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The museum, which is open from noon to 3PM on Sundays, is located in Herndon’s historic train depot adjacent to the WO&D trail in the heart of the downtown. The museum contains an array of materials and collectables that illustrate the life, conditions, events, and activities of Herndon and the surrounding area. If you would like to become a member of the HHS, please click here: http://www.herndonhistoricalsociety.org/images/MembershipForm_rev2.pdf.
The museum, which is open from noon to 3PM on Sundays, is located in Herndon’s historic train depot adjacent to the WO&D trail in the heart of the downtown. The museum contains an array of materials and collectables that illustrate the life, conditions, events, and activities of Herndon and the surrounding area. If you would like to become a member of the HHS, please click here: http://www.herndonhistoricalsociety.org/images/MembershipForm_rev2.pdf.
HERNDON: DID YOU KNOW ... ???
Part of the 1997 science fiction movie “Contact,” starring Jodie Foster, was filmed at 755 Grace Street, right here in Historic Herndon!! 👽 Scenes in which you can see the home include when the little girl is star-gazing from her home’s balcony, and during the post-funeral gathering (inside and outside the home). 🏠 Many Herndon residents remember watching this movie being made! (The exterior of the house has since been painted a new color.) 🎥
Herndon Historical Society
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING FUN TO DO THIS WEEKEND?
Enjoy a fascinating tour of Historic Herndon! 😍 The Herndon Historical Society's new Walking Tour brochure is now available!! The brochure highlights two self-guided tours that take you past buildings and homes that have received plaques from the Historical Society. 🏠 Many of the town's Historic Markers are highlighted, as well, further enhancing your tour.
Pick up a FREE brochure at the Herndon Florist 🌺 or Green Lizard Cycling 🚴♀️, both of which are directly across from the Herndon Depot (717 Lynn Street). Conveniently, the Depot is also where the tours begin. So head into town and get your history on today!
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING FUN TO DO THIS WEEKEND?
Enjoy a fascinating tour of Historic Herndon! 😍 The Herndon Historical Society's new Walking Tour brochure is now available!! The brochure highlights two self-guided tours that take you past buildings and homes that have received plaques from the Historical Society. 🏠 Many of the town's Historic Markers are highlighted, as well, further enhancing your tour.
Pick up a FREE brochure at the Herndon Florist 🌺 or Green Lizard Cycling 🚴♀️, both of which are directly across from the Herndon Depot (717 Lynn Street). Conveniently, the Depot is also where the tours begin. So head into town and get your history on today!
https://patch.com/virginia/herndon/remembering-herndon-s-history-virginia-greear-s-memories
Virginia Greear spent much of her life researching and sharing the history of Herndon.
HERNDON: DID YOU KNOW??
Did you know that the Upholstery Shop on Elden Street was Herndon’s first movie theatre? 🤔 It was built c. 1921 and owned by Thomas Reed. Originally it was called Elden Hall but when it was sold to Henry Lego in the 1930s the name changed to The Herndon Theatre. Inside you can still see the old stage and where the balcony used to be. 😃 It stopped operating as the theatre sometime in the 1960s. The brick façade on the outside was later added onto this wood frame building. If anyone has any old photos of this building when it was a theatre, please contact us! 🎥
A cheerfully bright and colorful painting of Historic Herndon - "Lynn and Station Street" by Pam Coulter Blehert.
http://www.blehert.com/gallery/pages/lynn_and_Station_Herndon.htm
An historic Herndon landmark - "Lil' Caboose" by Catherine Hillis
Permission of Catherine Hillis, www.catherinehillis.com
Just a reminder to RSVP for the walking tour if you’d like to join us!! 🏘 We are limiting the number of participants so be sure to grab a spot while you can. We hope to see you there. Happy walking!! 🤗
Walk, don't run, to the Herndon Depot Museum on August 1 for a guided walking tour of Historic Herndon!! 🚶♀️🚶♂️ Space is limited so please pre-register by emailing the Herndon Historical Society: [email protected]. And please remember to "maintain your space and cover your face". 😷👍😊
https://patch.com/virginia/herndon/frederick-washington-s-life-segregated-herndon
Remembering Herndon's History: Frederick H. Washington talks about growing up in a segregated town.
