Herndon Historical Society

10/28/2021

10/27/2021

A group of town employees took a guided walking tour of historic downtown Herndon, led by the Herndon Historical Society. As shown here, the tour ended at Herndon’s Town Hall, which was constructed in 1938 as a New Deal Federal Public Works Project under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

A group of town employees took a guided walking tour of historic downtown Herndon, led by the Herndon Historical Society. As shown here, the tour ended at Herndon’s Town Hall, which was constructed in 1938 as a New Deal Federal Public Works Project under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

10/16/2021

Find a spot along Elden Street to enjoy the Herndon Homecoming Parade, Saturday at 9:30am. Cheer on the band, class floats, cheerleaders, elementary students, young athletes and the many clubs and organizations! Plan extra time to get to the parade.

10/10/2021

The Herndon Historical Society participated in this year’s NatureFest. Society member, Kevin Taylor, shows a guest an antique two-man crosscut saw and other artifacts that were found in Runnymede Park, harkening back to the park’s farming and lumber mill history. (Photo by Jessica Ward).

The Herndon Historical Society participated in this year’s NatureFest. Society member, Kevin Taylor, shows a guest an antique two-man crosscut saw and other artifacts that were found in Runnymede Park, harkening back to the park’s farming and lumber mill history. (Photo by Jessica Ward).

10/08/2021

A group of preschool children from “All Ages Read Together” recently visited the Herndon caboose. They enjoyed learning about the inside of the caboose, and reading a fun book about Herndon together. Choo-choo! 🚂

A group of preschool children from “All Ages Read Together” recently visited the Herndon caboose. They enjoyed learning about the inside of the caboose, and reading a fun book about Herndon together. Choo-choo! 🚂

10/07/2021

Several members of the Herndon High School Class of 1970 recently gathered at the Herndon Depot Museum to celebrate their (somewhat delayed) 50th high school reunion. Welcome back to Herndon!

10/05/2021

Herndon History: Former Mayor Pens 1934 Christmas Letter To Town Resident In TB Sanatorium

https://patch.com/virginia/herndon/remembering-herndons-history-tb-letter-charles-burton

Former mayor's letter to town resident receiving treatment for tuberculosis offers peek into daily life during the Great Depression.

10/04/2021

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Nine of Frying Pan's cows will compete in a real live race called -- you guessed it -- NASCOW! They'll be motivated to "race" across a field by one of their favorite treats: spent brewer's grain. This oatmeal-like substance is a byproduct of the beer-making process donated to the farm by local brewers. (No worries: it doesn't make the cows drunk.)

Frying Pan's friends group hopes to raise $50,000 from fans like you who sponsor your favorite cows in the race. Funds raised from NASCOW will be used to pay for food and vet care for almost 100 animals, and support the farm.

To keep everyone safe, the cows will race for the cameras instead of for a live audience. You'll be able to watch the NASCOW race online October 22.

For photos and bios of the cow contestants, and how to sponsor them, go to the NASCOW website: Friendsoffryingpan.org/NASCOW.

10/02/2021

Dine. Shop. Bike. Repeat.

Join us for a fun bike ride along the W&OD trail all month long in the Town of Vienna, VA and Town of Herndon. A great way to make some memories and visit some of your favorite businesses! #exploreviennava #exploreherdonva

09/29/2021

Herndon's Hidden History Episode 9: Historical Herndon Landmarks

In this next episode of Herndon’s Hidden History, Barbara Glakas takes a closer look at some of Herndon’s historic structures that remain in town today.

Barbara Glakas shares the history of Herndon's old buildings, detailing the years they were built, the changes and moves they have undergone, and what the bu...

09/24/2021

How do you keep wooden gears running smoothly ? Crisco. That's what we use to grease any gears that are near food product.

09/23/2021

"The newspaper accounts of the dead, wounded are moderate, also of wagons & army stores. It is almost incredible, one can hardly believe their own eyes at the extraordinary sights...The results of this battle must change the face of the war." - Capt. Asher Harman, Co. G, 5th VA in a letter to his wife (July 25, 1861)

The Battle of First Manassas shocked the nation. In the days, weeks, and months that followed, letters, photographs, and newspaper articles related the events of the battle and its aftermath.

Join a park historian on Saturday, October 2 at 5:00 for a 90-minute walk discussing the role of letters, newspapers, and photographs in shaping the memory of the first major land battle of the Civil War. This walk will begin at the Henry Hill Visitor Center.

#findyourpark #encuentratuparque #historyatsunset #manassasnps

Image: LOC, black and white image showing a civilian standing next to a pond. In the foreground, wooden headboards marking grave sites.

09/22/2021

This just in! The Herndon Historical Society has a new holiday ornament for sale! It is a beautifully designed, two-dimensional, colorful ornament of the Herndon caboose, made by the same company that makes the White House ornaments. A perfect gift or addition to your home’s holiday decorations. They are now on sale in the Depot Museum (open Sundays from 12-3 PM). Get one while they last! Cost is $20 plus tax. Questions? Contact [email protected].

