The official page for the Herndon Historical Society (HHS). The Herndon Historical Society was founded in 1971. Its purpose, as stated in the Society's constitution, is “…to bring together those people interested in history, and especially in the history of the Herndon, Virginia, area.”
The Society established a museum in conjunction with the Town’s centennial celebration in 1976.
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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.
Operating as usual
Thank you to all who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. 🇺🇸 Learn more about the history of Memorial Day, Memorial Day traditions and more here:
https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/memorial-day-history
Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day started in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971 to honor those who served and died in wars.
HERNDON: DID YOU KNOW?
Have you ever noticed the small building on the 4th hole of the Herndon Centennial Golf Course and wondered what it was? Prior to the golf course being constructed in the 1970s, three homes sat along Old Heights Road (a gravel road in part of the golf course that runs parallel to the W&OD trail and intersects Crestview Drive). The little white building was a springhouse that was once associated with one of those homes. It was restored in 1991.
Springhouses were used to help keep the spring water clean and for refrigeration. A second unrestored springhouse that was associated with another home on Old Heights Road can be found nearby.
Please share!
Ever need to write a quick note or thank you card, but don't have a card handy? 🤔 Well then stock up on the Herndon Historical Society's new notecards, which are great for all occasions! These beautiful cream color cards come in packages of six, and each package includes different depictions of Herndon’s historic train depot and Lynn Street. They're the perfect way to show your Herndon pride, and they make a wonderful gift for your favorite Herndonites! To make purchase arrangements, please contact [email protected]. Happy writing! ✉️
Small cards (3” x 4”) ~ $5
Large card (4”x 5”) ~ $10
Ever need to write a quick note or thank you card, but don't have a card handy? 🤔 Well then stock up on the Herndon Historical Society's new notecards, which are great for all occasions! These beautiful cream color cards come in packages of six, and each package includes different depictions of Herndon’s historic train depot and Lynn Street. They're the perfect way to show your Herndon pride, and they make a wonderful gift for your favorite Herndonites! To make purchase arrangements, please contact [email protected]. Happy writing! ✉️
Small cards (3” x 4”) ~ $5
Large card (4”x 5”) ~ $10
Ever heard of Herndon's Road Sirs Car Club? Speed on over to the link below to learn more about this bit of Herndon history! 🚗
https://patch.com/virginia/herndon/remembering-herndons-history-road-sirs-car-club
Barbara Glakas remembers The Road Sirs Car Club, a group of Herndon car enthusiasts during the mid-1950s and mid-1960s.
Coming Soon to a Yard Near You - Historic Cicadas! 🦟
Cicadas are environmentally historic. The first known description of an emergence of Brood X cicadas appeared in a pastor’s journal in 1715. Our region is due to have Brood X (Brood 10) emerge this spring. These are not the annual cicadas that we hear buzzing in the background every summer. Brood X is one of the massive periodical broods that comes out every 13 to 17 years in the millions! 😱 They are now hidden in the ground. They will emerge from the ground, attach themselves to vertical objects like trees or houses, shed its skin, fly around, mate, lay eggs and then die. Then the new little young cicadas will hatch and dig into the ground where they will live on roots until they emerge again 17 years later! One important thing for you (and especially your kids) to remember is that cicadas do not sting or bite (unless you hold one for too long and they mistake your skin for a yummy plant). They make a lot of noise and they may accidentally run into you while they are flying around, but they are harmless. See the article in the link for more information about cicadas.
https://www.cicadamania.com/
Coming Soon to a Yard Near You - Historic Cicadas! 🦟
Cicadas are environmentally historic. The first known description of an emergence of Brood X cicadas appeared in a pastor’s journal in 1715. Our region is due to have Brood X (Brood 10) emerge this spring. These are not the annual cicadas that we hear buzzing in the background every summer. Brood X is one of the massive periodical broods that comes out every 13 to 17 years in the millions! 😱 They are now hidden in the ground. They will emerge from the ground, attach themselves to vertical objects like trees or houses, shed its skin, fly around, mate, lay eggs and then die. Then the new little young cicadas will hatch and dig into the ground where they will live on roots until they emerge again 17 years later! One important thing for you (and especially your kids) to remember is that cicadas do not sting or bite (unless you hold one for too long and they mistake your skin for a yummy plant). They make a lot of noise and they may accidentally run into you while they are flying around, but they are harmless. See the article in the link for more information about cicadas.
https://www.cicadamania.com/
The Herndon Historical Society (HHS) was pleased to host a local learning pod earlier this week, providing tours of the Depot Museum, the caboose and Carroll House in Runnymede Park. 🚂 To arrange a tour for your small group, please contact HHS via Facebook Messenger or [email protected]. We hope to see you soon!
Opens a week from today!