Walk, don't run, to the Herndon Depot Museum on August 1 for a guided walking tour of Historic Herndon!! 🚶♀️🚶♂️ Space is limited so please pre-register by emailing the Herndon Historical Society: [email protected]. And please remember to "maintain your space and cover your face". 😷👍😊
We can never thank healthcare workers enough for all of the sacrifices that they are making now, and for everything that they’ve always done - in Herndon, in Virginia, in the US and all around the world.
We can only imagine the challenges that these three doctors overcame to pursue their callings to care for their fellow human beings. Thanks to them for paving the way for all who followed.
The three women pictured in this incredible photograph from 1885 -- Anandibai Joshi of India, Keiko Okami of Japan, and Sabat Islambouli of Syria -- each became the first licensed female doctors in their respective countries. The three were students at the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania; one of the only places in the world at the time where women could study medicine.
As Mallika Rao writes in HuffPost, "If the timing doesn't seem quite right, that's understandable. In 1885, women in the U.S. still couldn't vote, nor were they encouraged to learn very much. Popular wisdom decreed that studying was a threat to motherhood." Given this, how did three women from around the world end up studying there to become doctors? The credit, according to Christopher Woolf of PRI's The World, goes to the Quakers who "believed in women’s rights enough to set up the WMCP way back in 1850 in Germantown.”
Woolf added, "It was the first women’s medical college in the world, and immediately began attracting foreign students unable to study medicine in their home countries. First they came from elsewhere in North America and Europe, and then from further afield. Women, like Joshi in India and Keiko Okami in Japan, heard about WMCP, and defied expectations of society and family to travel independently to America to apply, then figure out how to pay for their tuition and board... . Besides the international students, it also produced the nation’s first Native American woman doctor, Susan La Flesche, while African Americans were often students as well. Some of whom, like Eliza Grier, were former slaves."
To inspire your kids with more true stories of trailblazing women in medicine of past and present, visit our blog post, "Medical Heroes: Children's Books, Toys, And Clothing Celebrating Doctors and Nurses," at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=29667
To introduce children to more pioneering female doctors, we highly recommend the picture books: "Dr. Jo: How Sara Josephine Baker Saved the Lives of America's Children" for ages 5 to 9 (https://www.amightygirl.com/dr-jo), "Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors? The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell” for ages 4 to 8 (https://www.amightygirl.com/who-says-women-can-t-be-doctors), and “The Doctor with an Eye for Eyes: The Story of Dr. Patricia Bath” for ages 5 to 9 (https://www.amightygirl.com/the-doctor-with-an-eye-for-eyes)
There is also an excellent book about 21 trailblazing women in medicine, “Bold Women of Medicine" for ages 12 and up at https://www.amightygirl.com/bold-women-of-medicine
For a fascinating book for adults about America's first Native American doctor, Susan La Flesche, we recommend "A Warrior of the People" at https://www.amightygirl.com/a-warrior-of-the-people
And, for more books to show kids that science is for everyone regardless of gender, check out our blog post, "Ignite Her Curiosity: Books to Inspire Science-Loving Mighty Girls," at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=13914
Wishing a safe Independence Day to you and yours!! 💥🇺🇸
https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/july-04/
Independence Day
A Grand Old House!
