ANNANDALE
The Crossroads of Northern Virginia TMRead Annandale's News Magazine,
ENDEAVOR
Annandale News & Latest Articles
Annandale News: Meet the Artisan Jean Lee
Annandale News: Gifts for Every Occasion
Annandale News: 2019 General Assembly News
Annandale News: Demographics
Annandale Real Estate: Three Factors to Consider
Annandale History: Gallows Road Army Antiaircraft Base
Local HIstory: UnCovered-Jefferson Era Coulter Discovered
History: What Great Grandma Knew Part V
History: Historic Smithfield Plantation
History: Fincastle, VA
VIEW ON NATURE: Virginia's Forgotten Fruit
ANNANDALE News, Events & Networking
Innovative Housing for Homeless due to open in late 2019
Fairfax County
A new innovative approach for housing our homeless residents and helping them transition into permanent housing is scheduled to open in late 2019 in the Bailey’s area. The new facility will be located at 5914 Seminary Road and will replace the existing Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter located at 3525 Moncure Ave.
Several features of the new facility include:
- 52 emergency shelter beds to serve single adults, including four medical respite beds
- Approximately 18 personal living quarters
- Outdoor picnic and activity area
- 24-hour staffing, including guidance and counseling
- Hypothermia prevention program site, which operates from November through March, with a “no turn-away” policy during freezing temperatures.
Read the Latest ENDEAVOR News Magazine
AnnSandra Celebrates 39 Years in Annandale
AnnSandra has been the preeminent giftware destination in the Washington D.C., Virginia and Maryland area, for over 39 years. AnnSandra provides a unique experience, now serving second and third generation customers, offering the very best in bridal registry services and an extensive collection of fine china, crystal, silver, and distinctive gift items for any occasion.
AnnSandra takes exceptional pride in their customer service and expertise, whether you’re shopping within the store or over the phone, their highly trained professionals are committed to delivering unparalleled service with unbeatable prices.
Whether you’re looking for that perfect gift for a baby shower or housewarming, celebrating a milestone or picking out your first china pattern, AnnSandra has the perfect selection to suit your gift-giving needs. It’s quite the most remarkable store and one you should plan to visit soon
4417 John Marr Drive, Annandale, VA 22003
See www.annsandra.com for special event schedule.
703-354-2110 - 800-357-2110, info@annsandra.com
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
Thursday from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
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Annandale Area Swimming Pools Splash Your Way through Summer
Annandale Swim and Tennis Club
7530 Little River Turnpike, Annandale 22003
Membership contact: 703-354-4272 ast22003@gmail.com
Swim team: Red Tide
Social activities: Family dinners, movie nights, family campout and sleepover, annual pig roast, dog swim, ladies’ night party, men’s Texas hold ‘em party. Special features: Dive team and tennis team, pool slide.
Audrey Moore Recreational Center at Wakefield Park
8100 Braddock Road, Annandale, VA 22003
703-321-7081
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/rec/wakerec.htm
Fully equipped recreational center located within Wakefield Park with a 50m x 25yd pool, one 3m and two 1m diving boards, and super slide. The natatorium also contains spectator seating, doors that lead to a spacious outdoor sundeck, and locker rooms containing saunas and showers. In addition to the various racquetball/wallyball and squash courts, the center has a large gymnasium with six basketball hoops, and volleyball nets. The center also contains a cycle studio, a dance room, a pottery lab and kiln, an arts and crafts room, a photography lab, three multi-purpose activity rooms, and a senior center. Over 40 fitness classes each week are offered for all ages.
Wakefield Park has miles of outdoor trails including the Cross County Trail which is utilized by cyclists, runners and nature lovers. There are well lit outdoor basketball, volleyball and tennis courts, baseball & softball diamonds, a newly expanded skate board park, and soccer fields. An extensive summer camp program is held each year along with the Braddock Farmer's Market on Wednesdays during early May to late October from 2-6pm.
READ MORE...
