Burke Post Office, circa 1900

In 1900, the Burke Post Office was located in one end of the Burke train station.

Courtesy Tom Giska History of Burke Slide Collection

Burke Elementary School Dedication Program

The second Burke Elementary School, located at the corner of Lee Chapel and Burke Lake Roads, opened in 1939 and was dedicated in 1940. It replaced the original 1912 school building, now a private residence in Burke named Whiteoaks. Land for the new school was donated by the grandfather of Suzanne Fowler Neale. Students went home for lunch until 1952, when a school cafeteria was built. Today (2007), the facility houses a special education center and is named Burke School.

Courtesy Jennifer Cornelson Addington

Annandale Dreadnaughts Baseball Team, circa 1940

The Annandale Dreadnaughts, founded in 1940, played teams from other areas and attracted up to 500 fans at games. The team would "pass the hat" to help pay for uniforms and equipment. Baseball scouts occasionally came to check out local players.

Courtesy John Fox

Fairfax High School, 1954

Sweetheart Dance in the Fairfax High School cafeteria, February 1954

Courtesy Irving Denton

Burke Elementary School, 1917

Burke Elementary opened in 1912 as a two-room schoolhouse, and later was expanded to three rooms. This photograph of the building was taken in 1917. By the 1930s, population growth required a larger school, and a second Burke Elementary was constructed through the Works Progress Administration (WPA) under the New Deal. The building was later converted to a private residence named Whiteoaks.

Courtesy Tom Giska, History of Burke Slide Collection

Orange and Alexandria Railroad Trestle Historic Marker

The Orange and Alexandria Railroad Trestle marker reads, "The original bridge crossing Accotink Creek was built in 1851 as part of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. During the Civil War the wooden trestle was an attractive target for Confederate soldiers. In his 28 Dec. 1862 raid on Burke's Station, Confederate Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart sent twelve men under the command of Brig. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee to burn the trestle. Although termed an 'inconsiderable structure' by the Union press, the raid was alarming to many because of its close proximity to Alexandria. The trestle was quickly rebuilt, allowing the Union to continue transporting vital supplies along the line for the remainder of the war."

Photo by Gilbert Donahue

Copyrighted material, not to be reproduced without permission of owner, Gilbert Donahue

Orange and Alexandria Railroad Historic Marker

The marker reads: "Orange and Alexandria Railroad...Accotink Park Road lies on the right-of-way of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, which linked the markets of northern and central Virginia. Construction began in March 1850, and the line was extended to Manassas in 1851, and to Gordonsville in March 1853. The railroad encouraged the growth of Fairfax County and new communities along the way. During the Civil War the line became a strategic prize coveted by both sides, and battles were fought at or near such stops as Manassas Junction, Bristoe Station, and Brandy Station. The Union army seized a large part of the Fairfax section of the railroad and placed it under the control of the U.S. Military Railroad system in 1862. Department of Historic Resources 1995"

Photo by Gilbert Donahue

Copyrighted material, not to be reproduced without permission of owner, Gilbert Donahue

Clara Barton Historic Marker

This historic marker at Ox Road and Fairfax Station Road commemorates the nursing work of Clara Barton. The marker reads, "Clara H. Barton, Founder of the American Red Cross. Here at Fairfax Station in early Sept. 1862, after the Second Battle of Manassas and the action near Chantilly, Clara Barton ministered to the suffering. By her human and tireless efforts this angel of the battlefield helped move over 3000 wounded soldiers to safety. (Erected by the Fairfax County Chapter, American National Red Cross, 1961)"

Photo by Gil Donahue

Copyrighted material, not to be reproduced without permission of owner, Gilbert Donahue

Burke Station Historic Marker

The marker reads: "Burke Station. Burke Station was raided in December, 1862, by Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart. It was from this site, originally the Burke Station Depot, that he sent his famous telegram to Union Quartermaster General Meigs complaining of the poor quality of the Union mules he had just captured." The marker is located next to the former depot at the intersection of Old Burke Lake Road and Burke Road. Later the building housed the Burke United Methodist Church and is currently commercially used.

Photo by Gilbert Donahue

Copyrighted material, not to be reproduced without permission of owner, Gilbert Donahue

Bunny Man: Artist's Rendition

Bunny Man is a local character - part real and part myth - who appeared in the 1970s in the Burke area. According to newspaper accounts, a man in a rabbit suit threatened a young couple in a parked car on Guinea Road, telling them they were on private property and then hurled a hatchet through the right front window. Police recovered the hatchet. In another incident, a construction security guard reported seeing him chopping at the roof support of a house under construction. When the security guard went to get his gun, the Bunny Man skipped off into the darkness, carrying his axe. In a third incident, the Bunny Man accused Kings Park West residents of dumping trash. In the 1980s, his legend had grown more sinister, alleging several gruesome murders to his credit. A railroad overpass near Fairfax Station, which myth considers his main haunt, has earned the name Bunny Man Bridge. He has never been caught, and his legend lives on.

Pen and Ink sketch by Chris Lipsey

Copyrighted material. Not for reproduction without permission of owner.