Some of you may remember this grand old house that use to sit at the northwest corner of Elden Street and Herndon Parkway, now the current location of the Bank of America, Chipotle and Starbucks. It was part of a farm that stretched from Elden Street westward, all the way back to Rock Hill Road. A development company bought the land in the early 1950s and a former Herndon blacksmith, Henry Moffett, rented the farm from the developers for over 20 years. At different points in time various families rented the house. Redevelopment of the lot occurred sometime in the mid/late 1970s. We can see this house on historic aerial images as far back as they go, to 1937. We are not sure of the origins of this house but an 1860 Fairfax County tax map shows that a man named Martin Irish owned this land. Irish was a Quaker farmer who was born in New York c. 1812 and came to Herndon sometime between 1850 and 1857. An 1860 Federal Census Mortality record showed that he died a widow in 1859 at the age of 47 of dropsy (edema).
What’s This?
Found under a floor board of the recently demolished auto dealership building at 770 Elden Street was an Old Quaker whiskey bottle. The west wing of this building once housed Herndon’s first ABC store which opened in 1936. The markings on the base of this bottle indicate that the bottle is dated 1935. Was this a legal bottle of whisky that was stocked at the ABC store? Or was it a bootlegged bottle that someone hid under the floor?
Going…going…gone!
This past week the old auto dealership building at 770 Elden Street was demolished in preparation for the downtown redevelopment project. The building dated back to at least 1929 when Robert and Ivy Horn, and their son Huntley Finch, started their auto repair business called Horn Motors. The Horns may have acquired the business from someone else before that, so we are not sure if the building goes back prior to 1929. In the 1930s, the Horns acquired a Chevrolet and Oldsmobile Agency. The Oldsmobile portion of their business continued until the Horns sold to Bob Ashwell in the mid-1950s. Ashwell later sold to the Paul Brothers, who sold Oldsmobiles and Subarus. It eventually became Stohlman Subaru and remained that until it closed a few years ago.
Herndon: Did You Know? ...
The Town seal was designed by town resident Tony DeBenedittis in 1976 in a competition organized by the Town to help celebrate the nation’s bicentennial? The four quadrants show Commander Herndon and his ship, the Herndon family crest, the Herndon train depot and Dulles Airport. Note the inscription says: “In Our Past Lies the Hope of Our Future.” The seal pictured is hanging in Herndon’s Town Hall.
The Historical Society has a speaker online this year since the Depot Museum is temporarily closed. See the link below if you would like to listen to an interesting talk!
In lieu of an in person HHS member meeting this evening, a YouTube presentation is available for your review. Please find details on the attached flier, and access the presentation here: https://youtu.be/60QSzI9ZG2s
In lieu of an in person HHS member meeting this evening, a YouTube presentation is available for your review. Please find details on the attached flier, and access the presentation here: https://youtu.be/60QSzI9ZG2s
Herndon: Did You Know?....
The old stone church at 718 Pine Street, that now houses HRI Associates, was the original St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, dedicated in 1926?
(Photos from the J. Berkley Green Collection of the Herndon Historical Society, and Barbara Glakas).
As promised yesterday ... 🤗❤️📚
https://patch.com/virginia/herndon/remembering-herndons-history-herndon-fortnightly-club-library-association
The Founders of Fairfax County's First Lending Library
This bit of history is not local, but too fun not to share. What do you know about the rich history of our local Fortnightly Library? An article about that coming up next! Happy reading!! 🤗❤️📚
https://blueridgecountry.com/newsstand/magazine/pack-horse-librarians-eastern-kentucky/
During the Depression, they delivered books and other reading materials in remote rural areas, to people with no other access to the world of reading.
HERNDON ~ YESTERDAY & TODAY
Here are two photos of Station Street (near Lynn Street) from 1927 and 2020. The Chamblin’s Pharmacy building burned in 1969 and was never replaced. The next two buildings are now the home to the Maude salon. The wooden A-frame building in the 1927 photo was replaced with what is now the Mediterranean Breeze building. Lastly is the old 1910 bank building, which was then the National Bank of Herndon. Various building signs in 1927 advertise Victrolas, Rexall products and Whitman’s chocolates. Posters advertise the annual Herndon Day event, fire work sales and movies. Note the hat in the middle of the road. What else do you notice?