VIEW ON NATURE: Virginia’s Forgotten Fruit
What fruit has a creamy, custard-like flesh with a tropical flavor often described as a combination of mango meets banana meets pineapple or vanilla? It’s the largest tropical fruit native to Virginia and the US (up to 6 inches & 16 ounces) and grows wild in over 25 states. Many towns, parks, lakes, etc. have been named after it. It fruits in the fall and has twice the sugar of a peach or apple and is high in vitamins A and C. Give up? It’s the pawpaw.
The earliest record of pawpaws came from the destructive de Soto expedition in 1541. Native Americans were actively cultivating pawpaw trees east of the Mississippi River and are said to have also spread them from Texas to the Midwest. It was a very important fruit to the colonists and westward settlers, including Lewis and Clark who at one point heavily relied on wild pawpaws, nuts and seeds when game ran scarce.
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were particularly fond of pawpaw fruit. Washington favored it for dessert and wrote in his diary on March 7th 1785 that he, “planted all my Cedars, all my Pawpaw, and two Honey Locust Trees…”. Thomas Jefferson cultivated them at his much-loved Monticello, with some saying it was his favorite fruit. READ MORE
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On the Energy Front:
Take Charge of Your Energy Bill This Summer
School’s out, people are taking vacations and the temperatures are getting hotter each day. Summer is here and the warmer weather across Virginia can lead to increased energy bills at home due to lowering the AC and other ways.
As the Commonwealth’s energy education program, Virginia Energy Sense’s mission is to help Virginians understand their energy use, and what they can do to save energy cost effectively and easily. We want to make sure you’re well equipped to beat the heat this summer and help Virginia progress toward its goal of reducing electric energy consumption by 10 percent below.
We’re working to equip you with resources to help you with the energy consumption challenges you may face this summer. Below are several easy DIY tips you can have a big impact on your energy usage while still keeping you cool at home!
Summer Energy Saving Tips at Home READ MORE
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Historic Smithfield Plantation
Historic Smithfield Plantation is located in Blacksburg, VA on the campus of Virginia Tech more than four hours from Annandale. This is not a tour suggested for your average Sunday afternoon, however, with so many Virginia Tech students, parents, & alumni in Annandale, you may find yourself in Blacksburg with a spare couple of hours...if only you knew about this charming property. I actually have eleven VT alumni in my immediate family and none have ever toured Smithfield. Sometimes the best gems are hidden in plain sight.
During the eighteenth century Augusta County in western Virginia developed rapidly. It included all of the land west of today’s Virginia to the Mississippi River including the future states of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois. Fincastle, Botetourt, and eventually Montgomery Counties were split from Augusta in the 1770’s.
By 1774, Col. William Preston moved his wife and seven children into the Smithfield Plantation House, and added another five children over the years. Mrs. Preston survived to raise her children and even outlived her husband on what became a 1,860 acre estate. This acreage includes most of present day Blacksburg and Virginia Tech.
READ MORE
While you are in the Blue Ridge
Visit Fincastle, VA
If you are traveling along Route 81 from Northern Virginia to VA Tech, take a break and visit Fincastle just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Fincastle was founded in 1772 and named after Lord Fincastle, son of Lord Dunmore, Virginia's last royal governor. Antebellum churches, ancient tree-lined streets, 100 restored homes and a quaint village atmosphere make it a wonderful place to saunter.
A virtual museum of architectural history dating from the late 1770s to the present day, Fincastle was the home of Julia Hancock who married Explorer William Clark in 1808, a year following his Voyage of Discovery. The marriage took place at Santillane, a plantation also known as the Col. George Hancock Mansion. Santillane (ca. 1795) is one of only three residences that are associated with either Clark or Lewis, according to the National Park Service.
The Botetourt County Court House, known to draw visitors from around the country...
READ MOR
UnCovered: Jefferson Era Coulter Found in Fairfax Park
Thomas Jefferson loved inventions, and Fairfax County Park Authority archaeologists recently discovered a Jeffersonian-era artifact that illustrates some of the inventive work that was going on in farming in the late 1700s.
