GALLERY C
CHERRY BOMBED MAILBOXES
Hard to believe, but have been told a group of the great young children of Long Branch - in the past - decided to modify several Long Branch mailboxes by the "Cherry Bomb Method." Not sure if it took place in the 1980's or 1990's.
KU KLUX KLAN LEFT STUFF IN LONG BRANCH
In the early 1980's a couple bought their new home in Long Branch. After living there for while, a complete KKK robe and hat were found on the back of a top closet shelf. The Fairfax Police were very interested and found evidence in the basement area of the house serviced "KKK activities". Apparently the Police had the house under surveillance, but renters, prior to sale of the house to the new couple, had moved out suddenly. Unfortunately the Fairfax Police took all of the evidence including the robe and hat. hat. All that is left is the tale.
FOSTER BROS. SALES BROCHURE
A STAR AMONG US
Many years ago a nice Naval officer, his lovely wife and their three kids moved into the house on King Solomon. Their daughter, Carmen, was actively involved in the drama department at WT Woodson and performed in the plays and musicals at the school. Carmen teaches at a theater school in New York City and this season has a recurring role in a new CBS show called FBI where she plays a police officer who diffuses bombs. Drama students from WTW go to NYC and part of their tour is spending a day at her school! Her website is www.carmenlamar.com The famiy's last name was Wiley.
Many years ago a nice Naval officer, his lovely wife and their three kids moved into the house on King Solomon. Their daughter, Carmen, was actively involved in the drama department at WT Woodson and performed in the plays and musicals at the school. Carmen teaches at a theater school in New York City and this season has a recurring role in a new CBS show called FBI where she plays a police officer who diffuses bombs. Drama students from WTW go to NYC and part of their tour is spending a day at her school! Her website is www.carmenlamar.com The famiy's last name was Wiley.
UNLUCKY LONG BRANCH SIGNAGE WALL
If you stand at the corner of Guinea Road and King David Blvd next to the Long Branch sign. You are at lat. 38.818540, lon. -7726.3996 and 318 feet above sea level. You are 14.55 miles from the U.S. Capitol and 4508.9 miles from Rome. You would also be dead if you were standing there on a certain night about 2013. Something” smashed the Long Branch letters and the wall. Venture behind the wall and observe the different colors of brick. The Long Branch Civic Association had it rebuilt. No trace of what hit it. A car? A truck? An unknown cosmic event? The letters on this sign originally matched the letters on the sign at the corner of King David and Braddock Road, but no more.
If you stand at the corner of Guinea Road and King David Blvd next to the Long Branch sign. You are at lat. 38.818540, lon. -7726.3996 and 318 feet above sea level. You are 14.55 miles from the U.S. Capitol and 4508.9 miles from Rome. You would also be dead if you were standing there on a certain night about 2013. Something” smashed the Long Branch letters and the wall. Venture behind the wall and observe the different colors of brick. The Long Branch Civic Association had it rebuilt. No trace of what hit it. A car? A truck? An unknown cosmic event? The letters on this sign originally matched the letters on the sign at the corner of King David and Braddock Road, but no more.
HISTORY - 1860 LONG BRANCH
LONG BRANCH RESIDENT MARTHA B. CONTRIBUTED THE FOLLOWING RESEARCH IN FEBRUARY 2019
Long Branch in 1860. The City of Fairfax Library has information about our community back in the day. Long Branch was owned by a woman named Harriet Ward and Red Fox by her brother, William Fitzhugh. I asked the librarian there about Harriet Ward and found out she was the wife of a man named Berkley Ward. She was the administratrix of his estate when he died without a will by 1867 (he died at the age of 71 in May, 1860 “worn out by old age and declining health”, according to the mortality schedule). She was the daughter of Richard and Susannah Fitzhugh, and she inherited the 501 acre tract from her father. Her siblings own the land to the left and right of her parcel. Berkley and Harriet are not listed in the 1860 census in Fairfax County; they lived in Fauquier County instead. According to her page at FindAGrave.com, she was born January 1, 1800 and died August 15, 1871 (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14948087). She married Berkeley Ward on March 5, 1823 in Washington, DC.
