over 27 per cent. during the ten years. The tax roll for 1903 shows property of taxable value of $420,125, an increase of $149,040 over 1890.

Virginia Training School. Miss M. Gundry, Principal.

Of all those who followed Messrs. Buxton and Kinsley to Falls Church, who built homes and made the little straggling settlement at the cross-roads the beautiful village it is to-day, space will not permit even a brief mention. But there are a number of well-known citizens still residing here who formed the nucleus of that "department colony" of thirty years ago, and through whose influence in great measure this village has become a settlement of government employees. Most prominent among these settlers of the 70's who are connected with the executive departments in Washington are Messrs. G. A. L. Merrifield and M. S. Roberts of the Pension Bureau, Albert P. Eastman of the War Department and George F. Rollins of the Treasury Department.

Dr. J. B. Gould

The rate of taxation levied by the town government is 60 cents on the hundred dollars, 30 cents of which is for school purposes and 30 cents for all expenses of the corporation. To this must be added the taxes collected by the county of Fairfax, 75 cents on the hundred dollars, making a total tax on property holders in the town of $1.35 on each one hundred dollars of the assessed valuation. Property within the corporation is exempt from county road tax and district school tax. Property in that part of the village lying within Alexandria County is assessed in like manner by the town and the authorities of the latter county. The tax rate for Alexandria County for the year 1903 on the one hundred dollars of assessed valuation of personal and real property was: State tax, 35 cents; county levy, 40 cents, and for court-house purposes, 10 cents—a total of 85 cents chargeable to the property owners of East Falls Church, the section of the village in this county. An additional tax of 50 cents for road purposes and 40 cents for the district school is levied against taxable property in this county outside of East Falls Church.

Mr. W. H. Nowlan

When scarcely entitled to be designated by the name of village, the little settlement on the Leesburg turnpike known as Falls Church was, by an act of the General Assembly of Virginia, incorporated as a town. The act in question was approved March 30, 1875, and on April 13 following the new town began its career with the following officials duly installed: Mayor, Dr. J. J. Moran; Clerk, H. J. England; Town Sergeant, E. F. Crocker; Councilmen, Dr. J. J. Moran, George B. Ives, J. E. Birch, T. T. Fowler, Isaac Crossman, J. J. Carter, Dr. L. E. Gott.

The act of incorporation was successively amended by the State Legislature in 1879, 1890 and 1894. Sections 1 and 2 of the act of incorporation as amended, approved March 2, 1894, read as follows:

SECTION 1. So much of the territories in the counties of Fairfax and Alexandria, together with all the improvements and appurtenances thereunto belonging, as is contained in the following boundaries, to-wit: Beginning at the corner of Alexandria and Fairfax counties, on J. C. DePutron's farm; thence to the corner of J. C. Nicholson and W. S. Patton, in Mistress Ellen Gordon's line; thence to the corner of Sewell and L. S. Abbott on the new cut road; thence to the corner of A. A. Freeman and Mrs. Henry J. England on the Falls Church and Fairfax Court House road; thence along centre of said road to centre of bridge over Holmes Run; thence easterly in a straight line to the northwest corner of the colored Methodist church on the road leading to Annandale; thence easterly to the crossing of the Alexandria and Georgetown roads at Taylor's corner; thence along the north line of said Georgetown road to the corner of T. M. Talbott and Emma Taylor's estate; thence to a pin oak tree near Dr. L. E. Gott's spring; thence to a stone on the property of J. A. and Mrs. J. H. C. Brown, formerly the northeast corner of John Brown's barn; thence to the crossing of Isaac Grossman's and Bowen's line on the chain bridge road; thence to the place of beginning, is and shall continue forever to be a body politic and corporate under the name and style of the town of Falls Church, and shall possess and exercise the rights and powers conferred on towns by the general laws of this State and shall be subject to the restrictions and limitations imposed by said law in so far as the provisions thereof are not in conflict with the provisions of this act.

Mr. G. W. Poole

SEC. 2. Be it further enacted. That the government of said town shall be vested in a council of nine qualified voters, who shall be elected by ballot on the fourth Thursday in May, eighteen hundred and ninety-four; three of whom shall hold that office for one year, three for two years and three for three years respectively, the same to be determined by lot. The successors of the three whose terms expire each year shall be elected annually on the fourth Thursday in May and shall hold their offices for three years, or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The terms of office of all councilmen shall begin on the first day of July of each year succeeding their election. Any person entitled to vote in the magisterial districts of Falls Church or Providence, in Fairfax County, or Washington magisterial district in Alexandria County, and residing in said corporation and duly registered by the town clerk, shall be entitled to vote at all elections for councilmen. The town clerk and two members of the council whose terms of office do not expire with that year, and who shall be designated by the mayor, shall conduct such election between the hours of one and seven, post meridian, and shall make return of the same to the mayor who shall issue certificates, countersigned by the clerk, to those elected. Tie votes shall be decided by lot, and contests shall be decided by the council under the law governing contests for the county offices.

Mr. G. F. McInturff

Mr. M. E. Church

Section five provides that the council shall annually levy and collect necessary taxes for roads, streets, school and corporation purposes, which tax for all purposes shall not exceed sixty cents on one hundred dollars without the consent of two-thirds of the resident freeholders of the corporation. An amendment gives the council the privilege of levying an additional tax of ten cents on the hundred dollars for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a high school course in Jefferson Institute, the public school, whenever requested by the town school board.

Section eight provides that the "town sergeant shall be the executive officer of the council, and shall have the authority, jurisdiction and fees of a constable of Fairfax and Alexandria counties within and one mile beyond the corporate limits. He shall, unless otherwise provided, be the town treasurer and as such shall collect all taxes, fines and licenses, and disburse the same upon the warrant of the council, signed by the mayor and clerk."

Mr. J. W. Brown, Store and Residence

The same section makes the sergeant overseer of roads and streets, giving him the same powers as overseers of roads under the special road laws of Fairfax and Alexandria counties, his compensation to be fixed by the council.

Section nine provides that no district school tax and no district road tax shall be assessed and collected, except by the council, on any property within the corporation limits.

The last important section of the act of incorporation, which assures the peace and quiet of this village, is the restriction placed upon the liquor traffic. It reads as follows:

SEC. 10. That any person applying to the county of Fairfax or the county of Alexandria for a license to sell liquors of any kind, either as a keeper of an ordinary or eating house, or as a merchant, within the corporate limits of the town of Falls Church in the said counties, or within one mile beyond the limits of the said corporation shall produce before the courts or boards having control of the issuance of licenses for the sale of liquor of said counties a certificate of said council of said town to the effect that the applicant is a suitable person and that no good reason is known to said council why said license should not be granted. And the courts of said counties or boards having authority shall not grant the said license to sell liquors within the limits above prescribed until and unless such a certificate be given. And under no circumstances and in no event whatever shall the sale of liquors be licensed in any part of the corporation where license for the sale thereof has been prohibited under the provisions of chapter twenty-five of the Code of Virginia, known as the local option law.

Mr. Geo. L. Erwin

The town is divided into three wards and each ward is represented by three councilmen.

THE BOARD OF HEALTH, appointed annually by the council, looks after the health of the town, with authority to carry out such sanitary regulations as may be deemed wise and expedient. The Board of Health for the present year consists of Dr. T. C. Quick, Chairman, and Councilmen John H. Wells and Elmer I. Crump.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT of the village was organized in 1898. The officers are a chief engineer and three fire wardens, one from each ward, and a captain of the fire company. The equipment for fighting fires consists of one fifty-five and two twenty-five gallon chemical engines of the most approved pattern and one fully equipped hook and ladder truck. The larger engine is kept in the central part of the village while the two smaller ones are stationed at East Falls Church and West End respectively. The officers are Chief Engineer, Dr. J. B. Gould; Fire Wardens—1st ward, Geo. T. Mankin; 2d ward, Edgar A. Kimball; 3d ward, D. B. Patterson.

Mrs. Emma Garner.

THE VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY, an important factor in the growth and development of the village, was organized about twenty years ago. The chief object of the society has been the improvement and adornment of the streets and the fine shade trees which emborder the village thoroughfares everywhere attest the fidelity of its members to the object in view. In addition to the work of this character the society has aided in various other ways in the work of improving the village besides furnishing social entertainments for its members and friends. About fifteen hundred dollars have been raised by the society and disbursed to excellent advantage in securing substantial benefits to the public weal.

Mr. E. C. Hough

The Village Improvement Society was organized in the fall of 1885, the first officers being Mr. W. H. Doolittle, President; Rev. D. H. Riddle, Vice-President; Mr. S. V. Proudfit, Secretary and Mr. A. P. Eastman, Treasurer.

This society was modeled after the famous Laurel Hill Society of Stockbridge, Mass., and from a pamphlet published some years ago setting forth its object we learn that its funds have been expended on roads, sidewalks and street lamps, for a survey of the corporation, a piano for the public school and other improvements at the school, for taking the census and for Arbor Day expenses—a total expenditure up to that time of about eight hundred dollars. The greater part of the money raised by the society is from voluntary dues or the proceeds of lectures or other entertainments. The funds raised in this manner are generally expended through the town council or in conjunction with appropriations made by that body.

The first observance of Arbor Day in the State was by the Falls Church Village Improvement Society, when in 1892 this society instituted the observance of the day by the public school. Since that date the society has defrayed all Arbor Day expenses.

Major M. S. Hopkins

By an ordinance of the town adopted February 8, 1904, the third Friday in April of each year is designated as Arbor Day, to be observed under the auspices of the Village Improvement Society for the planting of such trees, plants or shrubs as it may desire.

The officers of the Village Improvement Society for the present year are as follows:

President, M. E. Church; Vice-President, Franklin Noble, D. D.; Secretary, Miss Belle Merrifield; Treasurer, George W. Hawxhurst; Assistant Secretary, Dr. George B. Fadeley.

The meetings are held on the first Monday of each month, except July and August, at the homes of the different members.

On these occasions after the adjournment of the business meeting, a literary and musical programme is provided by the hostess of the evening. Aside from the matter of business, the social part of these gatherings is a distinct feature of the society, which serves to keep alive the interest of its members, bringing together congenial friends and giving "new-comers" an opportunity to become acquainted with their neighbors.

Mr. S. H. Thornburg

PIONEER BUSINESS MEN. Among the most prominent business men of Falls Church who located here about the time the place was incorporated as a town, or soon thereafter, may be mentioned Mr. M. E. Church. Mr. Church is a native of Vermont, and upon settling here engaged in the drug business; he now conducts a successful real estate, loan and insurance business. He is also connected with other important commercial interests, and has been an indefatigable worker in promoting the welfare of the village.

Mr. George W. Mankin, a native of this State, was one of the early settlers in the village. He conducted a general merchandise business for a long period of years, but at present is engaged in the drug business with his son Mr. Geo. T. Mankin, under the firm name of George T. Mankin & Co. Mr. Mankin has established as high reputation as a business man and citizen as had his brother Mr. Charles Mankin, the well known dry goods merchant, but recently deceased.

Mr. Nathan Banks

Mr. Wm. M. Ellison, whose father was one of the early northern settlers in this community, is a successful lawyer and real estate broker. Mr. Ellison stands high as a business man and citizen, having served his town as a councilman for many years past and as mayor of the town for several terms. He was recently re-elected councilman from the West End ward.

Among other prominent merchants who early settled here are Mr. J. W. Brown, dealer in hardware and general merchandise, and Mr. George Gaither, dealer in groceries.

Mr. Isaac Crossman, who came here from Pennsylvania soon after the civil war, purchased for farming purposes a large block of land which is now situated almost in the center of the village. The price paid was about forty dollars per acre. A large part of this land has been divided into town lots and sold. To indicate the increase in real estate values since the war, the land of this Crossman property lying nearest the northern boundary of the village sells for one thousand dollars and upward per acre.

James A. Dickinson, M. D.