We are saddened to learn of the passing of our friend and fellow Herndon Historical Society member, Gary Rinker. He was a lifelong resident of Herndon and volunteered in many capacities, including reenacting as the town’s namesake, Commander William Lewis Herndon, at many town events. He also reenacted as a Train Conductor when volunteering at Herndon’s red caboose. We will miss his kind nature and his devotion to Herndon. For more information about Gary’s life and funeral services, please see this link: https://adamsgreen.com/tribute/details/12003/Gary-Rinker/obituary.html#tribute-start
HERNDON - DID YOU KNOW ... ??
Check out this old pic of the Herndon Depot ... notice how much longer it used to be? Did you know that it had been shortened? If so, did you ever wonder why? Well then you came to the right place! 🤓 Between 1969 and 1974 there were a series of downtown improvement projects near Town Hall and Depot. They included “straightening out” Elden Street so that it directly connected with Monroe Street; putting a new brick sidewalk and landscaping around the Town Hall and Depot; and connecting Station Street to Spring Street. But the Depot was in the way, so in order to connect Station and Spring Streets, several feet of the west end of the Depot were cut off! Compare the two photos from 1960 and 2019 (the Depot is outlined in red). While the Depot is not as big as it used to be, it's still very much the heart of our charming town. We're thankful for those who had the foresight to work around it, and to preserve this important part of Herndon's rich history. 🚂
https://patch.com/virginia/herndon/remembering-herndons-history-follylick-farm
Barbara Glakas writes about one of the last working farms in Herndon.
Happy Easter!! 🐰🌷🐣
Image credit - Pinterest - 130 🌸 Vintage Easter Cards
Happy Easter!! 🐰🌷🐣
Image credit - Pinterest - 130 🌸 Vintage Easter Cards
Herndon Farmers' Market reopens April 22!
Members of Boy Scout Troop 2016 from Chantilly recently visited the Herndon Depot Museum. They engaged in a community service project by helping the Herndon Historical Society complete their annual museum cleaning. They also learned much about railroad history as they pursue their Railroad Merit Badge. Thank you Troop 2016!
Members of Boy Scout Troop 2016 from Chantilly recently visited the Herndon Depot Museum. They engaged in a community service project by helping the Herndon Historical Society complete their annual museum cleaning. They also learned much about railroad history as they pursue their Railroad Merit Badge. Thank you Troop 2016!
Board members of the Friends of Runnymede Park recently visited the Herndon Depot Museum to see the Herndon Historical Society’s new exhibit of artifacts from Herndon’s Runnymede Park, a 58-acre natural park on the east side of town. These interesting artifacts reflect the farming history and the sawmill history of the park.
Board members of the Friends of Runnymede Park recently visited the Herndon Depot Museum to see the Herndon Historical Society’s new exhibit of artifacts from Herndon’s Runnymede Park, a 58-acre natural park on the east side of town. These interesting artifacts reflect the farming history and the sawmill history of the park.
Photos from NOVA History Remembered's post
In honor of Women's History Month, we're revisiting an article about one of Herndon's many historic heroines.
http://historicheroines.org/2015/06/29/mrs-mary-lee-castleman/
Mary Castleman helped to establish of the Town of Herndon's first Episcopal Church and first boarding school for girls, and Fairfax County’s first lending library.
HERNDON - DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that in Herndon’s first 1880 census there were 422 people living in town and four of them were born in Ireland? They were: Ellen and Dennis Caskery (a railroad track man), and Mary and James Quin (a farmer). Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 🍀
HERNDON - DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that in Herndon’s first 1880 census there were 422 people living in town and four of them were born in Ireland? They were: Ellen and Dennis Caskery (a railroad track man), and Mary and James Quin (a farmer). Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 🍀
THIS WEEKEND! Take an evening tour of the farm! It starts at 4:45 p.m. in the farmyard by Kidwell barn. Get a taste of family farm life from back in the day, plus visit with farm animals (including some of our babies)! To sign up to take the tour this Saturday, Sunday or Monday, go here:
https://bit.ly/3emcIai.
Our very own Barbara Glakas will be the guest speaker at the Friends of Runnymede Park's (virtual) Annual Meeting. Please find registration information below, and be sure to tune in to learn about life in historic Runnymede's early days!
Happy International Women’s Day!!
In 1853, Louisa Bird Cunningham wrote these words to her daughter, Ann Pamela Cunningham, after seeing the decrepit state of George Washington's home while traveling on the Potomac River.
Inspired by her mother's words, Cunningham took it upon herself to challenge the nation to save Mount Vernon.
She founded the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association in 1853, and by 1858 had raised $200,000 to purchase the Mansion and 200 acres. The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association was the first national historic preservation organization & is the oldest women's patriotic society in the US, and continues to safeguard George Washington’s home to this day. Learn more today on #InternationalWomensDay: http://bit.ly/3aAKp2q
https://patch.com/virginia/herndon/remembering-herndons-history-harvey-earlton-hanes
Barbara Glakas writes about H. Earlton Hanes, a prominent lawyer and community leader in Herndon.