I’ve attached the 1850, 1860 and 1870 census for Harriet Ward, and the 1860 mortality schedule for her husband Berkley. (WARD, BERKLEY) Tax Map # 69:2,4 (map page 69-4 is the page you attached) Son of Zachariah Ward. Lived in Warrenton in 1855. Renounced administration of his estate in favor of his father's widow, Anna Ward. Ward v Potter CFF 28R (1855) Documents online at https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp?CFN=059-1858-018
Harriet Ward was the daughter of Richard and Susannah Fitzhugh. Received 501 acres from Fitzhugh's estate. Fitzhugh v White CFF 32J (1856) documents online at https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp?CFN=059-1869-003 Sued James Potter's Admr. to regain possession of 273 acres on the Long Branch of Accotink Creek. Potter v Potter CFF 74P (1859) documents online at https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp?CFN=059-1866-011 Voted for secession at Fairfax C.H. in 1861. Died by 1867, Harriet Ward, Admx. Jones v Fowle CFF 54d(1867) documents online at https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp?CFN=059-1887-004 Sought the post of Engineer to the turnpike company. Said to have told Mr. Dulin that he would lay out the route preferred by him if he would vote for him to get the job. Dulin v Fauquier & Georgetown Tpk. Co. CFF 23d (1869) documents online at https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp?CFN=059-1871-015 If you want more information the library is at 10360 North Street in Fairfax and you can email the librarian of the Virginia Room at [email protected]. I just found this so interesting that I had to share! Oh and here is the link to the map that shows who owned which land: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/history-commission/sites/history-commission/files/Assets/documents/1860CountyMap/69-4.jpg
MAP IS BELOW
LONG BRANCH RESIDENT MARTHA B. CONTRIBUTED THE FOLLOWING RESEARCH IN FEBRUARY 2019
Long Branch in 1860. The City of Fairfax Library has information about our community back in the day. Long Branch was owned by a woman named Harriet Ward and Red Fox by her brother, William Fitzhugh. I asked the librarian there about Harriet Ward and found out she was the wife of a man named Berkley Ward. She was the administratrix of his estate when he died without a will by 1867 (he died at the age of 71 in May, 1860 “worn out by old age and declining health”, according to the mortality schedule). She was the daughter of Richard and Susannah Fitzhugh, and she inherited the 501 acre tract from her father. Her siblings own the land to the left and right of her parcel. Berkley and Harriet are not listed in the 1860 census in Fairfax County; they lived in Fauquier County instead. According to her page at FindAGrave.com, she was born January 1, 1800 and died August 15, 1871 (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14948087). She married Berkeley Ward on March 5, 1823 in Washington, DC.
I’ve attached the 1850, 1860 and 1870 census for Harriet Ward, and the 1860 mortality schedule for her husband Berkley. (WARD, BERKLEY) Tax Map # 69:2,4 (map page 69-4 is the page you attached) Son of Zachariah Ward. Lived in Warrenton in 1855. Renounced administration of his estate in favor of his father's widow, Anna Ward. Ward v Potter CFF 28R (1855) Documents online at https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp?CFN=059-1858-018
Harriet Ward was the daughter of Richard and Susannah Fitzhugh. Received 501 acres from Fitzhugh's estate. Fitzhugh v White CFF 32J (1856) documents online at https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp?CFN=059-1869-003 Sued James Potter's Admr. to regain possession of 273 acres on the Long Branch of Accotink Creek. Potter v Potter CFF 74P (1859) documents online at https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp?CFN=059-1866-011 Voted for secession at Fairfax C.H. in 1861. Died by 1867, Harriet Ward, Admx. Jones v Fowle CFF 54d(1867) documents online at https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp?CFN=059-1887-004 Sought the post of Engineer to the turnpike company. Said to have told Mr. Dulin that he would lay out the route preferred by him if he would vote for him to get the job. Dulin v Fauquier & Georgetown Tpk. Co. CFF 23d (1869) documents online at https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp?CFN=059-1871-015 If you want more information the library is at 10360 North Street in Fairfax and you can email the librarian of the Virginia Room at [email protected]. I just found this so interesting that I had to share! Oh and here is the link to the map that shows who owned which land: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/history-commission/sites/history-commission/files/Assets/documents/1860CountyMap/69-4.jpg
MAP IS BELOW
POOL 1978
The Long Branch Swim and Racquet Club open the pool on 24 July 1977. The yellow dot will become Burnetta - the road that now leads to the pool. The red dot is the pool entrance at about 5010 Mignonette. The green dot marks entry to the parking lot.
It is told a 2nd tennis court was planned next to the existing court.
The first pool officers, and ones who "built the pool" were Dennis E. Vorbau, President (with help from his wife Madelon. They lived at 4801 King Solomon. Others were Gilbert Lee Butler, VP, George Natssissov, VP, and Maurice Katz, Treasurer.
The Long Branch Swim and Racquet Club open the pool on 24 July 1977. The yellow dot will become Burnetta - the road that now leads to the pool. The red dot is the pool entrance at about 5010 Mignonette. The green dot marks entry to the parking lot.
It is told a 2nd tennis court was planned next to the existing court.
The first pool officers, and ones who "built the pool" were Dennis E. Vorbau, President (with help from his wife Madelon. They lived at 4801 King Solomon. Others were Gilbert Lee Butler, VP, George Natssissov, VP, and Maurice Katz, Treasurer.
SOME POOL HISTORY - 1977 WITH PICS
Construction of the pool. The right picture was taken from where the baby pool is in 2018.
1977 Pictures of young family and one of the lifeguards. This may be Judy Ryan with her children.
HONEY - JUST BLEW UP 4 HOUSES
It is told by Ron S. that Bernstein Bros. started development of Long Branch in the early 1970's. NE King Solomon and Tabard we first developed and they needed utilities. The plan was to run a gas line from the Canterbury Woods development (which was also developed by Bernstein Bros.) to Long Branch. However, a significant explosion blew up 4 houses in Canterbury Woods and Bernstein Bros. went bankrupt. Art Foster of Foster Bros. finished development of Long Branch.
It is told by Ron S. that Bernstein Bros. started development of Long Branch in the early 1970's. NE King Solomon and Tabard we first developed and they needed utilities. The plan was to run a gas line from the Canterbury Woods development (which was also developed by Bernstein Bros.) to Long Branch. However, a significant explosion blew up 4 houses in Canterbury Woods and Bernstein Bros. went bankrupt. Art Foster of Foster Bros. finished development of Long Branch.