This just in! The Herndon Historical Society has a new holiday ornament for sale! It is a beautifully designed, two-dimensional, colorful ornament of the Herndon caboose, made by the same company that makes the White House ornaments. A perfect gift or addition to your home’s holiday decorations. They are now on sale in the Depot Museum (open Sundays from 12-3 PM). Get one while they last! Cost is $20 plus tax. Questions? Contact [email protected].

09/18/2021

#OnThisDay in 1849, Harriet Tubman escaped her enslavement on Maryland's Eastern Shore. She began a new life as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, helping others free themselves from the bo***ge of slavery.

Tubman also served as a Union spy, scout, and nurse in the Civil War. Her activism did not end with emancipation; she became a civil rights activist and a strong supporter of women's voting rights.

Her courageous actions helped shaped American history. During International Underground Railroad Month, explore the secret network of trails, waterways, and safe houses used by enslaved people fleeing north along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad scenic byway: https://bit.ly/2FJeaUL

#MDinFocus, #UndergroundRailroad

National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom
I Love Dorchester County

09/18/2021

Bragg Making Friends Downtown

09/12/2021

Commander Herndon's ship - the S.S. Central American - sank on September 12, 1857. There were 575 people on board and only 152 people survived. Shown here is part of a life preserver from the Central America as displayed in the Mariners' Museum in Newport News, VA. Donated by T. Hallert Badger, whose aunt and uncle survived the sinking, it is known that two of the survivors were Captain Thomas W. Badger and his wife, Jane. Badger was a native Virginian, who followed a seafaring life, and later engaged in the shipping business in California. He was travelling from California to the east coast, on his way to visit family on the Delmarva Peninsula, when the ship sank. While on board the ship, Badger's skills helped keep the ship afloat for about 36 hours, long enough for many passengers to be rescued. The Badgers were one of only four couples to survive the disaster.

09/11/2021

Remembering 9/11 Victim From Herndon 20 Years Later

https://patch.com/virginia/herndon/remembering-9-11-victim-herndon-20-years-later

A Herndon man who died on 9/11 will be among those memorialized at services across the country on the attack's 20th anniversary.

09/07/2021

Remembering Herndon's History: Miss Harris’ Poems of Oak Grove

https://patch.com/virginia/herndon/remembering-herndons-history-miss-harris-poems-oak-grove

Barbara Glakas of the Herndon Historical Society writes about Ida Harris, who taught at Herndon's all-black school in the 1940s and 1950s.

09/06/2021

Learn how real, live farm animals settle down for the night! Bring a flashlight for a twilight tour of Frying Pan Farm Park. This one-hour program will be held Friday-Sunday evenings in September at 6:30 p.m. Ages 3 and older; $10 per person. Register at Bit.ly/38gbYPE.

09/05/2021

Quirky, ebullient, jovial... adjectives that could be used to describe Willard Scott, the longtime NBC weatherman and well-wisher of centenarians all across the United States who died yesterday at the age of 87. In a career that spanned decades, Willard Scott was a familiar fixture in many American homes. But did you know that Willard Scott, a native Virginian, was an advocate of Manassas National Battlefield Park?

In the 1980s, when developers were threatening to build a shopping mall near Stuart's Hill, Scott was one of the celebrities who spoke at a rally organized by the Save the Battlefield Coalition. Designed to draw national attention to the situation, Scott spoke about what the battlefield and Civil War meant to him, and even made sure to televise a broadcast from the park during the controversy. Scott died at his home in Delaplane, not far from the battlefield he had once helped to preserve.

Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Willard Scott.

#findyourpark #encuentratuparque #manassasnps #battlefieldpreservation

Image: Willard Scott smiling for the camera in the 1980s wearing cowboy boots with the NBC logo posed with his leg resting on a stone wall wearing jeans, a red track jacket, and matching red cowboy hat with the Virginia countryside in the background. (LOC)

09/05/2021

The Pumpkin Patch Limited Train Ride In Maryland Is Scenic And Fun For The Whole Family

Choo choo! 🚂

This Maryland train ride takes you straight to a pumpkin patch!

08/31/2021

The Potomac Module Crew will be running HO Gauge model trains at the Fairfax Station Railroad Museum over the Labor Day weekend. The model train display will be Sunday, September 5, from 12-4 p.m. and Monday, Sept. 6 from 1-4 p.m. The museum is located at 11200 Fairfax Station Road in Fairfax Station, VA. Find more info at https://fairfax-station.org

08/27/2021

We hope to see you this Sunday, Aug. 29th, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in #fairfaxstation at the Fairfax Station Railroad Museum Learn more at www.fairfax-station.org/ NTRAK model trains will be running! #trainhistory #choochoo #fairfaxHistory

08/26/2021

Herndon? No. History? Kinda. Fun? Yup! 🙃 History In Pictures is a great page! This is one of their sillier posts, but their page is full of all sorts of interesting historical tidbits. 🧐📚🥰

08/15/2021

Remembering Herndon's History: Our First Mayor, Isaiah Bready

https://patch.com/virginia/herndon/remembering-herndons-history-our-first-mayor-isaiah-bready

Historian Barbara Glakas tells the story of how Isaiah Bready's family came to Herndon and how he became the town's first mayor.