Did you miss your opportunity over the holidays to purchase a wooden Herndon sign for your home? No fear! We have more in stock! We have four sizes that range in size from 15” long to 54” inches long. They are perfect to give as a gift, decorate a room, place over your fireplace, or even hang on your deck or shed! If you are interested in purchasing a Herndon sign please contact us at [email protected].
Did you miss your opportunity over the holidays to purchase a wooden Herndon sign for your home? No fear! We have more in stock! We have four sizes that range in size from 15” long to 54” inches long. They are perfect to give as a gift, decorate a room, place over your fireplace, or even hang on your deck or shed! If you are interested in purchasing a Herndon sign please contact us at herndonhistoricalsociet[email protected].
For those of you who enjoyed the post that we recently shared regarding the last day of “passenger” service on the W&OD, we thought you might like to see the day all train service stopped in Herndon (1968). 🚂
For those of you who enjoyed the post that we recently shared regarding the last day of “passenger” service on the W&OD, we thought you might like to see the day all train service stopped in Herndon (1968). 🚂
DID YOU KNOW ... ?
Did you know that the Herndon Clock & Watch shop at 715 Pine Street used to be the home of the Herndon’s C&P Telephone switchboard? Pictured in the striped shirt is Herndon’s own, switchboard operator Janet Allder.
Happy Presidents' Day! We hope you're enjoying this national holiday and taking some time to learn the history thereof (https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/presidents-day). Do you know who the President of the United States was when the Town of Herndon was incorporated in 1879? Need a hint? Check out the photo below. Still need help? You can find the answer in the comments section! 🤗🇺🇸🎉 #herndonhistory
Happy Presidents' Day! We hope you're enjoying this national holiday and taking some time to learn the history thereof (https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/presidents-day). Do you know who the President of the United States was when the Town of Herndon was incorporated in 1879? Need a hint? Check out the photo below. Still need help? You can find the answer in the comments section! 🤗🇺🇸🎉 #herndonhistory
https://patch.com/district-columbia/washingtondc/remembering-herndons-history-village-blacksmith
Barbara Glakas recalls the history of Henry Simms, one of Herndon's first Black business owners.
https://www.facebook.com/2124522644304056/posts/3646858015403837/?d=n
Just dropping these here ...
Eagle Scout Marc-Anthony Jaoude and Scout supervisor Roger Claff visit with Herndon Historical Society President Nancy Saunders at the Herndon depot as Marc-Anthony works on a project about Herndon History.
Happy 142nd Birthday to the Town of Herndon! 🥳 The town was incorporated on January 14, 1879. The first elected mayor was Isaiah Bready, who is pictured here. So much has changed since he was mayor, but Herndon remains a charming little town. That's something we can all celebrate!! 🎉
Happy New Year to Herndon Historical Society Members and Supporters:
We hope you are all staying safe and healthy. Until we are able to safely meet together again, we will bring local history to you via your computer. We have collected four YouTube videos on the history of the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad for our January meeting.
• NOVA History Remembered: The W&OD Railroad Begins (6 minutes and 18 seconds) https://youtu.be/6D1Z4wJOPB0 (Turn your volume up for this one)
• NOVA History Remembered: The W&OD Railroad: After the Civil War (6 minutes and 20 seconds) https://youtu.be/A8_rM_zLRDI (Turn your volume up for this one)
• NOVA History Remembered: Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad (10 minutes and 32 seconds) https://youtu.be/FiQRq3ZbWFY
• NOVA History Remembered: The End of the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad and the W&OD Railway (9 minutes and 5 seconds) https://youtu.be/dUnNyCJx_c4
These videos have been prepared by Paul McCray, who was the manager of the W&OD Trail for 20 years before becoming the Operations Director for NOVA Parks. His research about the W&OD led to a collection of almost 2,000 photos and over a thousand news articles and original documents from the railroad. These are wonderful reminders of our history in and around Herndon.
We hope you enjoy the videos and we hope to see you soon!
All our best,
The Herndon Historical Society Board of Directors
ATTENTION MEMBERS (AND MEMBERS-TO-BE 😁)!!
It's time to renew your 2021 membership!! 🤗 If you're not a member, why not take this opportunity to become a member and support the preservation of Herndon's rich history? 🤓 Please (re-)join by filling out the membership form that can be found at the link below. Payment can be made to the address on the form, or by contacting HHS for online payment instructions ([email protected]). Thanks so much and we hope to be able to see you around the depot soon ... choo choo!! 🚂
http://www.herndonhistoricalsociety.org/images/Membership_form,_2021.pdf
Image credit: upbeat membership
717 Lynn St
Herndon, VA
20170
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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