Photo credits: National Archives and Barbara Glakas
The Herndon Historical Society misses seeing you, however the Depot Museum remains closed until further notice. We look forward to once again welcoming visitors as soon as it is deemed safe to re-open. Until then, happy history to you!
Vintage postcard c. 1957; Artist - Vara Perterson
WHAT'S NEW AT THE DEPOT?
Shown here is a portion of the new working telegraph exhibit which includes antique telegraph equipment as well as a computer through which messages can be sent wirelessly. Also, outside the depot is a replica Western Union sign, such as the one that was once on the depot in the late 1800s.
Come see all the interesting artifacts that represent Herndon’s rich history at the old Depot Museum in the heart of Historic Herndon, open Sundays from 12:00 – 3:00. (NOTE - the Depot Museum is currently closed due to the Governor's COVID-19 Stay at Home Order.)
How well do you know Virginia's history? Take this quiz and find out ... good luck! 🤗
https://www.softschools.com/quizzes/history/virginia_history/quiz5312.html
The Herndon Historical Society in accordance with Governor Northam’s executive order on March 30th, will not be opening the Depot Museum until after June 10th or when the executive order is rescinded by the Governor. The Historical Society will be looking for ways to interact with the community through Facebook to continue our mission of sharing Herndon history with the community.
Please stay healthy and look for interesting stories etc. on the Historical Society website, www.herndonhistoricalsociety.org or our page.
Herndon Historical Society Board of Directors
Please look for future events on this website, www.herndonhistoricalsociety.org, or our page https://www.facebook.com/HerndonHistory/.
https://patch.com/virginia/herndon/remembering-herndon-s-history-fire-departments-ladies-auxiliary
The Ladies Auxiliary formed in April 1930 to support the Herndon Volunteer Fire Department.
HERNDON ~ YESTERDAY & TODAY
These two photos are from c. 1953 and 2015. Located at the southeast corner of Sterling and Rock Hill Roads, the Oak Grove School was built in 1953 and was the last segregated school for African American students in Herndon. The school closed in 1964. In the early 1980s the Town of Herndon bought the building from Fairfax County and put a new façade on it, turning it into the Herndon Police Station. Now the building is home to Herndon’s Zoning Enforcement Office.
Image Credits – Herndon Historical Society and Barbara Glakas, respectively.
In honor of Women’s History Month and National Medal of Honor Day, we invite you to read this article about the only female recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor!
http://historicheroines.org/2015/09/20/wearing-pants-how-mary-edwards-walker-broke-gender-stereotypes-during-the-civil-war-and-beyond/
Mary Edwards Walker is the woman to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for her service during the Civil War,
Today is the 157th anniversary of Mosby’s Raid on Herndon Station. Watch the video below to learn more about this fascinating moment in Herndon's history.
https://youtu.be/43hjf6Dh9P0
This is the fifth segment of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority film "Region Divided: Civil War in the Northern Virginia Regional Parks," produced...
AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Herndon Historical Society’s special presentation this Sunday, March 22nd, by Lynn Garvey-Hodge recreating the life of Amelia “Mimi” Walker, woman suffragist, has been postponed. The Historical Society will reschedule the event for another date in the future.
In order to support the recommendations made by State and Federal officials working to contain the spread of COVID-19, the Herndon Depot Museum will be closed on Sundays through the end of March, at which time the Historical Society's Board will look at recommendations to determine if the Depot can reopen.
Please look for future events on the website, Herndonhistoricalsociety.org, or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HerndonHistory/.
On behalf of the Board of the Herndon Historical Society, please stay safe and well.
717 Lynn St
Herndon, VA
21070
The mailing address for the HHS is PO Box 99, Herndon, Virginia 20172-0099. However the physical street address of the Depot Museum is 717 Lynn Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170.
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