During the holiday season, Christian churches celebrate the Birth of Christ, while other religious sects honor their founders and join fraternal and civic organizations reaching out to the less fortunate among us. A recent example was celebrated at Mount Calvary Community Church, “the little church by the side of the road” on Beulah Street, across from the intersection of Fleet Drive. Church membe...  Read More

After World War II, it became apparent that the United States faced another threat involving the expansion of the Soviet Union. In response, the U.S. began a system to defend against attack that involved a ring of large anti-aircraft guns designed to protect the Nation’s Capital. Two were located in Franconia, and a third nearby in Lorton.Each of the sites included four 90-millimeter guns. One was...  Read More

It took a series of major miracles to save the life of Navy Radio Technician First Class Anthony Joseph “Mark” Goodheart while serving aboard the USS Gunnell submarine in the Pacific Ocean off the Philippines in early 1944.  Later, it took good fortune to bring Goodheart to Franconia, where he lived the rest of his life with wife Marilyn.  Both of them were deeply involved in local community organ...  Read More

As we enter autumn you can start to feel a chill in the air that’s not just from your iced pumpkin coffees. October is a spooky time of year when we pay homage to the spirit realm all around us. Franconia has its share of haunted historic houses and unexplainable ghost stories that we would share with you. One of our favorite ghost stories comes from the Broders family, who during the 19th century...  Read More

The parents and grandparents of today’s older Franconia residents would scarcely recognize the area today. Almost every square foot of land has been built on, and the housing zealots are looking to maximize density on what little is left, and even on what has already been developed.Back in the day, meaning from the World Wars and the Depression, Franconia was a farming community with a few railroa...  Read More

The current Olivet Chapel is the fourth Chapel built by the Episcopalians in Franconia. Two that were built on part of the Bush Hill estate in the 1850s were dismantled by Union troops during the Civil War in order to obtain wood for shelter and firewood. A third was built on what is now Bush Hill Drive near Westchester Street after the war, but failed to survive during difficult economic times.Th...  Read More

The Franconia Museum is pleased to announce that Carolyn Banks Summers, a native of Franconia who grew up in Hayfield, has joined its Board of Directors. Carolyn and her 14 fellow members of the Board will continue to work to preserve, protect and promote our cherished section of Fairfax County, Virginia.   Read More

Here are a few updates from the Franconia Museum this summer:Moose Lodge Supports Museum!Franconia Lodge #1076, Loyal Order of Moose, has made a substantial contribution to the Franconia Museum. The Board of Directors of the Franconia Museum thanks the Moose for their support. The Moose has a long history in Franconia, and its members have contributed greatly to the area’s history. We will documen...  Read More

(A Fairfax County Public Library in Rose Hill)John Marshall Library first opened in 1963 as a storefront in the Rose Hill Shopping Center.  The current permanent site first opened in 1975 and has been upgraded twice. In 1987, the heating and air conditioning system was improved and changes were made to comply with accessibility requirements.  In early 2017, the library closed to accommodate a $6.3...  Read More

The recent passing of Roni Stoneman, long-time star performer on the nationally televised “Hee Haw” series, brought back memories of the difficulties of the Depression and World War II eras in Franconia for her family and neighbors. The Stoneman’s lived along the RF&P railroad tracks from the mid-1930s to the early 1940s.Ernest (Pop) Stoneman, his wife, Hattie Elvina Frost Stoneman and a family th...  Read More

During World War II, the United States authenticated Adolph Hitler’s voice on radio broadcasts at a clandestine spy operation headquartered at the Bush Hill estate in what was then part of Franconia. Bush Hill no longer exists, and the land it occupied is near Eisenhower Avenue in Alexandria. The house was located on ground that was part of a land granted by Lord Fairfax in 1706.Ernst (Putzi) Hanf...  Read More

An Amazing Local Story for Black History Month -- The obituary was unusual in that Negro Tom, who was otherwise known as Tom Fuller, had never been anywhere near Boston.  He died almost 500 miles away in Fairfax County, Virginia, near Alexandria, where he had lived out his entire adult life.  A search through the Alexandria newspaper of the time yields no me...  Read More

Dolly Parton’s extraordinary career as a singer and star performer began on a rainy Saturday afternoon on September 17, 1967, at the new Edison High School on Franconia Road. She appeared with country music star Porter Wagoner and his band as part of a fund-raising event for the Franconia Volunteer Fire Department.Dolly was part of Wagoner’s singing group that backed up the band and lead singer, N...  Read More

 SANTA THRILLED A LARGE CROWD ONE CHRISTMAS SEASON IN THE 1970S BYARRIVING AT THE ROSE HILL PLAZA SHOPPING CENTER VIA HELICOPTER Christmas has always been a joyous occasion as Franconians celebrated the Birth of Christ, exchanged gifts of friendship, and treated kids to visits by Jolly Old St. Nick.  In the 1960s and ‘70s, his arrival by a different method each year drew crowds of believers to the...  Read More

During the season of Thanksgiving, the Franconia Museum urges you to remember the difficult times earlier residents of our community faced during the Depression of the 1930s and World War II of the 1940s. Because Franconia was mainly a farming community, the lack of finances didn’t hit quite as hard here as in other localities. Nonetheless, times were tough and families existed on small budgets, l...  Read More

In 1723, Daniel French Sr. bought 903 acres that encompasses what today is known as Rose Hill. From the front lawn, he could see the Potomac River seven miles away and into Maryland near Indian Head. That same view exists today from the back yards of houses on the ridgeline in the vicinity of the original manor house on a high point at the end of what is now May Boulevard.Daniel French Jr. inherit...  Read More

In the 1960s, plans were being put forth to develop property south of Rose Hill into townhouses or possibly apartments. That didn't sit well with the adjacent community and the new supervisor, Joseph Alexander, who was in his first term as a member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The plan was to cluster the new development away from Dogue Creek, meaning that the folks who had just move...  Read More

It didn't take long for the new residents of Rose Hill to start beating the drum for an elementary school. In fact, the School Board and the Board of Supervisors responded by placing a bond issue on the November 1955 ballot. It passed and the school opened in September of 1957. The cost was $502,016 for a 20-classroom structure. By contrast, the most recent expansion of 10 classrooms that opened i...  Read More

In the very early 1950s, a Sunday drive out to the country from Washington, Alexandria and Arlington could include the pastoral scenes along Telegraph or Franconia Roads. From either road, you could see the cattle grazing on the 700-acre farm called Rose Hill owned by R.L. May, president of the Alexandria, Barcroft and Washington Bus Company (AB&W). Mr. May also invited his employees to the farm f...  Read More