Braddock District in the Civil War

During the Civil War, the area now considered the Braddock District lay between northern and southern strongholds intersected by critical railroad lines. This map shows points of conflict between the Washington, DC, and Alexandria area, extending west to Centreville and Manassas.

Charles K. Gailey's article "Braddock District in the Civil War" explains the geography of battles in the area and tells how to locate additional information. He is a member of the Fairfax County Archaeological Services of the Park Authority.

The map is a portion of an 1862 map compiled in the Topographical Engineers Office in the Division Headquarters of General Irvin McDowell, an officer in the Union army, a leader of early battles in Manassas.

Map of N. Eastern Virginia and vicinity of Washington provided by Fairfax County Public Library, Virginia Room

Lake Accotink Dam, circa 1918

In 1912, the War Department established a summer camp and rifle range for engineering corps stationed in Washington, DC. During World War I, the camp became a permanent establishment. Known today as Fort Belvoir, the property was originally named Camp A. A. Humphreys after a Union general and distinguished engineer. The Army Corps of Engineers constructed a dam which created Lake Accotink to serve as a water source for the Camp.

Photograph from Fairfax County Public Library, Virginia Room, Photographic Archive

Burke Lake Park Boat Launch Platform, circa 1963

Burke Lake Park is an example of county and citizens groups working together to create a recreational area. In the late 1950s, sport fishing leagues and conservative groups suggested to the Fairfax County Park Authority that a public fishing lake be created. The Park Authority found a suitable location in Burke and initially purchased 218 acres. The lake began to fill in 1961 after dam construction. Stocked with fish for opening day, May 25, 1963, nearly 2,000 anglers attended the opening ceremony. Including the lake, Burke Lake Park occupies nearly 900 acres on land that Fairfax County acquired from the federal government, after local citizens defeated a plan to build an international airport near Burke.

Photograph from Fairfax County Public Library, Virginia Room, Photographic Archive

Fairfax County Supervisors, circa 1970

Former Annandale District Supervisor Audrey Moore, second from left, with some fellow Fairfax County Supervisors, many of whom are holding pictures of historic buildings. Ms. Moore holds a photograph of Oak Hill, a historic home in the Wakefield Chapel area of Braddock District. Annandale District was renamed Braddock District in 1992.

Photograph from Fairfax County Public Library, Virginia Room, Photographic Archive

Home Demonstration Club, circa 1940

Women on the homefront in Fairfax during World War II coped with shortages of wartime. Through monthly meetings at Home Demonstration Clubs, they worked together to plant victory gardens and to learn how to use and preserve food and clothing.

Photograph from Fairfax County Public Library, Virginia Room, Photographic Archive

Burke Volunteer Fire Department, "Old Red" Firetruck

May Caudle, wife of an early Burke Volunteer Fire Deparment chief climbs "Old Red." The used 1930 Ford cost $500; it was the first fire truck owned by the Burke Volunteer Fire Department (VFD), established in 1948.

Photograph from Fairfax County Public Library, Virginia Room, Photographic Archive

Automobile Bridge over Railroad Tracks at Rolling Road

Long-time residents recall the one-lane bridge over the railroad tracks on Rolling Road as a place avoided by school buses and where cars stopped and drivers took turns crossing.

Photograph from Fairfax County Public Library, Virginia Room, Photographic Archive

Bridge Over Railroad Tracks at Ox Road

This steel truss automobile bridge carried Ox Road over the railroad tracks near Fairfax Station. On June 4, 1944, the bridge collapsed while an Army truck from Ft. Belvoir was crossing the span, killing Pvt. Robert V. Hamilton of Stanley, Kentucky. Thirteen other soldiers were injured in the accident. The first picture shows the collapsed bridge and truck on the railroad tracks. The pre-collapse picture was taken circa 1930.

Photographs from Fairfax County Public Library, Virginia Room, Photographic Archive

Farm, Fairfax County, circa 1910

Fairfax County farmer harvesting a wheat field, circa 1910.

Photograph from Fairfax County Public Library, Virginia Room, Photographic Archive

Sawmill, Fairfax County, circa 1920

Portable sawmill is shown operating in Fairfax County, circa 1920. Many acres in the county were devoted to forestry and lumbering. Companies milled wood for furniture companies, fence rails and posts, and pilings for road construction.

Photograph from Fairfax County Public Library, Virginia Room, Photographic Archive