Fairfax County Park Authority • Fairfax, VA 22035 • 703-324-8695 • fax 703-324-3996 • tty 703-324-3988 • www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resourcesp

It was a business entrepreneur’s dream, even in1818. Buy land where major roads meet and buildyourself a place for people to break their journeys.

Feed them, give them a place to sleep, assure thesafety of their belongings. Send them off the nextmorning, happy after a big breakfast.

Howard Johnson would have been proud of Wash-ington Drane, a businessman who opened a “newtavern on Leesburgh Road.” Drane’s “house of enter-tainment” sat near the junction of the GeorgetownTurnpike and the Leesburg Pike, today also known asRoute 7. His purpose in selecting that particular ruralsite, he noted, was to create a “new building on theroad leading from Georgetown to Leesburgh: 15 milesfrom the former and 15 miles from the latter place,”breaking the two-day trip.

Soon the area around the tavern became knownas Dranesville, a community that by 1840 contained

� Bald Eagles continued on page 11

� Dranesville Tavern continued on page 11

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WHAT’SINSIDE…

News about nature, history and horticulture in Fairfax County Volume 3, No. 2 Winter 2003

Spotting a bald eagle is one of the big winter thrills for birders. Such sightings are a majorpart of documenting what appears to be the recovery of the bald eagle population.During last year’s December Christmas bird count, an event held throughout the nation,

115 bald eagles were spotted in one day around Ft. Belvoir.Statewide, a record number of 446 eaglets were tallied, the offspring of 331 breeding pairs

in Virginia. This number dramatizes a rebound initially triggered by the 1972 national ban onthe use of DDT, a chemical that led to a precipitous drop in successful live eaglet births.

The adult bald eagle is regal and familiar as our national symbol: a white feathered headand tail; fierce, hooked yellow beak; and proud piercing eyes almost as large as a human eye.An adult eagle stands nearly three feet tall and its black talons are set on feet about six incheslong, large even for a raptor.

If you spot an adult bald eagle in the air from directly below, you should see the white ofhead and tail against the dark brown plumage of body and a wingspan extending to over sixfeet. Bald eagles do not develop their distinctive white head and tail plumage until about theirfourth year. By then, their bills, legs and feet have turned a deep yellow.

Dranesville Tavern—History and Hospitality

BALD EAGLES —A Winter DiscoveryBy John Bendoritis, Seasonal Employee at Lake Accotink Park

u

WinterWonders ............ 2Special HolidayShopping ........... 3Hooray forVolunteers ......... 4Winter GardenPlanning ............ 5Sully CandlelightTours ................. 6Orienteering ....... 6SeasonalEvents ............... 7Conservation TakesPartnerships ...... 8Blacksmithingin Fairfax ........... 9GreenInfrastructure ... 10

a church, a post office, a store,doctors’ offices, residences—and five taverns. Dranesville was perfectly sited toserve those bringing goods and animals from the richfarms of the Shenandoah Valley to the competingcoastal markets of Alexandria and Georgetown. Thereare stories of how Kentucky farmers drove their turkeysfirst through tar and then through sand to coat theirfeet for the long trip to market.

One of the five taverns, Dranesville Tavern, wasbuilt in 1823 and still remains at its site on LeesburgPike. The log building with massive Seneca sandstonechimneys had two additions over the years. It servedas a place of food and lodging on the Leesburg Pikefor at least 130 years. In 1865, after a renovation ofthe inn by owners Mr. and Mrs. George Jackson, theAlexandria Gazette newspaper described the tavern

2 RESOURCES

Editor: Jane ScullyPhotos: Don Sweeney,

Jane ScullyIllustrations: Nancy HornsteinCirculation: Karen Temple

Production: Innovative Projects

RESOURCES is producedquarterly by the Fairfax CountyPark Authority. Inquiries,suggestions and commentsshould be addressed toJane Scully, Editor, ResourceManagement Division,Suite 936, FCPA, 12055Government Center Parkway,Fairfax, VA 22035-1118.

To receive your free copy ofRESOURCES, fill out theform on the back cover orregister directly on our website at www.co.fairfax.va.us/parks/resources.htm.

c RESOURCES is printedon 100% recycled paper.

Pohick Stream Valley HikeKids aged eight and older can explore one of FairfaxCounty’s best-kept natural secrets, the Pohick StreamValley forest, on Sunday, December 29. The hike, from 1to 3 pm, is at Hidden Pond Nature Center. Winter is agreat time to look for dens and animal trails, for signs ofwhite-tailed deer, gray fox and other critters. The hikewill traverse a variety of terrains, so good walking shoesare a must. Dress for the weather. Reservations arerequired and the cost is $3. Call 703-451-9588. Can-celed in case of extreme weather conditions.

ResOURces Onlinea Winner!We are proud to announce that our electroniccomplement, ResOURces Online, has receivedthe highest award for a Promotional Effort in Elec-tronic Media this year from the Virginia Recreationand Parks Association. We were in competitionwith the largest jurisdictions in the state and arehonored that, after only a year, the web site hasreached this status. As a supplement to the award-winning print publication, the stories online bringmore and different information about area historyand nature, especially in our parks. Check us outat www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources.