FEW OLD HOUSES. Practically all the houses of the village are modern, but there are a few old buildings of historic interest. Among these is the Lawton house, at one time the residence of General Lawton. This house was the headquarters of General Longstreet when the place was in possession of the Confederates soon after the first battle of Manassas. What was once known as the Star Tavern, now a grocery store, is a relic of by-gone days. It flourished in the days before the railroad came, and was a favorite stopping place for travelers over the road from the mountains leading past its doors to the then important mart, Alexandria. The place was kept during the civil war by W. H. Erwin, father of our townsmen Messrs. Walter, George and Munson Erwin.

The old big chimney house situated in the field opposite the Odd Fellows' Hall was built in Revolutionary times and is probably the oldest dwelling in this vicinity. It is owned by the venerable John Lynch, who was the sexton of the Episcopal Church for so many years before and after the civil war. Mr. Lynch is now a resident of Maryland.

Dr. Geo. B. Fadeley

THE COLORED SETTLEMENT. The colored people have a settlement a short distance south of the town limits, consisting of probably a hundred cottages with a population of between four and five hundred. They have a school building and three churches and many of the little cottages and surroundings indicate industry and thrift in the occupants.

HOTELS. The Falls Church Inn, where an old Virginia welcome awaits the way-farer, accommodates transient and regular boarders. Besides there is the "Evergreens," a large summer boarding place which has a high reputation. There are numerous other homes, in or near the village, where boarders are taken for the summer months.

NEWSPAPER. Falls Church has one newspaper published weekly, called "The Falls Church Monitor." This paper was first established by Mr. E. F. Rorebeck, under the name of "The Falls Church News." Mr. M. E. Church is Editor and Mr. R. C. L. Moncure, General Manager.

Mankin Pharmacy

EXCELLENT NATURAL DRAINAGE. Four Mile Run, traversing the northeastern section of the corporation, separates the main part of the village from all that portion lying in Alexandria County and known as East Falls Church. This little stream empties into the Potomac four miles below Washington, whence its name. Where it breaks through the hills at Barcroft its water-power is used for milling purposes, as in the days when General Washington's flour mills were situated at or near the same point. The southern section of the village is drained by Holmes' Run, which empties into the Potomac just south of Alexandria. The two rapid little streams named take their rise a short distance to the west of the village and afford ample drainage for all the territory embraced within the corporation boundaries.

RAILWAY DEPOTS AND POST-OFFICES. Indicating the wide extent of territory covered by Falls Church, it possesses two railway depots and three independent post-offices. The Southern Railway's East Falls Church and West End stations are one mile apart. The electric railway also has stations and ticket offices near those of the steam road. The Falls Church post office is on Broad street in the center of the village. East Falls Church post office is located at the electric railway station and West End post office at the West End steam railway station, the former being one-half mile and the latter about one mile distant from the main office.

Mr. Charles Crossman

STREET LIGHTS. The village streets are now lighted by kerosene lamps, but a movement is already on foot looking toward a better system of street lighting and it is probable that an electric light plant will be installed for that purpose within the near future.

A BANK IS NEEDED. The organization of a bank is being considered by a number of enterprising citizens. There is already a sufficient amount of banking business transacted by the residents of the village, which is now divided among the banks located at Leesburg, Fairfax, Alexandria and Washington, to make such an institution a paying investment from the start.

THE PARK. Crossman Park, the densely wooded hill over which the electric road runs from East End to West End, is an attractive spot to nature lovers. Hundreds of old chestnut trees make it a favorite resort for picnic parties in summer and nut-hunters in the fall. It is altogether a charming piece of woodland without undergrowth, and needs no gravelled walks or other evidences of the hand of man to add to its present charm.

Dr. J. B. Hodgkin

Near the park may be seen the stone which marks what was at one time the western corner of the District of Columbia. It is situated on the land of Mr. S. B. Shaw and is only a few yards from his residence. On the west corner is chiseled "Virginia 1791," while on the opposite corner the words "Jurisdiction of the United States" are still quite legible.

FALLS CHURCH TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH CO. The Falls Church Telephone and Telegraph Company, of which Mr. M. E. Church is President and General Manager, is connected with the lines of the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company of Washington and with the lines of the Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company.

The stations on this line include Alexandria, Arlington, Ash Grove, Bailey's Cross Roads, Ballston, Barcroft, Belaire, Bluemont, Chesterbrook, Clarendon, Chain Bridge, Colvin Run, Dunn Loring, Dranesville, East Falls Church, Fairfax, Fort Myer Heights, Glencarlyn, Hall's Hill, Herndon, Hamilton, Kenmore, Lewinsville, Langley, Leesburg, Merrifield, Oakton, Paeonian Springs, Purcellville, Round Hill, Rosslyn, Vienna, Wiehle, and West Falls Church. All stations are equipped with Long-Distance Metallic Circuit Telephones.

Mr. D. O. Munson

In addition to the telephone line Falls Church has two Western Union Telegraph offices besides two express offices.

CAMP ALGER. Falls Church has gained a national reputation within recent years by reason of the establishment near the village of the camp for volunteer soldiers at the outbreak of the Spanish-American War. This camp was one of several of the kind established in the Southern States for the purpose of organizing an army for the invasion of Spanish territory.

The farm of Mr. C. L. Campbell, about one and a half miles southwest of the village was selected by the War Department for the army corps to be assembled nearest Washington, and as soon as the contract was signed for the lease of the property, troops from fourteen States were hurried here as fast as recruited.

Mr. Henry Crocker Mr. E. F. Crocker

The first troops on the ground were the District of Columbia Volunteers. They were followed by those from Pennsylvania, and later came troops from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Kansas, Tennessee and Virginia, all forming the Second Army Corps of the Spanish-American War.

The Second Army Corps was made up of the troops assembled at Falls Church, to which Major General William M. Graham, U. S. V., was assigned by orders of May 16, 1898. General Graham assumed command May 23, 1898, announcing the official designation of the camp as "Camp Russell A. Alger."

Mr. G. W. Mankin

The strength of this army corps before the last of May consisted of 922 officers and 17,467 men. In June the number in camp was 1,103 officers and 26,002 men; in July the strength of the corps was 1,183 officers and 29,747 men. In August the corps consisted of 1,347 officers and 33,755 men, the highest number in this corps before disbandment at the end of the war.

By orders of May 24, the troops then on duty at this point were organized into a First Division composed of three brigades of three regiments each, and by orders of June 9, 1898, the Ninth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry and 33rd and 34th Michigan Volunteer Infantry were constituted a separate brigade.

On June 9th the separate brigade mentioned was assigned as the First Brigade, 3rd Division. On August 2, 1898, a second brigade was organized composed of the First Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, and the Third Virginia Volunteer Infantry.

The First Brigade, consisting of the Massachusetts and Michigan troops, left Camp Alger for Santiago de Cuba on June 22 and 24, 1898. Troops of the Second Brigade were returned to their States for muster out on September 7 and 8, 1898.

The tents of the provost guard pitched at the electric railway terminus at East End with pickets posted at various street corners made Falls Church appear like a town under martial law. Under all the circumstances the conduct of the troops was admirable. The homes of the citizens were thrown open to the soldiers doing picket duty in the village, and the ladies of the place vied with each other in contributing to the comfort of sick soldiers at the camp.

Mr. C. H. Buxton

The summer of 1898 was a most eventful one in Falls Church. No such stirring scenes had been witnessed here since the days of the civil war. Troop trains arriving or departing, drills at camp and practice marches through the town, martial music from many bands, reveille and taps, all contributed to impress the town folk with the fact that the country was at war.

FINANCES OF THE TOWN. The expenses of the town government for the year ending August 31, 1904, was $2,188.47. The assessed valuation of the town is $420,125, which is about 50 per cent of the real value. The tax levy for all purposes is six mills. The levy is divided as follows: For corporation purposes three mills; for school purposes three mills. The total receipts for fiscal year 1904 were $2,289.20.

There is no bonded indebtedness. A number of times propositions to bond the town for school or street purposes have been voted upon but each time the citizens have decided against incurring any bonded debt.

Mr. Summerfield Taylor

The following are the officers of the town government:

OFFICERS OF THE TOWN. George N. Lester, Mayor; Henry Crocker, Clerk; John N. Gibson, Sergeant; R. C. L. Moncure, Corporation Attorney. Members of Council: 1st ward, Elmer I. Crump, S. E. Thompson, G. A. Brunner; 2nd ward, E. A. Kimball, Geo. N. Lester, Geo. W. Hawxhurst; 3rd ward, Thomas Hillier; Wm. M. Ellison, H. C. Birge. Committees, Street Lamp Lighting: E. A. Kimball, Thos. Hillier, S. E. Thompson. Finance: Wm. M. Ellison, Chairman, H. C. Birge, Geo. W. Hawxhurst. Board of School Trustees: J. W. Brown, Chairman, R. J. Yates, Clerk, J. S. Riley.

HEALTH. In the matter of health Falls Church leads. Statistics obtained by the U. S. Census Bureau relating to the mortality rate show that out of 341 towns and cities from which returns were received the lowest death rate for the year ending May 31, 1900, was in St. Joseph, Mo., with 9.1 for each 1,000 inhabitants, followed by Portland, Oregon, 9.5, St. Paul, Minn., 9.7, and Minneapolis, Minn., 10.08. For the same period there were only 5 deaths in Falls Church, its population then being 1,007. The average annual death rate in Falls Church is about 9.5 per 1,000, only 57 deaths having occurred here between August 17, 1898 and September 2, 1904, a period of a little over six years.

Mr. A. P. Eastman

The death rate in the United States for 1900, according to census returns was 17.8 per 1,000, the rate in cities where such statistics were gathered being 18.6, and in rural districts 15.4.

For the purpose of comparison the death rate per 1,000 in the following cities as reported by the U. S. Census Bureau for 1900 will be of interest. Baltimore, Md., 21.0; New York, N. Y., 21.3; Washington, D. C., 22.8; Alexandria, Va., 24.2; Norfolk, Va., 25.2; Lynchburg, Va., 27.7; Richmond, Va., 29.7; Petersburg, Va., 31.1.

IDEAL COUNTRY HOMES. To the generosity of a nearby nurseryman the town is indebted for its wealth of trees. When the first streets were laid out Mr. D. O. Munson donated liberally from his nursery stock and to him is chiefly due the credit for the present attractive appearance of the tree-lined streets.

The conventional arrangement of the average suburban town has not been followed in laying out the streets of this village, and even the sinuous main avenue, lined on either side by a row of full grown maples, adds to its charm. Beyond the town to the westward the view of rolling plain and delightful wooded expanse greets the eye, and in the distance the smoky Sugar Loaf looms up to beckon one to mountain scenes. In an afternoon drive from the village to the south or west the lover of nature may find pleasure at every turn.

The healthfulness of Falls Church is proverbial, while its charming situation, accessibility to the city of Washington and the homelike tone pervading every part of its area have surprised and attracted all whose privilege it has been to visit here for the first time. The place to the tired city man can afford all the enjoyment of retirement and tranquillity. With an abundance of green lawns, well shaded walks and drives, pure water, churches, good schools and the necessary stores; what more could the seeker desire to complete his ideal of a country home.

Mr. Geo. F. Rollins

Possessing advantages imperfectly pictured herein, Falls Church welcomes the jaded fathers and mothers from the city to the place where children may enjoy life with nature, where the climate, conducive to refreshing sleep, soothes tired nerves and makes life to such again buoyant with youthful hopes and joys.

The Old Colonial Church.

The original church at the Falls is said to have been built in 1709. This is only tradition, as no satisfactory evidence has been obtained relating to its exact location or the date when first erected.