When archaeologists work at historic sites occupied after the arrival of Europeans in the Americas, it is not uncommon for them to come across large pieces of metal. When one of these pieces cannot be immediately identified, the default ID is usually “plow part.” Sometimes, it actually is a plow part.
During recent excavations of a circa 1760 to 1820 slave quarters site on Patriot Park North, Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) archaeologists recovered this bar-like, cast metal artifact with holes that appeared to allow for some kind of adjustments. One of the agency’s amazing volunteers researched the object and discovered it was called a “coulter.” The coulter would have been vertically mounted to cut into the ground before a plow separated the dirt, creating a deeper cut with less effort than other designs. READ MORE
Free Summer Concerts & Wine Tasting
Thursday Nights July 11th - August 29th
The Fairfax County Park Authority will host free concerts in the backyard of the Fairfax County Government Center every Thursday night this summer (July 11 – August 29, 2019) from 5:30pm – 7pm. The Evenings on the Ellipse summer concert series is a family-friendly event featuring a talented line-up of performers and a wide range of musical genres. Fairfax County’s two wineries, Paradise Springs Winery and The Winery at Bull Run, will be providing generous tastings and sales of their premium reds and whites. If it rains, the concert will be moved inside to the Fairfax County Government Center Forum.
“Evenings on the Ellipse is a great way for nearby residents and county employees to relax and unwind after work in Wolf Trap-esque style,” Chairman Sharon Bulova said. “With great music, a beautiful venue and complimentary wine tastings, I am proud to have the Fairfax County Government Center play host to such a special summer experience.”
Evenings on the Ellipse is one of many concert series happening throughout Fairfax County this summer. Find more concerts and performances at fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances.
WHAT: Evenings on the Ellipse Summer Concerts
WHEN: Every Thursday, July 11 – August 29, 201
TIME: 5:30pm – 7pm
WHERE: Fairfax County Government Center Backyard
12000 Government Center Pkwy
Fairfax, VA 22035
PERFORMANCES:
August 15: Mariachi Los Amigos with special guest group, Common Ground (Mariachi plus Jazz)
August 22: The Capital Focus Jazz Band (Youth Jazz Band)
August 29: The Gibson Brothers (Bluegrass)
Register Early before all the spaces are taken.....
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Annandale REAL ESTATE
You Can Get There from Here
There is no way to address real estate in this area without mentioning two, very important factors: Amazon’s progress in its creation of HQ2 and interest rates. However, there is now a third factor to consider, the planned Virginia Tech innovation campus in Alexandria. This three-way combination will continue its ripple effect throughout the entire area. So, let’s deal with each of them.
Let’s take the state of interest rates first. Month after month we have seen stability in interest rates that continue to hover around four percent. There is little indication from the Federal Reserve that rates will rise and, in fact, at this writing there is some suggestion that rates may fall to the 3.85% range. What this condition does is provide stability and greater certainty to the housing market. Although the woeful lack of inventory has persisted for at least three years causing a seller’s market to be evident, the stabilization of interest rates provides consumer confidence that is essential to a healthy market. READ MORE
MEET THE ARTISAN: Jean Lee
Gorgeous Reclaimed & Re-imagined Jewelry available at the Artisans United Gallery
Since childhood
, jewelry designer Jean Lee has been interested in art, design, crafts, construction, and creatively experimenting with a variety of materials.
A native Washingtonian, Jean graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science degree and has held positions as a graphic designer, clothing designer, and floral designer in her family business for nearly 30 years. The asymmetry of nature and indeed the most interesting of floral designs is apparent in her jewelry.
