Burke International Airport Proposal, Letter of Opposition

A 1951 letter from Paul C. Kincheloe, Chairman of the Northern Virginia Committee Opposed to a Supplemental Airport at Burke, Virginia. This letter to Kincheloe's unnamed senator argued against support for the airport.

Courtesy Susanne Fowler Neale

Burke International Airport Proposal, Land Auction Announcement

In 1959, the federal government advertised the sale at auction of land originally purchased and consolidated to construct an international airport at Burke. When an alternate site in Chantilly was chosen, almost 900 acres of land formerly designated for the airport passed to the Fairfax County Park Authority. Burke Lake and Burke Lake Park were built on that land.

Information courtesy of Frederic Kielsgard and Ross Netherton (from Memories of Beautiful Burke)

Map: Proposed Burke International Airport

The map shows the proposed location of the Burke International Airport, on a 4,500-acre tract near Burke. According to The Evening Star, June 14, 1951, the airport would be completed by 1955 and would "dwarf both Washington National and Baltimore's Friendship terminals."

From the book Braddock's True Gold: 20th Century Life in the Heart of Fairfax County by Marion Meany and Mary Lipsey; map prepared by George Mason University Department of Geography GIS Center of Excellence.

Copyright 2006 County of Fairfax. All rights reserved.

Burke International Airport Proposal, Artist's Rendition

The 2005 pen and ink sketch of local artist, Chris Lipsey illustrated probable effects of the Burke International Airport, had the proposal succeeded.

Courtesy Chris Lipsey.

Copywrited material, not to be reproduced without permission of owner

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

Burke Volunteer Fire Department, circa 1950

Burke Volunteer Fire Department fire truck and firemen working to put out a fire, circa 1950.

Courtesy Tom Giska, History of Burke Slide Collection

Burke Station

A new railroad station was built in Burke in 1903, when the railroad tracks were relocated northward several hundred feet to their present location. This building in the photo no longer exists.

Courtesy Tom Giska, History of Burke Slide Collection

Burke Station, Artist's Rendition

This sketch shows the construction and uses of the original Burke railroad station. The Burke Post Office was housed in one end of the station.

Courtesy Bill Sheads

Burke Street Scene, Artist's Drawing

Artist's rendition of the center of Burke in 1979, showing buildings whose ownership had changed over time. The 7-Eleven store previously held a country general store.

Pen and ink sketch, Chris Lipsey

Copyrighted material, not to be reproduced without permission of the owner

1928 Buick

1928 Buick with Elgin Kirby, long time Burke resident, at the wheel. Photo taken circa 1937

Courtesy Suzanne Fowler Neal