BRADDOCK ROAD & REBEL HILL
Rebel Hill along Braddock Road, although very important previously as a Fairfax location indicator, it has faded into lore. Stories are that Confederates early in the Civil War (about 1861-1862) desired to obstruct Union troops from crossing the Accotink. Braddock Road, even then, was a major artery. So - the Confederates built defensive earthworks along the hill which became known as Rebel Hill.
Rebel Hill was, and still is, generally the rise between Wakefield Chapel Road and South Hampton traveling from the beltway towards Kings Park. Braddock Road intesects only a portion of Rebel Hill.
In the earlier 1900s Rebel Hill was a challenge for Model T's and other vehicles. Tales are told of backing autos up the dirt road because reverse gearing made it
easier to go up the hill. Tales of horses, mules and tractors pulling cars up Rebel Hill were shared.
Information and pictures below were extracted from the website below which documents a major transformation of Braddock Road and Rebel Hill.
https://braddockheritage.org/items/show/262.html
More pictures are on the website above.
Burke native, Glenn Curtis photographed the work in progress taming Rebel Hill and turning that stretch of Braddock
Road intoa four-lane divided highway.
Research has not determined the exact time of construction by the Virginia Department of Transportation. Examination of aerial photos by the Fairfax County
GIS & Mapping Services office narrowed the time to between March 1970 and March 1972.
GIS & Mapping Services office narrowed the time to between March 1970 and March 1972.
This is probably near the top of Rebel Hill looking toward what is now the beltway. Note telphone and/or power lines are on the left as they still are in 2022. |