In the mid 1970’s she decided to enroll in a stained glass class offered at the Smithsonian to learn a more disciplined and structured artisan craft. Glass gave Jean a freedom in design she quickly embraced, experimenting with dimension, texture, and the refraction of light. Using the copper foil technique, Jean eventually developed wearables with a whimsical element and later small sculptures. Jean’s work incorporates beads, games, shells, stones, feathers, fossils, fibers, and vintage jewelry. In the early days, Jean visited Goodwill where $5.00 quart jars filled with broken pieces or jewelry, sometimes a single earing, and obscure objects of various origins sparked imaginative possibilities in her creative hands. READ MORE
Artisans United Craft Gallery
4022 Hummer Road (in the Annandale Community Park)
Annandale, VA 22003
703-941-0202 www.augallery.org
10 am-4 pm Mon-Sat.
Nov. & Dec: Sun. 1-4 pm
The History of Little River Turnpike
Did you ever wonder why a road through the heart of Annandale is named for a river nearly 30 miles west in Aldie, Virginia? A wonderful aspect of this story illustrates how some situations several hundred years ago have remained the same or have exact parallels today!
Three major wagon roads were evolving for agricultural trade and migration in the mid-eighteenth century in northern Virginia: the Potomac Path, (today part of Rt. 1 to Fredericksburg); the nascent Leesburg Pike, (now Route 7 from Alexandria to Leesburg); and the Philadelphia Wagon Road, tying German-speaking western Pennsylvania and Maryland families migrating into the fertile Shenandoah Valley, (now seen as routes 11 and 81).
In 1772, Virginians in our area petitioned the House of Burgesses for funds for a Fredericksburg Road. The House rejected the proposal and recommended that local counties take over responsibility. Does this battle sound familiar? But something was changing in Virginia. By 1775, of the twenty listed mercantile firms in Alexandria – the wealthy regional trade center and river port – only three were exclusively dealing with tobacco. This agricultural shift meant changes in the Virginia landscape as well. Plantations needed rivers for tobacco. However, “inner” plantations – soon-to-be-smaller farms – had discovered that tobacco was very hard on the soil, and they began the switch to wheat and other grains, which required roads to mills and central shipping areas, rather than to the larger plantations’ river routes. READ MORE
Expanded Vital Records Services Offered
at Additional Office Locations
Certified copies of Virginia birth, death, marriage and divorce records are now available for purchase from the Fairfax County Health Department at four district office locations – in Fairfax, Herndon-Reston, Annandale and Mount Vernon.
Previously, the Health Department had two office locations that could provide residents and funeral home directors copies of death certificates and verification of death letters for the family of loved ones who died. By expanding its Vital Records services, the Health Department will now offer records for these life events occurring in the Commonwealth of Virginia:
- Births: June 1912 to present
- Marriages: 1936 to present
- Divorces: 1918 to present
- Deaths: June 1912 to present.
A client may request a certificate for oneself or next of kin/immediate family, which includes mother, father, current spouse, child, brother, or sister, and others under certain circumstances, with valid ID. Each copy is $12 and payable by cash, check or credit card.
Army Antiaircraft Base 1951
Gallows Road in Annandale
Following the initial pattern of forts established for the defense of Washington during the American Civil War, Antiaircraft bases were established surrounding DC for the defense of the city during the Cold War.
Annandale folklore includes the story that a NIKE missile defense base was located in Annandale during the 1950’s. According to research, Project Nike was a U.S. Army project, proposed in May 1945 by Bell Laboratories. Bell had been charged to develop a line-of-sight anti-aircraft missile system. The project delivered the first US operational anti-aircraft missile system in 1953 known as the Nike Ajax. A great number of the technologies and rocket systems used for developing the Nike Ajax were re-used for other programs functions, many of which were given the Nike name (after Nike, the Greek goddess of victory). The missile's first-stage solid rocket booster became the basis for many types of rockets including the Nike Hercules missile and NASA's Nike Smoke rocket, used for upper-atmosphere research. (1)
Trust Properties
Trust Properties was founded in 1994 and is committed to providing a broad range of Commercial Real Estate Services throughout the Greater Washington Metropolitan area. Staffed by knowledgeable, experienced and dedicated career professionals, Trust Properties takes pride in delivering impeccable levels of service and exceptional results to their clients and customers.