08/10/2021

T-TRAK (N-scale) trains running this coming Sunday. Hope to see you there!

08/09/2021

We are open today! Please stop by to spend some leisurely time exploring our displays and exhibits, both inside the Depot, outside on the grounds, and in our Exhibit Sheds. Please come by to learn about the rich history of railroading in the Fairfax Station area, especially circa the US Civil War period!
As always, we have openings for new volunteers and would love to discuss volunteer opportunities with you on site that day or by going to https://fairfax-station.org/volunteer-opportunities/

08/07/2021

We are saddened to learn that Anthony “Tony” DeBenedittis passed away on August 1st. Tony was a long-time Herndon resident and member of the Herndon Historical Society. An lifelong artist and an art teacher at Herndon High School for many years, Tony will also be remembered for designing Herndon’s Town Seal in 1976. We will always remember Tony’s dedication, hard work and generosity. Tony’s obituary and service information can be found here: https://adamsgreen.com/tribute/details/12189/Anthony-DeBenedittis/obituary.html#tribute-start

We are saddened to learn that Anthony “Tony” DeBenedittis passed away on August 1st. Tony was a long-time Herndon resident and member of the Herndon Historical Society. An lifelong artist and an art teacher at Herndon High School for many years, Tony will also be remembered for designing Herndon’s Town Seal in 1976. We will always remember Tony’s dedication, hard work and generosity. Tony’s obituary and service information can be found here: https://adamsgreen.com/tribute/details/12189/Anthony-DeBenedittis/obituary.html#tribute-start

08/04/2021

On the western edge of the town of Herndon is the Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. This cemetery dates back to the 1800s and was once part of the town’s segregated African American community. Many people buried there were Herndon residents. To see a survey and photos of this and other local cemeteries, see this link to the Fairfax County Cemetery Preservation Association’s website.

Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery | Fairfax County Cemetery Preservation Association (honorfairfaxcemeteries.org)

On the western edge of the town of Herndon is the Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. This cemetery dates back to the 1800s and was once part of the town’s segregated African American community. Many people buried there were Herndon residents. To see a survey and photos of this and other local cemeteries, see this link to the Fairfax County Cemetery Preservation Association’s website.

Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery | Fairfax County Cemetery Preservation Association (honorfairfaxcemeteries.org)

08/01/2021

Former Herndon resident, Donald LeVine, donated to the Herndon Historical Society (represented by Barbara Glakas) a ledger and minute book from the Herndon School Association. Inside the book - which covers the time period of 1868 to 1875 - are meeting minutes and lists of subscriptions from those Herndon residents who donated money, supplies and labor to build the Herndon School that used to be located at 725 Center Street. Photos of the pages inside the ledger can be seen in this link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17oLPJmELaEQIeR9SYSo1joZJGufiIOCX?usp=sharing . (Photos courtesy Jeff Clark).

Former Herndon resident, Donald LeVine, donated to the Herndon Historical Society (represented by Barbara Glakas) a ledger and minute book from the Herndon School Association. Inside the book - which covers the time period of 1868 to 1875 - are meeting minutes and lists of subscriptions from those Herndon residents who donated money, supplies and labor to build the Herndon School that used to be located at 725 Center Street. Photos of the pages inside the ledger can be seen in this link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17oLPJmELaEQIeR9SYSo1joZJGufiIOCX?usp=sharing . (Photos courtesy Jeff Clark).

07/10/2021

HERNDON, DID YOU KNOW? ...

The little cream colored building at 660 Spring Street (next to the fire station) was the first Fortnightly Library, constructed in 1927 by the Herndon Fortnightly Club. The ladies of the Fortnightly Club ran the library up until the 1970s when the library was incorporated into the Fairfax County Public Library system. A new Fortnightly Library was built on the town green in the 1990s. The Fortnightly Club still exists today as the oldest continually running women’s club in Virginia. Their former building on Spring Street is now home to Herndon Friends Meeting (Quakers).

07/07/2021

Remembering Herndon's History: 1850s Life Before the Railroad

https://patch.com/virginia/herndon/remembering-herndons-history-1850s-life-railroad

Historian Barbara Glakas documents the arrival of the railroad and how Herndon could've been called "Hazard."

07/04/2021

After being closed for the last 13 months, the Herndon Depot Museum on Lynn Street has officially reopened! We are now open on Sundays from 12:00 to 3:00, except on select holidays. We also continue to open at other times by appointment. Come on down to our historic train depot and see our interesting and varied exhibits about Herndon history. We also have Herndon-related gifts for sale. #ItsON!! 🚂

After being closed for the last 13 months, the Herndon Depot Museum on Lynn Street has officially reopened! We are now open on Sundays from 12:00 to 3:00, except on select holidays. We also continue to open at other times by appointment. Come on down to our historic train depot and see our interesting and varied exhibits about Herndon history. We also have Herndon-related gifts for sale. #ItsON!! 🚂