Court records establish the fact that there was a church on the present site of the Falls Church in 1746. On March 20th of that year John Trammell, in consideration of the sum of fifty shillings sterling, transferred, by deed of bargain and sale, to the Vestry of Truro Parish in Fairfax County a certain parcel of land containing two acres "where the Upper Church now is." John Trammell owned at that time the greater part of the land upon which the town of Falls Church is now situated. In June, 1745, he leased to Walter English his plantation of 244 acres "near the head of the north of Holmes' Run extending to Four Mile Run, excepting two acres for the use of the church."

Mrs. C. E. Mankin's Store

The vestry book of Truro Parish commences about 1732. This book is in the possession of Mr. H. H. Dodge, of Mt. Vernon, a vestryman of old Pohick Church. Through the courtesy of Mr. Dodge, the Editor was permitted to make a careful examination of its pages, and to copy from the minutes of the vestry meetings therein such entries as appeared to throw any light upon the early history of the Falls Church.

Some apparently trivial entries have been copied, such as the payment of a sexton's salary for a number of successive years, but the name of the sexton in such cases has an important bearing upon the subject, when it is not improbable that the churches indicated as the "Upper Church," the "New Church," etc., may be the church later designated as "The Falls Church."

Mr. Charles A. Stewart

In addition to religious matters, the duties of the church vestry in these early times embraced many secular affairs. Under the direction of the Parish Vestry tithes were collected from the land owners, and "processioners" were appointed by them to survey and establish all land boundaries within the parish. Such matters as related to the relief of the poor, the medical care of the sick, charges for burial of the dead, the maintenance of the blind, the lame, and the maimed, also of foundlings and vagrants, now looked after by the county government, were then a part of the duty of the vestry of each parish.

By a general law passed in the Colony in 1667, Act IV, 19th Charles II, the right was vested in the county courts, when expedient, to set aside and appropriate not more than two acres of land for church and burial purposes; ministers' salaries had been fixed the year before at 16,000 pounds of tobacco, or about $650.

As early as October, 1734, John Trammell was paid by the Vestry of Truro Parish 320 pounds of tobacco for grubbing a place for a new church, for which Robert Blackburn had drawn plans.

Mrs. Charles A. Mankin

In November of the following year, Thomas or James Bennitt was paid 150 pounds of tobacco as sexton of the New Church. Record of the payment of 400 pounds of tobacco to James Bennitt, Sexton of the New Church, appears under date of October 6, 1740, and again May 21, 1745. On the latter date the Vestry decided to build a church "at or near the spring nigh Mr. Hutchinson's on the mountain road ... with doors, windows & seats after the manner of the Upper Church." The deed from Andrew Hutchinson to the Vestry of Truro Parish for two acres of land upon which this new church was to be erected, recorded in Liber A. No. 1, page 464, Fairfax County Land Records, does not show this land to have been in the vicinity of Falls Church.

On October 12, 1747, the vestry records indicate that Mary Bennitt was sexton of the Upper Church, supposed to be the same which was called the New Church before this date, and that Wm. Grove was sexton of the more recently built church on the mountain road near Mr. Hutchinson's. Mary Bennitt's salary as sexton of the Upper Church was 400 pounds of tobacco until 1749, when it was increased to 460 pounds. Her salary was again raised to 560 pounds in 1752, and so continued until 1755, when James Palmer became sexton at "Falls Church," so designated in the records. James Palmer appears to have been succeeded by Gerard Trammell, the Vestry at a meeting held November 12, 1759, having allowed the latter 560 pounds of tobacco as sexton of Falls Church.

Mrs. Annie Eells

In February, 1749, the Vestry decided to build an addition to the "Upper Church," and the contract for the improvement was given to Charles Broadwater, Gent., who undertakes to complete the work by the laying of the next parish levy for the sum of 12,000 pounds of tobacco. Mr. Charles Broadwater was at that time one of the vestrymen, and among those present at the meeting were George Mason and the Rev. Charles Green. The vestry meeting held October 25, 1762, elected George Washington a Vestryman in place of Wm. Peake, Gent., deceased, and at the same meeting it was ordered that the sexton at Falls Church be allowed 560 pounds of tobacco for his services.

The Vestry of Truro Parish met on March 28, 1763, at the Falls Church. Those present were: Henry Gunnell, Wm. Payne, Jr., Church Wardens; John West, Wm. Payne, Charles Broadwater, Thomas Wren, Abraham Barnes, Daniel McCarty, Robert Boggers and George Washington.

"Eastover" Mr. Pickering Dodge

It appears that this meeting was called for the purpose of deciding whether to repair the old church, then greatly in decay, or to erect a new building. It would seem that the matter of abandonment of the site of the old church was also to be acted upon, and the erection of a new one in a more convenient place.

The Vestry decided that the old church was too dilapidated to repair, and resolved that a new church be built at the same place. It was ordered that the Clerk of the Vestry advertise in the Virginia and Maryland Gazettes for workmen to meet at the church on the 29th of August next following, to undertake the building of a brick church, to contain 1,600 feet on the floor, with a suitable gallery. The record of the vestry meeting of October 3, 1763, shows that 30,000 pounds of tobacco had been levied toward building Falls Church, and was to be sold by the Church Wardens for the best cash price obtainable. George Washington was not present at this meeting; but as an evidence of his interest in the contemplated improvements he copied in his diary under date of 1764 the advertisement published in the Maryland Gazette for "undertakers to build Falls Church."

Mr. W. A. Ball

The accounts of the Clerk of the Vestry at this date show Truro Parish credited with 1,807 tithables at 37 pounds of tobacco each, or a total of 66,859 pounds. The expenditures debited against this amount include 17,280 pounds of tobacco for salary of minister, 560 pounds each to the sexton at Pohick Church and Falls Church, 500 pounds to the sexton at Alexandria, 3,000 pounds to Clerk of Vestry, besides sundry payments toward the support of the indigent of the parish.

The record of the vestry meeting for Truro Parish April 26, 1765, states that Truro Parish has been divided from Colonel Washington's mill to John Monroe's and thence to Difficult Run, the upper parish being called Fairfax. The Parish of Fairfax in which was situated Falls Church or the "Upper Church" and Alexandria or the "Lower Church" was created February 1, 1765, by virtue of an Act passed the previous year, being the 4th George III. Falls Church was evidently the Parish Church, and Alexandria "The Chapel of Ease" as indicated by the comparative emoluments of the office of sexton.

Mr. T. B. Snoddy

Earnest efforts have been made to locate the Vestry Book of Fairfax Parish containing information relating to Falls Church after the division of Truro Parish in 1765. This book was in charge of the rector of Christ Church, Alexandria, at the outbreak of the civil war and is supposed to have been lost or destroyed.

A few facts relating to Falls Church have been gathered from an address delivered by the rector of Christ Church in 1873 upon the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the consecration of the latter church.

The Vestry elected for Fairfax Parish March 28, 1765, consisted of the following: John West, Charles Alexander, William Payne, John Dalton, George Washington, Charles Broadwater, George Johnston, Townsend Dade, Richard Sanford, William Adams, John Posey, Daniel French.

Rev. Townsend Dade, ordained by the Bishop of London in 1765, was the first minister of Christ Church, and it is presumed that as minister of the Parish he also officiated at the Falls Church. His salary was 17,280 pounds of tobacco, and 2,500 pounds were added to this for the deficiency of a glebe. He served as minister until 1778.

Dr. T. M. Talbott

In November, 1766, the Vestry ordered a levy to be made upon the inhabitants of the parish of 31,185 pounds of tobacco, for the purpose of building two new churches of brick; one at the Falls, the other at Alexandria.

The new brick church which the Vestry decided to erect in place of the old wooden structure was built, according to reliable information, by Mr. James Wren, for about 600 pounds sterling. Bishop Meade states in his book on old churches of Virginia, that a most particular contract was made for him as also for James Parsons, the contractor for the Alexandria church.

The mortar was to be two-thirds lime and one-third sand; the shingles were to be of the best cypress or juniper and three-quarters of an inch thick. The contract for building Falls Church called for a gallery, but this was never put in.

The Alexandria church was begun in 1767 by James Parsons, 600 pounds sterling being the contract price. Parsons failed to complete his contract and the building was finished for an additional sum of 220 pounds sterling by Col. John Carlyle, and formally delivered February 27, 1773.

Mr. C. L. Blanton

In 1770 a tract of about 500 acres was purchased from Daniel Jennings at 15 shillings per acre, and upon this in 1773 the Fairfax Vestry caused to be erected a glebe house, or rectory, with a dairy, meat house, barn, stable and corn house for 653 pounds sterling.

During the Revolutionary War, Falls Church is said to have been the recruiting headquarters of Col. Charles Broadwater, one of Fairfax's first patriots.

In 1775 there were in Virginia 95 parishes, 164 churches and chapels, and 91 clergymen. At the conclusion of the war for Independence only 72 parishes remained, and 34 of these had been deprived of ministerial help. Churches and chapels had gone to ruin; soldiers having turned them into barracks or stables.

In 1778 the Rev. Mr. Dade was succeeded as Parish minister by the Rev. Mr. West, who served for a few months, and he in turn was succeeded by Rev. David Griffith who it is recorded exercised his ministry with fidelity in his Parish, preaching both at Alexandria and at Falls Church from 1780 to 1789. He had been chaplain in the 3rd Virginia Regiment during the revolution and was to the time of his death, in 1789, a close personal friend of Washington.

Mr. Geo. W. Hawxhurst

From 1790 to 1792 Rev. Bryan Fairfax directed the affairs of Fairfax Parish, selecting for his assistant Rev. Bernard Page. Before the revolution, being an ardent royalist, he endeavored to dissuade from the war with the mother country his friend George Washington whose confidence and esteem he continued to enjoy to the last. Bryan Fairfax was the son of William Fairfax of Belvoir. He was ordained to the ministry in 1786 by Bishop Seabury. His title as Eighth Lord Fairfax was confirmed to him by the English House of Lords in 1800.

The civil functions of the Vestry ceased in 1784. Thereafter, in the struggle following the disestablishment, having to depend upon voluntary contributions, many churches succumbed.

It was about this period, or not long after the death of Dr. Griffith in 1789, that Falls Church was abandoned as a place of worship, fell into a state of dilapidation, and was not used for many years. Chiefly at the expense of Henry Fairfax, grandson of Rev. Bryan Fairfax, formerly its rector, the building was repaired and young Mr. Minor, as a lay reader, organized a congregation of worshippers.

Mr. W. W. Biggs

In 1827 Bishop Meade visited this church and the description of it in his book "Old Families and Churches of Virginia" will be of interest.

"The exercises of the Seminary being over, I next directed my steps to the Falls Church, so called from its vicinity to one of the falls on the Potomac River. It is about eight miles from Alexandria, and the same from Georgetown. It is a large oblong building, and like that near Mount Vernon, has two rows of windows, being doubtless designed for galleries all around, though none were ever put there. It was deserted as a house of worship by Episcopalians about forty years ago. About that period, for the first, and it is believed for the last time, it was visited by Bishop Madison. Since then it has been used by any who were disposed to occupy it as a place of worship, and the doors and windows being open, itself standing on the common highway, it has been entered at pleasure by travellers on the road and animals of every kind. Some years since, the attention of the professors of our Seminary, and of some of the students was drawn towards it, and occasional services performed there. This led to its partial repair."

Mr. C. C. Walters

Bishop Meade in this account of his visit to the old church states that he visited the same day an interesting school for young ladies at Capt. Henry Fairfax's where he delivered an address to the students. This school was located near Fairfax Court House. Mrs. Chichester, widow of the late Major John H. Chichester and a communicant at the present time of Falls Church, was a pupil of this seminary before the death of Capt. Fairfax, and recalls the incidents connected with his death in the Mexican War and his burial near the old church door 57 years ago.

From the time Bishop Meade preached in the old church in 1827 to the beginning of the war of 1861 much that might be of interest is lost with the records of the Parish.

The damage to the church by soldiers during the civil war was later repaired at the expense of the United States Government at a cost of about $1,300. None of its ancient furniture has been preserved, the gray stone urn-shaped baptismal font alone remaining.