Greg McGillicuddy is a Vice President and Principal Broker at Trust Properties. Greg grew up in Arlington and returned here after completing his studies at Harvard and Hopkins. Greg is one of the most knowledgeable brokers in local real estate, with more than 27 years of experience in the sales and leasing of office, retail and industrial properties and has managed more than two million square feet of properties in the Greater Metro area, including numerous properties here in Annandale. READ MORE
LAMBROS GOLDSMITH AND FINE JEWELRY
Sparkling, even inspiring are the jewelry designs exhibited in abundance at this charming retailer. Lambros and Jayne Magiafas, goldsmith and geologist, are a team made in Jewelers Heaven. Lambros began his goldsmith apprenticeship at the age of 12 in his native Greece while Jayne started her career in the US at the age of 16.
Lambros Goldsmiths is a family owned and operated, full service Fine Jewelry retailer. Founded in 1987, Lambros Goldsmiths has been serving the Fine Jewelry needs of people from around the country. Nestled in our friendly town of Annandale, Lambros Goldsmiths offers uniquely handcrafted Fine Jewelry at competitive prices. READ MORE
Year Round Farmers Markets
NOVA Central Farm Market
OPENS April 7, 2019
(formerly the Mosaic District at Merrifield)
George C. Marshall High School
2910 District Ave, Fairfax, VA 22031
www.mosaic.centralfarmmarkets.com
Sundays 8:30 am to 1:00 pm
NOVA Central Farm Market, formerly Mosaic Central Farm Market, is a year-round farmers market located on Leesburg Pike, between Tysons Corner and the city of Falls Church, at Marshall High School in Falls Church, Virginia.
The market features fresh local pork, chicken, fish, cheeses, produce, dairy, baked goods, prepared foods to go, eggs, flowers, and ice cream.
Parking: Plenty of free parking surrounds the market
Mosaic District FreshFarm Market (Mosaic District at Merrifield)
2910 District Ave, Fairfax, VA 22031
www.mosaic.centralfarmmarkets.com
Sundays 9:30 am-2 pm
A year-round farmers market located in the heart of the vibrant Mosaic District in Fairfax, Virginia. Mosaic District’s FreshFarm market will feature more than 50 regional farmers, producers, and concessionaires selling fresh produce, meats, eggs, bread, cheese, baked goods, prepared foods, flowers, and more, says Sara Beckstead, communications manager at Edens, the owner of the Mosaic District.
Some of the vendors include Angelic Beef, Chase Your Tail Bakery, Foggy Mountain Pasta, King Mushrooms, Liberty Delight Farms, Rita’s Crepes, and Zeke’s Coffee.
FreshFarm, a D.C.-based nonprofit has 16 markets in the region, including Ballston, Crystal City, and Rosslyn.
FreshFarm has a producers-only requirement, meaning all products sold are grown, raised, or produced by the business selling them. Its markets prioritize local sourcing and support local agriculture.
Parking: There are 4 large parking garages with plenty of free parking located around the market. Look for the parking garage signs!
Falls Church Farmers Market
Saturdays 9 am - noon Jan. - March
Saturdays 9 am - Noon April-Dec.
What's in a Name?
The Origins of the Street Name, John Marr Drive
All too often when history is being reported, let alone printed, facts are assumed when no explanation for an event or experience can be documented. What is the "most logical" is proposed to fill in the blank as is often done with gaps in family or community history. After a time in the public lore, the assumption becomes fact in the minds of many. Years ago a very affable new resident went in search of Annandale history and had his conclusions printed in a local circular. Whenever facts did not emerge, assumptions were inserted. Many ridiculous stories appeared and since they appeared in print, without any editorial fact checking, many readers took them to be gospel. Many erroneous stories have been told about the Annandale United Methodist Church during the Civil War. The stories are bold and far more exciting than the truth. None-the-less, they are fabricated stories.
