Oral History: Jean Packard

After moving to Fairfax County in 1951, Jean Packard was heavily involved in county and local politics. She served as chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and president of the Federation of Citizens Association. She discusses development issues and the response of government and community activists.

Oral History: Audrey Moore

Audrey Moore represented Annandale District (now Braddock) for four terms on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors before her election as Board Chairman in 1988. She traces her political career and the politics behind Fairfax County growth.

Oral History: Ruth Miller

Ruth Miller moved to the Braddock District from Flint, Michigan in 1961. A single mother of three, she taught elementary school. Ruth Miller discusses artifacts of earlier years and the changing geography of the community.

Oral History: Bill Hellwig

Bill Hellwig's family moved to Fairfax County in 1952. His father, a civil engineer, conducted studies for developers on the feasibility of land tracts for development, including the preliminary engineering work for most of Springfield. Bill Hellwig joined the Park Authority after college graduation and by 2005 had worked for the Authority for 33 years. He discusses the development of the parks and their programs.

Oral History: John Hawthorne

John Hawthorne grew up in Northern Virginia and talks about childhood, development, and community action against excessive growth. He describes the early years of Ravensworth Farm.

Oral History: Tawny Hammond

Tawny Hammond moved to Fairfax County in 1989 to work with the Fairfax County Park Authority. She discusses the nature of civic involvement in growing, diverse communities.

Oral History: Elly Doyle

Elly Doyle moved to Fairfax County during the early 1950s. A civic activist and former member and chairman of the Fairfax County Park Authority Board, she traces the development of the activities of county parks and her role in that growth.

Oral History: Jim Dillard

By 2005, Jim Dillard had served in the Virginia House of Delegates for 32 years. He analyzes the political scene in the Braddock District, finances, diversity, and growth and change in state and local government.

Oral History: Dan Cragg

Dan Cragg, former Braddock District History Commissioner, traces the history of Braddock District through stories about early families--the Fitzhughs and the Lees, among them. He traces the growth of the railroads through streets now occupied with houses, parks, and shopping facilities. Through careful research, Dan Cragg determined the original location of the Ravensworth mansion, constructed on the Fitzhugh tobacco plantation in 1797.

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)