Mr. J. W. Garner

The rectors of Falls Church since the civil war have been Bishop Horatio Southgate, Rev. John McGill, Rev. Frank Page, Rev. J. Cleveland Hall, Rev. R. A. Castleman, Rev. Dr. John McGill again, and the present rector Rev. George S. Somerville.

The present vestry book begins November 27, 1873. The vestrymen for the year 1904 are S. D. Tripp, S. W.; J. T. Unverzagt, J. W.; C. A. Marshall, Wm. E. Parker, A. H. Barbor, E. A. Ballard.

In connection with the name, it may be of interest to state that, previous to the Revolution, there being no bishop in Virginia, church buildings were not consecrated, generally being called after the parish in which situated, or from some other geographical name; hence the New Church, the Upper Church, the Falls Church. The simple name suggesting only its location as first bestowed upon the church near the Falls has now, after the lapse of years, become irrevocably fixed. Around it cluster so many memories of the early days that the name "Falls Church" must continue unchanged to the last.

Town Sergeant John N. Gibson

Extracts from Records of Vestry Meetings.

June 10, 1733:

Capt. Francis Aubrey, towards building the chapel above Goose Creek, 2,500 pounds of tobacco.

October 13, 1734:

To Mr. Robt. Blackburn, for his plans for building church, 16,750 pounds of tobacco.

To John Trammell, for grubbing a place for the church, 320 pounds of tobacco.

To Jos. Johnson, to read at the chapels, 1,300 pounds of tobacco.

November 18, 1735:

Jos. Johnson, Clk. of the New Church, 1,000 pounds of tobacco.

Thos. (?) Bennitt, sexton at the New Church, 150 pounds of tobacco.

Oliver Roe, sexton Pohick Church, 300 pounds of tobacco.

August 19, 1736:

At a Vestry held for Truro Parish this 19th day of August, 1736; present Jeremiah Bronaugh, Ch. Warden; Denis McCarty, Augustine Washington, Robt. Osborn, John Thurman, Wm. Godfrey, Jas. Baxter, and Thos. Lewis, Vestrymen.

Mr J. C. Elliott's Store

Mr. Cha. Green being recommended to this vestry by Capt. Augustine Washington as a person qualified to officiate as a minister in this parish, as soon as he shall receive orders from His Grace, the Bishop of London, to qualify himself for the same, it is, therefore,

Ordered by this Vestry that as soon as the said Green has qualified himself as aforesaid he be received and entertained as Minister of the said parish, and the said Vestry do humbly recommend said Cha. Green to the Right Honorable Thos. Lord Fairfax, for his letters of recommendation and presentation to his Grace, the said Lord Bishop of London, to qualify himself as aforesaid.

August 8,——:

At a vestry held for Truro Parish the 8th of August, for appointing processioners.

Ordered, That John Trammell and John Harle procession all the patented lands between Difficult Run and Broad Run, and that they perform the same sometime in the month of October or November, next, and report their proceedings according to law.

Ordered, That Anthony Hampton and Wm. Moore procession all the patented lands between Broad Run and the South Side of Goose Creek, as far as the fork of Little River, and that they perform the same sometime in the month of October or November, next, and report their proceedings according to law.

Miss Ada Rhodes

October 6, 1740:

Nicholas Carroll, sexton Pohick Church, 400 pounds of tobacco.

Jas. Bennitt, sexton at the New Church, 400 pounds of tobacco.

John Aubrey, sexton at Goose Creek, 400 pounds of tobacco.

May 21, 1745:

At a vestry held for Truro Parish, May 21, 1745, present Rev. Mr. Cha. Green, minister, and church wardens and vestrymen.

Ordered, that a church be built at or near the spring nigh Mr. Hutchinson's on the mountain road, of the following dimensions: 40 feet long, 32 feet wide and 13 feet pitch. To be weather boarded with ¾-inch feather-edge plank, quartered and beaded; shingled with 18-inch pine shingles; sawed frame, and frame work ceiled with quartered plank, beaded, and floored with 1¼-inch plank, with proper cornice under the eaves, with pulpit, desk, communion table, etc. With doors, windows & seats, after the manner of the Upper Church, and all the proper facings and mouldings; and window shutters, to be shingled with single tiers, weather boarded with eights, and filled with tens or brads; locks and hinges that are necessary for the same.

Ordered, That the Clerk of the Vestry prepare deeds for Mr. Andrew Hutchinson conveying two acres of land to this Parish for house of the Church to be built thereon, and church yard.

Hugh Thomas undertakes to complete the aforesaid church and to enclose it by the last day of October, next, and to finish and complete it by the last day of October, then next following, for 24,500 pounds of tobacco, to be paid him at two payments, and the clerk of the vestry is ordered to prepare articles of agreement and bond for the performance of the same.

CHA. GREEN, }

JOHN WEST, }

Ch. Wardens.

Teste:    { Wm. Henry Terrett,

{ Clk. Vestry.

October 12, 1747:

Philip Howell, sexton, Pohick, 400 pounds of tobacco.

Mary Bennitt, sexton, Upper Church, 400 pounds of tobacco.

Mary McDowell, sexton, Goose Creek, 400 pounds of tobacco.

Wm. Grove, sexton, New Church, 172 pounds of tobacco.

Mr. W. W. Kinsley

October 10, 1748:

Bennitt, clk., 1,200 pounds of tobacco. Wm. Chautneys, clk. at the New Church, 1,200 pounds of tobacco.

Mary Bennitt, sexton at Upper Church, 400 pounds of tobacco.

Alexander, sexton at Goose Creek, 400 pounds of tobacco.

Wm. Grove, sexton at New Church, 400 pounds of tobacco.

October 10, 1749:

Truro Parish divided.—Upper Parish called Cameron.

John Wiber Danty, clk. Upper Church, 1,000 pounds of tobacco.

Mary Bennitt, sexton, Upper Church, 460 pounds of tobacco.

Mr. H. A. Fellows

February 19, 1749-50:

Present: Rev. Mr. Cha. Green, Minister, Mr. Hugh West, Mr. Geo. Mason, Mr. Jas. Hamilton, Mr. Cha. Broadwater, Mr. Danl. McCarty, Wm. Payne, Abra. Barnes, Thos. Wren, Robt. Boggers, and John Turley;

Ordered: That an addition be built to the Upper Church according to the plan produced to the Vestry; and Cha. Broadwater, gent., undertakes to do the same and finish and complete it by the laying of the next parish levy, for the sum of 12,000 pounds of tobacco, which is then to be levied for him.

October 9, 1749:

John Wiber Danty, clk. at Upper Church, 1,000 pounds of tobacco.

Mary Bennitt, sexton, ditto, 460 pounds of tobacco.

Jacob Remy, for paling in the New Church, making horse blocks and tarring church, etc., our proportionable part, 1,950 pounds of tobacco.

Ordered: That the Vestry do meet the third Monday in February next, at the Glebe house, in order to see what repairs are wanted to it and the New Church, and the Church Wardens are ordered to give notice to workmen to appear there to undertake the work and also to repair the Pohick Church and the Vestry House.

October 8, 1750:

John Wiber Danty, clk. Upper Church, 1,000 pounds of tobacco.

Mary Bennitt, sexton Upper Church, 460 pounds of tobacco.

Residence of Mr. G. A. L. Merrifield

October 14, 1751:

John Wiber Danty, clk. Upper Church for 7 months attendance, 581 pounds of tobacco.

Mary Bennitt, sexton, Upper Church, 560 pounds of tobacco.

October 2, 1752:

John Wiber Danty, clk. Upper Church, 1,000 pounds of tobacco.

Mary Bennitt, sexton, Upper Church, 560 pounds of tobacco.

Ordered: That the clerk of the Upper Church read prayers every intervening Sunday, and that he be allowed 1,200 pounds of tobacco per annum for his salary.

Mr. Cha. Broadwater and Mr. Abraham Barnes are appointed Church Wardens for this parish for the ensuing year.

October 22, 1753:

Mary Bennitt, sexton at the Upper Church, 560 pounds of tobacco.

John Wiber Danty, clerk at the Upper Church, 1,100 pounds of tobacco.

November 22, 1754:

Wm. Donaldson, Clk. Upper Church, 1,000 pounds of tobacco.

Mary Bennitt, sexton at the Upper Church, 560 pounds of tobacco.

September 17, 1755:

Ordered: That the several tracts of land that have their beginnings between Hunting Creek and the Potomac, the road that leads from Aubrey's Ferry to the Upper Church, and the road that leads from Cameron to the Upper Church, be processioned sometime in the month of December, next, and that John Dalton, Thos. Harrison, John Hunter and Nathan'l Smith attend to see the same performed, and that they take an account of their proceedings therein and return the same to the next Vestry after the same shall be performed.

Cottage of Mr. G. A. L. Merrifield

November 27, 1755:

Wm. Donaldson, Clk. at Upper Church, 1,000 pounds of tobacco. James Palmer, sexton at Falls Church, 560 pounds of tobacco.

November 29, 1756:

Mr. Lumley, Clk. at Upper Church, 1,000 pounds of tobacco. James Palmer, sexton, Upper Church, 560 pounds of tobacco.

November 28, 1757:

Jas. Palmer, sexton at Falls Church, 560 pounds of tobacco.

November 27, 1758:

Jas. Palmer, sexton at Falls Church, 560 pounds of tobacco.

November 12, 1759:

Thos. Lewis, Clk. at Falls Church, 1,050 pounds of tobacco. Gerard Trammell, sexton, at Falls Church, 560 pounds of tobacco.

Mr. Frank M. Thompson

October 25, 1762:

Ordered that Geo. Washington, Esq., be chosen and appointed one of the Vestrymen of this parish in the room of Wm. Peake, gent., deceased.

Ordered that the sexton at Falls Church be allowed 560 pounds of tobacco.

October 3, 1763:

At a Vestry held for Truro Parish, October 3, 1763, present: Rev. Mr. Green, minister; Wm. Payne, jun'r., and Henry Gunnell, Ch. Wardens; Geo. Wm. Fairfax, Thos. Wren, Wm. Payne, Abra. Barnes, Cha. Broadwater, John West, and Geo. Mason, Vestrymen.

Mr. Thomas Hillier

Truro Parish.

Dr.,

Lbs. Tobacco

To Revd. Mr. Green, minister

17,280

Sexton at Pohick Church (Eliz Parce)

560

Sexton at Falls Church (Gerard Trammell)

560

Sexton at Alexandria (John Rhoads)

500

John Barry, Clk.

3,000

John West, Junr. Clk. Vestry

500

John West, Junr. Amt. for providing-Elem'ts etc.

1,200

Matthew Bradley, for support of his son

1,000

Jos. Wilson, towards support of himself and wife

500

Robt. Mills, towards his support

630

Elizabeth Palmer, for support of her idiot son,

(to be laid up for her use by Church Wrdns.)

1,000

John Posey, for 11 parish levies overchd. last year

242

Edwd. Bates, for his levies the two last years, (Tho' a Patroller)

48

Gerard Trammell, constable, one levy overchd. last year

22

Philip Trammell, patroller, one levy overchd. last year

22

Edwd. Bates, for his levies the two last years, (Tho' a Patroller)

48

Gerard Trammell, constable, one levy overchd. last year

22

Philip Trammell, patroller, one levy overchd. last year

22

Saml. Russell, towards his support until October, 1764

1,000

Eliza. Young, for boarding Charlotte Lindsay 2 mo.

1 £.  10 s.

Saml. Conner, for assistance to Saml. Russell

500

Hugh West, Deputy Atty. on acct.

913

Grafton Kirk, on acct.

600

Peter Waggner, Clk. Cur. on acct.

837

Peter Waggner, Clk. Cur. on acct.