(SEE: www.annandalechamber.com/annandale_united_methodist_church.rhtml)
Another example is the origin of the street name, John Marr Drive in Annandale. The "assumption" proposed and now often believed to be fact is that it was named for a John Quincy Marr who Wikipedia tells us," was a Virginia militia company captain and the first Confederate soldier killed by a Union soldier in combat during the American Civil War. Marr was killed at the Battle of Fairfax Court House, Virginia on June 1, 1861.” Marr grew up in Warrenton and is not reported to have come any closer to Annandale than Fairfax Courthouse. Other sources claim that Henry Wyatt or William Fox, both with the same North Carolina Confederate Regiment, were the first to die.
Instead, it is possible that the road was named for a local resident whose company, Marr, Incorporated, was in the building, developing, and real estate business. Let’s be clear, this is proposed as the origin of the name, not yet a confirmed fact. READ MORE
Chamber Membership is an Effective Business Strategy
According to a recent study conducted by the Shapiro Group:
“When consumers know a small business is a member of the chamber of commerce, they are 49% more likely to think favorably of that business, and 80% more likely to purchase goods or services from the company in the future.” For more information on benefits when joining the Annandale Chamber of Commerce please see......
Membership Information.
(Copyright © 2012 Annandale Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved. (Photographs & images, on this page, and on this website, are not available for use by other publications, blogs, individuals, websites, or social media sites.)
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Read the Latest
ENDEAVOR News Magazine
The ENDEAVOR News Magazine is the Chamber's quarterly online publication and the must read magazine in Annandale. Acquaint yourself with local businesses, community history, revitalization efforts, and issues that concern Annandale: The Crossroads of Northern Virginia TM.
The Annandale American Legion Post 1976 is recruiting new members. Veterans and family members welcome to join. Party hall rental is free for 
all members. Call 703-408-9123 and ask for Diane Ramsey.
4206 Daniels Ave, Annandale, VA 22003
(behind the Bank of America building
on Columbia Pike)
The Annandale Volunteer Fire Dept. host BINGO every Monday and 
Thursday with doors opening at 4:30pm – Early Birds start at 6:45pm – Regular Sessions starts 7:45pm
- 42” LCD TV monitors display next ball to be called.
- Must be 14 yrs of age to play bingo at AVFD.
- ATM machine available.
- Bingo Hotline is 703-941-1328
- Non-smoking inside format
7128 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003
Ample parking on site. www.avfd.org
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Youth Sports in Annandale
is best represented by:
Annandale Boys & Girls Club
Lee's Hapmudo Martial Arts Studio
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Homeless Shelters
in Northern Virginia through Fredericksburg (Fairfax, Loudoun, Culpepper, Arlington, Alexandria, and Prince William Counties, plus Manassas & Manassas Park, can be found at: www.novaregion.org/DocumentCenter/View/11750
Families with children who need shelter must contact Coordinated Services Planning at (703) 222-0880 between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm to gain access. After business hours, families with children in need of shelter should go directly to the nearest family shelter.
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The FEEDS Program
(Food for Every Every Child to Eat During Summer) offers a free barbecue or super snack lunch to children up to age 18 at these locations in Annandale area every weekday through Aug. 23:
Vistas of Annandale NOON to 1:00 PM
behind Heritage Shopping Center
Children don’t need to register, and everyone is welcome. Low-cost meals are available for adults.
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Local Web Links:
Annandale Acres
Annandale Boys & Girls Club Blog
Annandale: Comprehensive Plan Amendment
Annandale Revitalization Committee
Annandale Shopping Center
Braddock District Supervisor
Broyhill Park
Danbury Forrest
Elan Mews/Royal Court
ENDEAVOR News Magazine
Fairfax County Community Associations
Fairfax County Government
Fairfax County Schools
Falls Church News Press
Holmes Run Acres
Lafayette Village
Lake Barcroft
Leewoods
Long Branch
Mason District Supervisor
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Oak Hill
Ravensworth-Bristow
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Sleepy Hollow Woods
Tysons Corner
Washington Post
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