837

Tobacco levied towards building Falls Church, to be sold for cash by the Church Wardens for the best price they can get

30,000

Dr. Jas. Lawrie for Mason and Jane Evans

4 £   7 s  6 d.

Dr. Jas. Lawrie for Eleanor Swallow

700

5 £   7 s  6 d.

Dr. Jas. Lawrie for Sparrow

0 £   7 s  5 d.

John Muir, on acct

3 £   17s  4½d.

————

————

61,614

15     9    10½

To Acct. of Collection of 61,614 lbs. tobc.

3,696

————

Total

65,310

To the fraction in collectors' hands

1,549

————

To the fraction in collectors' hands

66,859

————

Truro Parish Cr. by 1807 tithables at 37 lbs. tobc. on acct. poll

66,859

————

Mr. J. S. Riley

Ordered: That the Clerk of the Vestry proportion the parish levy when he shall receive the list of tithables.

Ordered: That Geo. Wm. Fairfax, & Geo. Washington, Esqs., be appointed Church Wardens for the ensuing year.

Ordered: That the Vestry meet at Alexandria on the third Tuesday in March, next, in order to agree with workmen to undertake the building a church at or near the old Falls Church, and that the Church Wardens advertise the same in the Virginia and Maryland Gazettes, to be continued six weeks, and that it will be then expected of each workman to produce a plan and estimate of the expense.

CHA. GREEN,}

G. W. FAIRFAX.}C. W.

Truly Recorded:

Teste—John West, junr.,

Cl. Vestry.

Mr. O. H. Billingsley

March 28, 1763:

At a Vestry of Truro Parish held at the Falls Church March 28, 1763; present: Henry Gunnell, Wm. Payne, jr., Ch. Wardens; John West, Wm. Payne, Chas. Broadwater, Thos. Wren, Abra. Barnes, Dan'l McCarty, Robt. Boggers, and Geo. Washington; who being there met to examine into the state of the said church, greatly in decay and want of repair, and likewise whether the same shall be repaired or a new one built, and whether at the same place or removed to a more convenient one, and likewise to view the addition built by Mr. Chas. Broadwater, and what he hath been deficient in the work.

Resolved: It is the opinion of this Vestry that the Old Church is rotten and unfit for repair, but that a new church be built at the same place.

Mr. A. O. Von Herbulis

Resolved: That Jas. Wren and Owen Williams do view the work to be done by Mr. Broadwater on the new addition, that is, the price of glazing three windows, plaistering the said house, together with the materials necessary for the same, and make report to the next Vestry.

Ordered: That the Clerk of the Vestry advertise in the Virginia and Maryland Gazettes for workmen to meet at the church on the 29th day of August, next, if fair, if not the next fair day, to undertake the building of a brick church to contain 1,600 feet on the floor, with a suitable gallery & bring plan of the church and price, according to the same.

Ordered: That the Church Wardens employ workmen to repair the windows of the north side & the east end of the old church & repair the shutters of the new addition.

HENRY GUNNELL,

WM. PAYNE.

(N. B.) This Vestry was held when I was sick and could not attend—above orders were sent as above, signed by Messrs. Gunnell and Payne, and I thought fit to record the same, tho in point of time it should have been before the last one.

JOHN WEST, junr.

Mr. Andrew M. Smith

April 26, 1765:

Vestry records of this date state that Truro Parish had been divided from Col. Washington's mill to John Monroe's and thence to Difficult Run, the upper parish called Fairfax.

February 3, 1766:

In the record of a Vestry meeting held for Truro Parish at Wm. Gardner's the 3rd and 4th of February, 1766, is the following: It appearing from an order of the Vestry bearing date the 25th day of March, 1763, that there was a deficiency in the work which ought to have been done on the Falls Church, by Mr. Chas. Broadwater, and that persons were appointed to view the same and report and no report appearing upon the records of this parish, it is ordered that the Church Wardens do inquire into the same and report accordingly. [Geo. Washington was present at this meeting. Ed.]

Major Jos. T. Hiett

July 10, 1766:

At a Vestry held for Truro Parish July 10, 1766, Mr. Edward Payne, one of the Church Wardens, having reported to this Vestry that he had applied to the persons formally appointed to view the work which ought to have been done on the Falls Church by Mr. Chas. Broadwater, and that they denied having any order to view the same and refused to concern themselves;

Ordered: That Thos. Price do view the work done to the Falls Church and report what deficiency appears in the same, and that Mr. Edward Payne do apply to the Vestry of Fairfax Parish to appoint a workman to view the same and that the said do report as aforesaid, and that Mr. Edward Payne attend the viewing on behalf of this parish and to apply to the said Vestry to appoint one of their members to attend the same on behalf of their parish.

February 23, 1767:

At a Vestry held for Truro Parish at the Glebe the 23rd day of February, 1767, at which Geo. Washington was present, it was ordered: A report being made to this Vestry by Jas. Wren and Thos. Price, two workmen empowered by a formal order of this Vestry to view the work done to the Falls Church and to report what deficiency appeared in the same, etc., by which report there appears to be a deficiency of 9 £ 14 s. 6 p.

Ordered: That the Church Wardens of this parish apply to Maj. Chas. Broadwater, the undertaker of said work, for the said sum, and account with the Vestry of Fairfax Parish for their proportion of the same when it is received.

Ordered: That a Vestry House be built at the New Church of the dimensions and in manner following * * (Capt. Ed. Payne agreeing with the Vestry to build said house).

Mr. George Stambaugh

September 9, 1768:

At a Vestry held for Truro Parish September 9, 1768, at which Geo. Washington was present, the following entries appear:

That the Vestry being convened at the New Church in order to view and examine the work, and having done so do find the same completed and finished according to the articles of agreement between Capt. Ed. Payne, the undertaker * * *

Ordered: That Col. Geo. Mason pay him the sum of 193 pounds out of the money in his hands belonging to the parish the same being the last payment due to the said Payne, for the said church. (This was probably known as Payne's Church; the church near the Fairfax C. H.)

November 28, 1768:

At a Vestry held for Truro Parish November 28, 1768, at which Geo. Washington was present, it was ordered: That Geo. Washington, Esq., pay to Alex. Henderson the sum of £. 8, being the balance of £ 9 14 s., 6 p., received from Maj. Chas. Broadwater for a deficiency on the Falls Church.

February 24, 1784:

At a Vestry held for Truro Parish at Colchester, the 22nd day of February, 1784, John Gibson, gent., is elected for a member of this Parish in the room of his Excellency General Washington, who has signified his resignation in a letter to Dan'l McCarty, esq.

Falls Church in the Civil War.

The Old Church from a war-time Photograph

In May, 1861, the Union troops moved into Virginia and occupied Arlington Heights and Alexandria. On June 1 an engagement at Fairfax Court House between a company of Union cavalry and Confederate troops resulted in the loss of six Union and twenty Confederate soldiers. The Union forces under General McDowell occupied the town of Fairfax about the middle of July, inaugurating the first Bull Run Campaign. The battle of Bull Run was fought July 21, 1861.

After the first battle of Bull Run, a systematic plan for the defense of the National Capital began to take shape. At that time the commanding heights four miles west of Alexandria and six miles from Washington were occupied by the Confederates, Falls Church being the headquarters of General Longstreet.

In October, 1861, the hills were again taken possession of by the Union troops. The system of works for the defense of Washington on the south began with Fort Willard below Alexandria, and terminated with Fort Smith opposite Georgetown, comprising in all twenty-nine forts and eleven supporting batteries, besides Forts Ethan Allen and Marcy at the Virginia end of Chain Bridge, with their five batteries of field guns.

Mr. Charles A. Marshall

Falls Church was the most advanced post of General McDowell's corps, when on August 3, 1861, a correspondent of Harper's Weekly writing from here to that paper described the old Church as it appeared at the beginning of the Civil war as follows:

"On this page we illustrate Fall's Church, Fairfax County, Virginia, from a sketch by our special artist with General McDowell's 'corps d'armee.' This is the most advanced post of our army in Fairfax County, and has been the scene of several picket skirmishes. Falls Church was built in 1709, and rebuilt, as an inscription on the wall informs us, by the late "Lord" Fairfax, whose son, the present "Lord" Fairfax, is supposed to be serving in the rebel army. The title of "Lord," we may observe, is still given to the representative of the family. The inscription on the old church reads as follows:

'Henry Fairfax, an accomplished gentlemen, an upright magistrate, a sincere Christian, died in command of the Fairfax Volunteers at Saltillo, Mexico, 1847. But for his munificence this church might still have been a ruin.'

Service was held in the old church two Sundays since, Rev. Dr. Mines, Chaplain of Second Maine Regiment, officiating, and most of the troops in the neighborhood being present."

Mr. John S. Garrison

Captain Henry Fairfax, to whose memory the tablet alluded to was placed in the old church, was a graduate of West Point. At the outbreak of the Mexican War, he organized a company called the Fairfax Volunteers sailing to Mexico with the regiment of Virginia volunteers under command of Colonel John F. Hamtramck. Upon arriving in Mexico, Captain Fairfax fell a victim to the climate and died at Saltillo, August 16, 1847. His body was brought home and buried near the church he loved so well, and it is thought that the grave which may be seen in the foreground of the war-time picture of the church on page 62 may be his. The tablet to his memory has long since been destroyed, and every vestige of his tombstone has disappeared, but nature, not forgetting his generous gifts to the old church, has sent up a spire-shaped cedar to mark his grave. Colonel Hamtramck died April 21, 1858, at Shepardstown, Va.

Mr. F. A. Niles

The damage to the old church, according to one of the oldest citizens of the town, Mr. George B. Ives, was done by a company of Union cavalry on picket duty under command of a captain of the regular army. He permitted his men to tear out the floor of the church and use it for a stable. The building might have been damaged beyond repair had it not been for Mr. Ives and the late Mr. John Bartlett, who reported the matter to General Augur, the Military Governor of this district, by whose orders the captain was arrested and further desecration prevented.

About three miles from Falls Church, on the Alexandria turnpike, is Bailey's Cross Roads, where in November, 1861, President Lincoln reviewed the Union forces preparatory to the Peninsular Campaign.

The story of the most important events occurring during those stormy times around the old Colonial church is best told by the "Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies," extracts from reports therein following:

Dr. T. C. Quick

SKIRMISH AT MUNSON'S HILL AUGUST 31, 1861.

Report of Colonel Geo. W. Taylor, 3rd N. J. Infantry, dated September 2, 1861.

GENERAL: The pickets of the enemy having for some time been extremely annoying to outposts on Little River Turnpike and on the road leading from thence to Chestnut Hill, I decided on making a reconnaissance in person with a small force with the view of cutting them off. Accordingly I marched with 40 men, volunteers from 2 companies of my regiment, on the morning of Aug. 31, at 3 a. m., and keeping to the woods arrived soon after daylight at or near the point, a little beyond, at which I desired to strike the road and cut them off.

Miss Ellen W. Green

Here we were obliged to cross a fence and a narrow corn field where the enemy, who had doubtless dogged our approach through the woods, lay in considerable force.

While in the corn we were suddenly opened upon by a rapid and sharp fire which our men, whenever they got sight of the enemy, returned with much spirit. Scarce two minutes elapsed when I found 3 men close to me had been shot down. The enemy being mostly hid, I deemed it prudent to order my men to fall back to the woods, distant about 30 yards, which I did.

At the same time I ordered enough to remain with me to carry off the wounded, but they did not hear or heed my order except two. With these we got all off, as I supposed, the corn being thick, but Corporal Hand, Co. 1, who, when I turned him over, appeared to be dying. I took his musket, also the musket of one of the wounded and returned to the woods to rally the men. I regret to say that none of them could be found, nor did I meet them until I reached the blacksmith shop, three-quarters of a mile distant.

Here I found Capt. Regur, Company I, with his command. Re-enforcing him with 25 men of the picket, then in charge of Capt. Vickers, 3rd regiment N. J. volunteers, with the latter he immediately marched back to bring in Corporal Hand, and any others still missing. He reports that on reaching the ground, he found the enemy in increased force, and did not re-enter the corn field, in which I think he was justified. I should have stated that quite a number of the enemy were in full view in the road when we jumped the fence and charged them, and that each man in the charge, Capt. Regur leading by my side, seemed eager to be foremost; nor did one to my knowledge flinch from the contest until my order to fall back to the woods, which fortunately they misconstrued into a continuous retreat to our pickets. The enemy seemed to have retreated very soon after, as the firing had ceased before I left.

Mr. Jno. D. Payne

The 3 wounded men are doing well except one. As near as I can ascertain there were 3 of the enemy shot down.

The whole affair did not last 10 minutes.

The officers with me were Capt. Regur, Co. I, 1st Lieut. Taylor and 2d Lieut. Spencer, both of the same company.

All of which I have the honor, respectfully to report.

GEO. W. TAYLOR,

Colonel, 3rd Regiment N. J. Volunteers

BRIG. GEN. P. KEARNY,

Commanding Brigade.

The Rectory—Rev. George S. Somerville

Sept. 12, 1861: Longstreet states that Colonel Stuart has been at Munson Hill since its occupation by the Confederate troops; that he had driven the enemy from Mason's, Munson's and Upton's Hills.

Sept. 25, 1861: Reconnaissance at Lewinsville and skirmish near that place with Stuart's cavalry. Union force 5,100 infantry, 16 pieces of artillery and 150 cavalry, under Brig. Gen. Wm. F. Smith, commanding at Chain Bridge.

Sept. 25, 1861: Report of General J. E. Johnston, Headquarters Army of Potomac to Secretary of War, Richmond, states that an advance guard of 11 regiments of infantry and Colonel Stuart's calvary is stationed at Falls Church, Munson's and Mason's Hills, at Padgett's and at Springfield Station on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad in a strong defensive position.

Dr. L. E. Gott

Sept. 28, 1861: Affair at Munson's Hill, near Vanderburg's House. Union force attacked at night on march to Poolesville. Lieut. Col. Isaac J. Wistar, Commanding California Regiment, reported 4 killed and 14 wounded.

Nov. 16, 1861: In General Orders No. 45, Headquarters Army of Potomac, Major General McClellan gave Fort on Upton's Hill name of Fort Ramsay.

Nov. 18, 1861: Skirmish on road from Falls Church to Fairfax Court House, about a mile south of Falls Church, between a detachment of 1st Va. Cavalry under Lieut. Col. Fitz Lee, and 14th N. Y. S. M., under Lt. Col. E. B. Fowler. Union loss 2 killed, 1 wounded, 10 missing. Confederate loss, Private Tucker killed and John C. Chichester, Lee's guide, mortally wounded; 2 slightly wounded. Col. Lee's horse killed under him during action.

Sept. 2, 1862: Skirmish near Falls Church. F. J. Porter, Major General Commanding, Headquarters Army Corps, Hall's Hill, in his report to General Marcy states that a battery supported by cavalry suddenly appeared on Barnett's Hill and opened fire upon Pleasanton at Falls Church, while dismounted cavalry fired upon and killed 3 of his mounted pickets, who, armed only with sabers and pistols, could not contend with the enemy protected by timber. Pleasanton replied with his battery but the shots fell very short. The enemy supposed to have come from direction of Hunter's Mill returned toward Vienna. He states that the country beyond his picket lines affords every facility for such attacks, and that the commanding general must expect them to be frequent so long as the enemy continues in large force in his front and wishes to divert attention from other movements, that from the opposite hills his camp and movements are open to view of the enemy.

Mr. R. J. Yates

Sept. 4, 1862: Brig. Gen'l A. Pleasanton from his camp near Fort Albany, Va., in his report to Brig. Gen. R. B. Marcy, chief of staff, written at 5 a. m., states that he is about to be off with the sixth cavalry and two other companies for Falls Church where he expects to make his headquarters and from whence he will scout as directed. He suggests that the telegraph be extended to Falls Church and asks that supplies for his command be forwarded by railroad to a point opposite Falls Church.

Mr. S. A. Copper

At 8:30 a. m., his message states that from reports received by him, the impression is that the enemy is going to cross the Potomac at Walker's Landing.

At 12: 45 p. m., he reports from Falls Church that the enemy's advanced pickets, on the Leesburg and Georgetown turnpike are three-fourths of a mile this side of Difficult Creek, and that a regiment of Mississippi cavalry, the Jeff Davis Legion, is at the bridge over the creek.

At 1:30 p. m., from Falls Church his dispatch to the chief of staff states that the squadron on the Vienna road reports the enemy to be approaching from that direction in some force; that one of his men had been badly wounded in a skirmish. Gives it as his opinion that the enemy is only making a show of force to conceal his movements on the upper Potomac.

Sept. 4, 1862: Major General F. J. Porter from Headquarters Fifth Army Corps at Hall's Hill, sends a message at 4:30 p. m., to Major Gen'l McClellan stating that Gen'l Morell from Minor's Hill reports that the enemy has begun an attack on the Union pickets, with artillery, infantry and cavalry.

Mrs. J. L. Auchmoody

Sept. 4, 1862: At 6:45 p. m., from Upton's Hill, Brig. Gen'l J. D. Cox, commanding division, makes the following report to A. V. Colburn, Ass't Adjutant General:

"The firing upon General Pleasanton's command was from, possibly, three pieces of light artillery. The small-arm fighting was confined to the head of the enemy's column, deployed as skirmishers, with some dismounted men or infantry, it is not certain which. The pickets of Pleasanton's command, Eight Illinois and Eight Pennsylvania Cavalry, skirmished with them. We lost 2 men shot. The force of the enemy did not come beyond the edge of the woods, one and a half or 2 miles above Falls Church, and no large numbers were actually seen. The reports sent by General Pleasanton were necessarily those brought in by his men. A regiment of cavalry, with two light pieces, rapidly handled, would account for all the demonstration I could see with my glass, but there may have been more. General Pleasanton's cavalry being ordered away, we shall not have cavalry to scout the country till General Buford arrives. Scouts report all quiet toward Fairfax and Little River pike."

Mr. Samuel Luttrell

Aug. 16, 1863: Skirmish at Falls Church; no circumstantial reports on file.

June 23-24, 1864: Skirmishes near Falls Church and Centreville, Va. Extract from report of Col. Charles R. Lowell, Jr., 2nd Mass. Cavalry, commanding cavalry brigade. Headquarters cavalry brigade near Falls Church, Va., June 24, 1864.

A patrol from the camp of 16th N. Y. Cavalry consisting of 4 men was fired upon last evening between the pike and the railroad by a party of about 10 men and 2 of the patrol captured; the other two brought word to Annandale, and Col. Lazelle sent out a party of 40 men under Lieut. Tuck, 16th N. Y. Cavalry in search of attacking party. Party halted one and a half miles beyond Centreville to feed. Party of about 60 of the the enemy dashed in upon them. Men demoralized and panic stricken scattered in all directions. Lieut. Tuck only one as yet, 6 p. m., who has reached camp; remainder either wounded, prisoners, or straggling. After Tuck had been sent out a citizen reported to Col. Lazelle that he had been stopped by Mosby last evening near Centreville and detained under guard till morning, and that he had seen small parties numbering about 100 men. Col. Lazelle, upon receiving this information, sent out 150 men to support Tuck under Major Nicholson. This party started at 8 a. m. At 2 p. m., Tuck returned, reporting attack as above at 11 a. m. He was started by Col. Lazelle with a party of 15 men to overtake party of 150 and put them on trail. Major Forbes with 100 men and ambulances has been sent out this evening to place of surprise to pick up stragglers and any wounded, and support Major Nicholson if Mosby's force is reported more than 60 men.

Mrs. C. Larner

June 25, 1864, 11 a. m.: Major Forbes just returned from Centreville and a clearer account of affairs can be given. Mosby with 200 men came down Thursday evening to near Union Mills and an iron gun drawn by 6 horses. Squad of Kincheloe's men took 2 of Col. Lazelle's patrol. Mosby returned to Union Mills Friday morning and marched his column back through Centreville about 10:30 a. m. Tuck's men feeding horses on newly cut hay, men in cherry trees, some asleep, one picket sitting on fence.

Mosby learned of Tuck and sent part of his men rapidly on. Shot man on post, causing panic among the rest.

Mr. W. H. Barksdale

July 18-21, 1864: Scout from Falls Church, Va. Col. Henry M. Lazelle, 16th N. Y. Cavalry commanding brigade, writing under date of July 21, 1864, from headquarters cavalry brigade near Falls Church, Va., to Lieut. Col. J. H. Taylor, Assistant Adjutant General and chief of staff, reports return to camp of a portion of a party of 10 men sent under charge of 2d Lieut. Gray, 13th N. Y. Cavalry on Monday evening last. About 4 o'clock a. m. to-day, while between Sangsters and Fairfax Station was ambuscaded by a party of from 50 to 60; loss 5 men taken prisoners and 7 horses.

Mr. Wm. B. Wright

Churches and Societies.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. One of the most attractive church edifices in the village of Falls Church is the Presbyterian Church, a picture of which is shown on page 5.

It was built in 1884, being formally dedicated in October of that year. The building now used by the Sunday School of the church, which was built before the civil war by Dr. Simon J. Groot, as a hall for religious and secular public meetings, was purchased and formally dedicated as a church November 20, 1866.

Since that date the pastors have been Rev. H. P. Dechert, who resigned in 1870, Rev. David H. Riddle, Rev. D. L. Rathbun and Rev. R. A. Davison, D. D.

The Rev. Mr. Riddle's pastorate extended over a period of seventeen years, and it was during his term that the present handsome stone church was built.

The Rev. Mr. Rathbun was pastor from 1890 to 1900.

Mr. J. W. Seay

The church has a large membership and the congregation continues to increase.

The Sunday School connected with the church, of which Mr. E. C. Hough is Superintendent, is one of the largest in the village.

DULIN CHAPEL M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH. After the close of the war of 1861-65 the Methodists of Falls Church found themselves without a house of worship, the church in which they had formerly worshipped having been destroyed by soldiers of the Union Army while encamped close by. For a time they held services in the "Old Falls Church," the present Episcopal Church of the town until some of the leading members, desirous of having a house of worship of their own, took steps towards the erection of the present building near the site of their old church, among them being the late H. W. Febrey, John E. Febrey, B. F. Shreve, Jos. E. Birch and Wm. Dulin.

Mr. Wm. Dulin gave the site and soon there was erected thereon a church which was dedicated in the spring of 1869. The parsonage was built a few years later. The church as first built was remodeled in 1893. The church officers are as follows: W. H. Torreyson, W. H. Shreve, R. W. Birch, W. S. Tucker, W. M. Ellison, Trustees; W. H. Shreve, F. L. Birch, J. H. Brunner, E. J. Febrey, W. M. Ellison, Stewards.

Mr. J. H. Wells

COLUMBIA BAPTIST CHURCH. Columbia Baptist Church was organized in 1857 by Rev. Hiram Reed, and up to the beginning of the civil war had about 300 enrolled on the church books as active members.

Services were discontinued during the war and the church used as a hospital by the Union troops. Later it was used as a public school for a number of years prior to 1870. In that year the State Mission Board sent the Rev. W. S. O. Thomas to reopen the church as a place of worship. Rev. Mr. Thomas was succeeded by Rev. Hugh McCormick, now in Porto Rico.

The Mission Board assisted the church liberally in a financial way up to the time Rev. Mr. McCormick assumed charge, since which time the congregation has been self-supporting.

The following pastors have occupied the pulpit for various terms since the church was first organized: Rev. Hiram Reed, Rev. Hugh McCormick, Rev. George E. Truitt, Rev. G. W. T. Noland, Rev. J. B. Clayton, Rev. J. T. Barbor, Rev. J. W. Kincheloe and Rev. A. W. Graves.

Mr. M. H. Brinkerhoff

The church at this time has a membership of 103 and is in a more prosperous condition than at any time since the war.

The officers of the church are: Deacons: E. J. Galpin, Thomas Hillier, Frank Williams. Clerk, Thomas Hillier; Treasurer, Mrs. Geo. W. Hawxhurst; Trustees, E. J. Galpin, Geo. F. McInturff, Elijah Berry.

The Sunday School has about forty scholars on the rolls, the officers of which are: Mr. R. S. Ilsley, Superintendent, Mr. Van Quick, Assistant Superintendent, Miss Emma Seaman, Organist.

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. The First Congregational Church of Falls Church, Va., was organized and duly recognized by Council May 30, 1876, the Congregational Society having first been organized in October, 1875.

Services were held in the Baptist Church up to 1879 when the present attractive church building was erected. It is of Gothic design, with main audience room seating 300, and a Sunday School room in the rear. A fine toned bell was purchased in 1881.

Mrs. A. V. Piggott

At its organization 25 members united in forming the church. At that time it was thought by some that another church in such a small town would result in dissension among the Christian people. Such was not the intention of this church. At its first annual meeting a resolution was unanimously adopted expressing "good wishes toward every church of Christ in this place, and its readiness and desire to co-operate with them in every good work." The other churches responded in a Christian spirit, and the pastors and churches of this town have always cordially worked together in the cause of the Master.

The first minister engaged by the Society was Rev. J. W. Chickering, Jr. The first regular pastor of the church was Rev. L. B. Platt, who supplied the pulpit from November, 1877 to July, 1880, followed by Rev. A. L. Park, November, 1881 to December, 1882. Rev. Wm. W. Jordan, May, 1883 to October, 1885. Rev. F. W. Tuckerman, September, 1886 to May, 1890. Rev. R. E. Eels, acting pastor, February, 1891 to December, 1891. Rev. J. H. Jenkins, January, 1893 to July, 1897. Rev. Arsene Schmavonian, May, 1899 to May, 1901. Rev. Franklin Noble, the present minister was called to the church December, 1901.

Mr. G. B. Ives

The following are the officers of the church: Trustees, Geo. F. Rollins, M. H. Brinkerhoff, Geo. W. Poole; Treasurer, Dr. J. B. Gould; Clerk, Frank H. Eastman; Superintendent Sunday School, Miss Gertrude Nourse. Deacons: Geo. F. Rollins, G. A. L. Merrifield and Albert P. Eastman. Deaconesses: Mrs. Albert P. Eastman and Mrs. Helen C. Raymond.

ST. JAMES ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. St. James Roman Catholic Church, Falls Church, of which Rev. Father Tierney is Pastor, was built in 1902 and is one of the finest specimens of Gothic architecture in Northern Virginia. It is built of Virginia sand stone taken from a quarry near the village.

The old church, a wooden structure built about 26 years ago, had become too small for the growing congregation, and through the munificence of Mrs. Thomas Ryan of New York City, the present handsome and imposing edifice was erected at a more convenient point.

Mr. Nathan Lynch

Father Tierney has been in charge of this parish for about ten years and under his ministration the church has grown in numbers and influence, the membership at present being about 325.

The church and parsonage was designed and built under the supervision of Mr. A. O. Von Herbulis, an architect of wide reputation and a resident of this village.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The Methodist Episcopal Church, situated on Washington Street, was built in 1875 chiefly through the aid of the late Isaac Crossman. He donated the site for the building and later contributed liberally to its support.

Rev. D. C. Hedrick is the present pastor, to whom the congregation has become much attached during the brief time he has been stationed here. The following are the officers of the church: Trustees, J. M. Thorne, M. E. Church, W. Y. Swiggett, S. S. Luttrell, W. W. Biggs, V. E. Kerr, Henry Crocker, and Geo. G. Crossman; Stewards, M. E. Church, J. M. Thorne and W. Y. Swiggett.

Mrs. Mary G. Sims

CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR SOCIETY. Meets every Sunday at 6:15 p. m., at the Presbyterian Chapel. Officers: A. M. Smith, President; Miss Raydelle B. Shaw, Vice President; Jesse Varcoe, Secretary; Miss Emma Seaman, Corresponding Secretary; Milton Thorne, Treasurer.

EPWORTH LEAGUE OF THE M. E. CHURCH. President, W. W. Biggs; Vice Presidents, Miss Ida N. Ball, Mrs. V. E. Kerr; Mrs. M. H. Luttrell, Dr. S. S. Luttrell, Miss Pearl Luttrell; Secretary, Walter S. Kerr; Treasurer, Mrs. J. M. Thorne; Organist, Miss Pearl Luttrell.

JEFFERSON INSTITUTE. Enrollment session 1904-5 147. Principal, Prof. E. C. Sine; Teachers, Miss Fannie Weadon, Miss Ruth Dyer, Miss Ida N. Ball.

OAKWOOD CEMETERY. Oakwood Cemetery is beautifully situated in the Eastern part of the town on the site of the old Methodist Church. It contains about 5 acres enclosed with a neatly trimmed evergreen hedge. The officers of the cemetery association are Wm. N. Febrey, President; E. J. Northrup, Secretary; G. A. L. Merrifield, Treasurer; M. E. Church, Superintendent.

Mr. A. E. Rowell

KEMPER LODGE NO. 64, A. F. & A. M. Chartered December 3, 1896. Meets second and fourth Fridays in each month. Membership about 60. Officers: W. A. Ball, W. M.; A. H. Barbor, S. W.; J. R. Hagan, J. W. Past Masters: John H. Fisher, M. E. Church, G. T. Mankin, Dr. Geo. B. Fadeley, Dr. T. C. Quick, Geo. M. Newell.

THE INDEPENDENT ORDER OF GOOD TEMPLARS. Pioneer Lodge No. 1 of Good Templars was organized on April 27, 1887. This lodge meets every Tuesday night at Odd Fellows Hall. The lodge has a membership of eighty-five in good standing. The object of the order is prohibition of the liquor traffic by the will of the people, and no saloons have been allowed here for over thirty years, largely attributable to Pioneer Lodge which keeps public sentiment alive on the subject. The present officers of the lodge are: Henry Hawxhurst, Chief Templar; Jesse Varcoe, Past Chief Templar; Miss Laura Summers, Secretary; George W. Hawxhurst, Financial Secretary; Mrs. J. H. Garretson, Treasurer; J. H. Marr, Marshal; Miss Raydelle B. Shaw, Chaplain; Miss Catharine Foley, Vice Templar; G. C. Kesterson, Guard; Walter Kerr, Sentinel; Mrs. M. M. Erwin, Organist; J. H. Garretson, Lodge Deputy; Geo. W. Hawxhurst, Superintendent of Juveniles.

Falls Church is also headquarters of the Grand Lodge of the State. Since 1887 the office of Grand Secretary has been located here, Mr. George W. Hawxhurst, who has filled the office for the past thirty-two years, being a resident of the town.

Dr. S. S. Luttrell

VIRGINIA STATE AUDUBON SOCIETY. The Virginia State Audubon Society was organized at Falls Church, September 29, 1903. The objects of the society are to protect our native birds, to discourage the buying and wearing for ornamental purposes of the feathers of all birds other than the ostrich and domesticated fowls, and to promote a popular interest in bird study. The present officers are: President, John B. Henderson; 1st Vice President, Wm. C. Pennywitt; 2nd Vice President, Nathan Banks, and Secretary-Treasurer, E. C. Hough. Regular members pay $1.00 a year as dues. Children under 16 pay no dues but sign pledge cards agreeing not to harm birds or their eggs. The society has had printed for free distribution a digest of the recent game law.

Oakwood Cemetery

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS. Falls Church Lodge No. 11, I. O. O. F., was organized October 24, 1890, and has a membership of seventy-four. The lodge owns its hall, a large brick structure, located near the corner of Broad and Little Falls streets, in the center of the town. The building which was erected in 1891 contains a handsome lodge room on the second floor and a spacious public room on the first floor. The order makes a specialty of giving attention to its members during sickness and pays funeral expenses on death. The lodge numbers among its members some of the most influential citizens of the town. Its present officers are as follows: John D. Payne, N. G.; T. O. Marr, V. G.; J. H. Garretson, Sec'y; J. H. Brunner, F. S.; George W. Hawxhurst, Treasurer; Rev. W. H. Wolffe, Chaplain; Dr. Geo. B. Fadeley, R. S. to N. G.; Thomas Hillier, L. S. to N. G.; Geo. A. Brunner, S. P. G.; W. H. Nowlan, R. S. to V. G.; C. F. Newman, L. S. to V. G.; Ray Marcey, O. G.; Walter Marcey, I. G.; W. Maben, Warden; Webster Donaldson, R. S. S.; Chauncey Seay, L. S. S.; T. S. Luckett, Conductor.

R. E. LEE CHAPTER DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY. This chapter was organized in June, 1898. Its object is to assist needy widows and orphans of Confederate soldiers. The chapter has 43 members, the officers for the present term being as follows: President, Mrs. G. J. Head; Vice President, Mrs. George G. Bolling; Secretary, Mrs. A. H. Barbor; Treasurer, Miss Nellie Green; Historian, Mrs. Jonas Unverzagt; Registrar, Miss Georgia Head.

Mr. H. N. Ryer

FALLS CHURCH LIBRARY. The Falls Church Library, organized 1899, is conducted by the Library Association under the supervision of a Board of Control. The library building is located on Columbia street near Washington street.

Officers: Pickering Dodge, President; Wm. A. Ball, Secretary; Librarian, Geo. W. Hawxhurst.

PATRIOTIC ORDER SONS OF AMERICA. Washington Camp No. 1, organized in 1902. Officers: C. C. Walters, Past President; H. H. Moreland, President; Lester Brunner, Vice President; G. W. Moreland, M. of F.; M. M. Erwin, R. S.; E. L. Payne, F. S.; B. F. Elliott, Conductor; Upton Galisher, Inspector; W. H. Erwin, Guard; J. H. Brunner, Chaplain; Trustees, A. H. Barbor, C. C. Walters and J. H. Brunner.

Dr. M. E. Church.

Mr. M. E. Church is a native of the State of Vermont, but has been a resident of Virginia for nearly twenty-five years, and of Falls Church for the past eighteen years, during which period he has been closely identified with every public movement. He it was who first established telephonic communication between Falls Church and Washington City over sixteen years ago, and from a small beginning has built up an extensive telephone system extending over Fairfax and Alexandria Counties and reaching to Bluemont in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The company operating this system is incorporated under the name of the Falls Church Telephone and Telegraph Company, and Mr. Church is the chief stock-holder, President and General Manager. Exchanges are operated at Falls Church and Rosslyn.

Mr. Church has brought to his adopted home a large share of the energy and sterling business qualities for which his native state is noted. This has been manifest from the moment he set foot on the soil of his adopted state. He first engaged in the drug business in Falls Church which he successfully conducted for over twelve years, during which period he trained several young men who have since been conducting a successful business of their own. The esteem in which he was held by his fellow-pharmacists in the state was evidenced by his unanimous election to the office of President of the State Pharmaceutical Association, a position which he filled with great credit, as well as many other positions of trust and responsibility. He still remains an active and esteemed member of that Association.

Miss B. C. Merrifield

About fifteen years ago he entered into the real estate, loan and insurance business, and notwithstanding his lack of previous training or experience, has been eminently successful along that line, and to him more than any other one man, is due the growth and development of our beautiful little village, as he has been untiring in his efforts to locate here in homes of their own a desirable class of moral and intellectual citizens. One of his first ventures along this line was the organization of the Falls Church Improvement Company, of which he was general manager and a large stock-holder. His associates in this company were: Hon. Schyler Duryee, then Chief Clerk of the U. S. Patent Office; Judge A. A. Freeman, now of New Mexico, and others. This company successfully developed the "Sherwood Sub-Division," one of the first sub-divisions put on the market in Fairfax County.

Mr. R. C. L. Moncure

In the loan business Mr. Church has been particularly successful, by his conservative investments and faithful fidelity to the interests of his clients, both investors and borrowers have learned to place implicit confidence in his judgment and integrity and as a result, he has been able to bring together those who wish to borrow money with which to buy or build a home, and those who wish to invest funds, thereby enabling the worthy home-seeker to own his own home, making of him not only a prominent but more interested and desirable citizen.

While not an Attorney at Law Mr. Church's experience and familiarity with the real estate law, titles and values of land in Fairfax and Alexandria Counties have made his services and opinions much sought after as an expert in such matters, both by the courts and private parties. Persons seeking homes or investments in the suburbs of Washington will do well to consult him, as his judgment can be relied upon in real estate matters, and his integrity is unquestioned.

Mr. Geo. M. Newell

In the development of Falls Church Mr. Church has been indefatigable, and has been personally identified with every progressive movement. In addition to his drug-store, real estate and telephone business, he has been largely interested in procuring better transportation facilities in the way of electric railroads; he has built many houses in the town and organized several companies for the purpose of developing the trade and industries of this section. He is at present engaged in organizing an electric light company for the purpose of furnishing light and power to Falls Church and the country intervening between that and Washington; he has great faith in the future of the town and is not afraid to invest his money in home enterprises.

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Established 1861

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The Inn

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Country Real Estate

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E. W. PIERCE, Vienna, Fairfax County, Va.

Fifteen miles from Washington       Steam and Electric Roads

Columbia Baptist Church

John N. Gibson

DEALER IN

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East Falls Church, Va.

Dulin Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church (South)

LOAN NEGOTIATED AND ABSTRACTS

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ATTORNEY AT LAW

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PRACTICING IN ALL THE COURTS IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND THE

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OFFICES

WEST FALLS CHURCH, VA. AND 402 6TH ST. N. W., WASHINGTON, D. C.

Mrs. M. E. DePutron

Washington, Arlington and

Falls Church Railway

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Mr. G. W. Cassilear

Manager Falls Church Improvement Company

Notary Public for Fairfax and Alexandria Counties

M. E. CHURCH

REAL ESTATE, LOANS AND INSURANCE

Washington Telephone Connections

FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA

St. James Roman Catholic Church

THOMAS HILLIER

CONTRACTOR AND BUILDER

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Houses shown on pages 20, 35, 55, 58, 69 and 93 were built by

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The Methodist Episcopal Church

JOHN D. PAYNE

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FALLS CHURCH, VA.

Mr. V. E. Kerr

Falls Church

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OPERATING UNDER LICENSE OF THE

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M. E. CHURCH, PRESIDENT       F. E. PARKER, SUPERINTENDENT

Mr. Herbert G. Hopkins

CAPITAL $25,000       SURPLUS AND PROFITS OVER $6,000

THE

National Bank of Fairfax

FAIRFAX, VA.

BEGAN BUSINESS AUGUST 25, 1902

R. WALTON MOORE, PRESIDENT       DR. M. BROOKS, VICE-PRESIDENT

JAMES W. BALLARD, CASHIER

DIRECTORS

R. WALTON MOORE    JOS. E. WILLARD     F. M. BROOKS    M. E. CHURCH

E. R. SWETNAM    M. D. HALL    S. R. DONOHOE

C. VERNON FORD    T. B. PUTNAM

Deposits solicited. Negotiable paper discounted. We have unsurpassed facilities for making collections. Collections made free of charge to depositors. Every accommodation consistent with prudent business methods will be extended to our patrons. Small deposits receive the same attention as large ones. Prompt attention given to all business. Loans negotiated.

Dr. N. F. Graham

A BRANCH HERE

French Steam Laundry

We doubt if there is a better laundry in the

country than the French Steam Laundry. By

best, we mean the quality of work done and

the care exercised to guard the interest of patrons.

We have become one of their authorized

agents, and before accepting the agency, satisfied

ourselves as to the superior excellence of

this laundry's service.

F. P. WELLER, Druggist

3534 M Street Northwest

"Right by the Aqueduct"

Capt. M. S. Roberts

There is nothing that costs so little and gives such returns as poultry. For the past ten years I have been breeding Barred Plymouth Rocks and Black Minorcas and have produced many high scoring exhibition birds that have carried off honors in some of the largest shows in the United States in very strong competition.

LIST OF WINNINGS

At Upper Marlboro, Md., September, 1898, 1st pen, 1st cockerel, and 1st pullet, Black Minorcas; 2d pen, 2d cockerel, and 1st pullet, Barred Plymouth Rocks.

At Hamilton, Va., November, 1898, 1st, 2d, and 3d pullets, 1st cockerel, and 1st and 2d pens, Black Minorcas.

At Washington, D. C., January, 1899, 1st and 2d hens, 2d and 4th pullets, and 3d and 4th pens, Black Minorcas; 5th pen, Barred Plymouth Rocks. Also special for Black Minorca hen.

At Rockville, Md., September, 1899, 1st pen, 1st cock, and 1st and 2d hens, Black Minorcas; 2d pen, Barred Plymouth Rocks.

At Hagerstown, Md., October, 1899, on three entries, 1st hen, 1st pullet, and 4th cockerel, Black Minorcas.

At Hamilton, Va., November, 1899, 2d pen, 1st cock, 1st, 2d, and 3d cockerels (13 in class), 2d, 3d, and 4th hens, and 2d, 3d, and 4th pullets, Black Minorcas. Also special on Black Minorca cock, and silver trophy cup for the best display of Black Minorcas.

At Laurel, Md., January, 1900, on Black Minorcas, 1st pen, 2d cock, 1st hen, 1st and 3d cockerels, 1st and 2d pullets. Special on display. 1st on Barred Rock cockerel, (19 in class).

At Hamilton, Va., October, 1900, on Black Minorcas, won 1st and 3d cocks, 3d and 4th hens, 1st and 4th cockerels, 1st and 4th pullets, 2d and 4th pens. Three out of four specials; tied for best display, and received a silver cup for highest-scoring display.

At the great Philadelphia Poultry Show, held at Philadelphia, Pa., December, 1900, won, on Black Minorcas, 1st pen, 2d cock, 5th hen, 2d and 4th cockerels, 2d and 4th pullets. Special on pen. Special on best display.

At Philadelphia, Pa., January, 1901, in the largest and best class of Minorcas ever brought together in America up to that time, I won seven regular prizes and thirteen specials. At this show I had three of the largest cockerels ever shown at one time by a single exhibitor, their combined weight being 29 pounds. In a class of sixty-four females I won first on the best shaped bird. Also, won nearest to ideal comb on a cockbird in a class of nineteen.

Eggs in season at $3 per sitting, two sittings, $5. Birds a matter of correspondence. Address all communications to

CHARLES L. BLANTON, East Falls Church, Va.

The Misses Birch

... FALLS CHURCH BAKERY ...

HOME-MADE BREAD, PIES AND CAKES

Geo. L. Erwin

PHONE NO. 1

Falls Church, Va.

SALESROOM IN POST OFFICE BUILDING

Bread and orders delivered daily without extra cost, at all residences

in Falls Church, Vienna, Dunnloring, Lewinsville, Langley,

Ballston, Bailey's X Roads, Halls Hill and Merrifield.

Rev. H. A. Beach

Congregational Church

Mr. E. J. Northrup

Washington, Arlington and Falls

Church Railway Company

Electric Railway Line—Passenger, Mail,

Freight and Parcel Express, between

Fairfax C. H., Dunnloring, Vienna, Oakton,

Falls Church, Glen Carlyn, Balston, Clarendon,

Alexandria C. H. and Washington

City, also Arlington National Cemetery,

Fort Myer, Columbia

and Nauck. :    :    :

FREQUENT SERVICE        LOW RATES

Waiting Room and Ticket Office

3528 M St. N. W., Washington, D. C.

For further information apply to any agent of Company

F. B. Hubbell, V-Prest. and Manager       T. Garrett, Pass. Agent

Transcriber's note:

The illustrations in the original were damaged, but all have been placed after improving as much as was possible.

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Table of Contents

A Virginia VILLAGE

Dear Friends,

ABOUT THE FALLS CHURCH VILLAGE PRESERVATION AND IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY

FOREWORD

CHARLES ALEXANDER STEWART

COMMENTS ON THE STRUCTURES PICTURED

STRUCTURES LISTED BY NAME

STRUCTURES LISTED BY ADDRESS

* * * A Virginia Village * * *

Historical Sketch

of

Falls Church

and the

Old Colonial Church

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE.

A Virginia Village.

The Town of Falls Church.

The Old Colonial Church.

Truro Parish.

Falls Church in the Civil War.

Skirmish at Munson's Hill August 31, 1861.

Churches and Societies.

"EVERYTHING IN THE MUSIC LINE"

Baltimore Store,

"Wonder What Mertz Will Say To-Day?"

Mason, Fenwick & Lawrence

THE UNITED REALTY CO.

Real Estate, Loan and Insurance Business

M. Goldsmith & Son, .. JEWELERS ..

Country Real Estate Houses—Lots—Farms

E. W. PIERCE, Vienna, Fairfax County, Va.

John N. Gibson

DEALER IN Oak, Chestnut and Pine Lumber Plastering, Laths, Pine and Chestnut Shingles, and Framing Lumber a Specialty .. .. .. ..

LOAN NEGOTIATED and ABSTRACTS OF TITLE FURNISHED FARMS, TOWN LOTS AND HOMES FOR SALE

Wm. M. Ellison

ATTORNEY AT LAW and REAL ESTATE AGENT

OFFICES

Washington, Arlington and Falls Church Railway

(U. S. MAIL ROUTE) Only Line to Fort Myer, Va., and Short Route to Ballston, Falls Church, Dunnloring, Vienna, Oakton and Fairfax Court House, Va., and Arlington National Cemetery

Take Pennsylvania Avenue or F Street cars to Aqueduct Bridge

F. B. HUBBELL, Vice-President and Manager T. GARRETT, Passenger Agent

M. E. CHURCH

REAL ESTATE, LOANS AND INSURANCE

Washington Telephone Connections

THOMAS HILLIER CONTRACTOR AND BUILDER

FAITHFUL CONSTRUCTION HONEST MATERIAL ESTIMATES CHEERFULLY FURNISHED West Falls Church, Va. P. O. West End Va.

JOHN D. PAYNE LICENSED AUCTIONEER

Will Conduct Sales of Both Real and Personal Property on Short Notice

Terms: REASONABLE Telephone in Residence

FALLS CHURCH, VA.

Falls Church Telephone & Telegraph Co.

OPERATING UNDER LICENSE OF THE

Southern Bell Telephone Company

EXCHANGES AT FALLS CHURCH AND ROSSLYN, VA. ALL LONG DISTANCE CONNECTIONS M. E. CHURCH, President F. E. PARKER, Superintendent

THE

National Bank of Fairfax

FAIRFAX, VA. BEGAN BUSINESS AUGUST 25, 1902

DIRECTORS

A BRANCH HERE

French Steam Laundry

LIST OF WINNINGS

... Falls Church Bakery ...

HOME-MADE BREAD, PIES AND CAKES

Geo. L. Erwin

PHONE NO. 1 Falls Church, Va. SALESROOM IN POST OFFICE BUILDING

Washington, Arlington and Falls Church Railway Company

Electric Railway Line—Passenger, Mail, Freight and Parcel Express, between Fairfax C. H., Dunnloring, Vienna, Oakton, Falls Church, Glen Carlyn, Balston, Clarendon, Alexandria C. H. and Washington City, also Arlington National Cemetery, Fort Myer, Columbia and Nauck. : : : FREQUENT SERVICE LOW RATES

Transcriber's note:

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG™ LICENSE