Winter WondersWinter Wonders

The Fairfax CountyPark Authority is

committed toequal access in all programsand services. Special accom-modations will be providedupon request. Please call theADA/Access Coordinator at703-324-8563, at least 10working days in advance ofthe date services are needed.TTY (703) 803-3354 http://www.co.fairfax.va.us/parks/ada.htm

Farm AnimalBabiesSheep, pigs, goats andcows deliver babies dur-ing late winter and earlyspring. January throughApril is the busiest time,although two lambshave already been bornat Frying Pan Farm Parkthis fall. So stop by oftento catch the new arriv-als or call Frying Pan forbirth updates at 703-437-9101.

Café CattailWelcome to Huntley Meadows’ very own family orientedcoffeehouse! On Friday, January 31, from to 9:30 pm,enjoy a free, relaxing evening applauding our

community’s talents. Musicians, dancers and poets areencouraged to share their arts with a nature theme. Spon-sored by Friends of Huntley Meadows Park. Reservations arerequired for performers only.

Outstanding InterpreterJohn Callow, Senior Interpreter at Riverbend Park, waspresented the Park Authority’s annual InterpretiveExcellence Award this year for his outstanding work ininitiating and managing the park’s successful newkayak program series. These programs reach a newaudience for the park and give participants a first-hand experience with the Potomac River that height-ens their appreciation of this valuable natural resource.John’s personal manner inspires confidence and awardjudges highlighted his engaging interpretation of the river and all it involves.

Look for morewinter events

inside on pages6, 7 and 12!

Banjos, Bones and TalesOn Sunday, February 23, Sully Historic Site presents Banjos, Bones andTales, a special program of traditional African American music and storytelling.

At 1 pm, local musician and teacher Cass Harris will perform traditionalAppalachian and African American banjo music. Discover the fascinating historyof the African banjo and see a unique display of his antique banjo collection.The cost is $5 per seat.

At 2 pm, listen as the costumed interpreter weaves a tapestry of AfricanAmerican stories that bring the past to life. Storytelling is FREE.At 3 pm, hear Ralph Lee Smith in concert! Appalachian dulcimer music, locallore and oral traditions spin a tantalizing web of the past. See antique dulci-mers, listen to traditional Appalachian music and feel the rhythm created byplaying the bones. The cost is $5 per seat.

Seating is limited. Prepaid reservations are required by February 21. Refundsrequire two-weeks’ written notice. Refreshments will be served in the original18th century kitchen. There is a separate cost for an optional guided house tour.

Winter 2003 3

F E A T U R E

Holiday magic brings sparkle and excite-ment to children and parents duringDecember in the parks. Special shopping

days for children take place at Colvin Run MillHistoric Site and Frying Pan Park where the old-fashioned stores of other eras are stocked withgifts unique to each park.

Children’s Holiday Shopping days this yearwill offer a wagon-full of different and exciting

Special Holiday ShoppingFOR CHILDREN —AND ADULTS!

Children’s Holiday Shopping Days atColvin Run Mill are Saturday morning,December 7, from 9 am to 1 pm; Sundayafternoon, December 8, from noon to4 pm; and Monday afternoon, Decem-ber 9, from 1 pm to 4 pm. Parents canvisit the model train display in the barn!

At Frying Pan General Store, the datesare Saturday, December 7, from 12:30to 3:30 pm, and Monday, December 9,from 2 to 5 pm. Sign in at the OldSchoolhouse where parents may waitfor their shoppers.

In the book nook books on horses for youngadults and children are in full supply.

Other park sites have fascinating shops aswell. Following the history theme, Sully HistoricSite in Chantilly has a great selection of historybooks, historical music CDs and tri-corner hats,wooden whistles and toys. Their boxed bayberrycandles are real beauties, with candlesticksaplenty to accompany them. For when you’re

hungry, there is the Junior League cook-book and lots of jams, jellies and Virginiapeanuts.

What if you—and your child—lovethe outdoors? At our nature centers,such as Hidden Pond in Springfield,Hidden Oaks in Annandale and EllanorC. Lawrence Park in Chantilly, you’ll findPeterson bird field guides along withGolden Guides and First Guides to getyou started. There are wildflower booksnext to stuffed owls, frogs and turtles.

A favorite is the wide selection of finger puppets,including snakes, insects, spiders, butterflies anddragonflies.

So bring your kids for the special Children’sShopping Days (it’s a secret what they can buy forYOU—maybe some corn meal ground on site fromColvin Run Mill?) and then come back to shop forthem. The shops are a unique place in December,and you’ll leave feeling positively jolly! u

items specially priced for children to select andbuy in secret for their families and friends. Noparents allowed to peek!

Inside the stores volunteers will help childrenmake selections. Then other volunteers will wrapthe carefully chosen items to keep the surpriseelement intact when the children happily rushout to meet their waiting parents.

Adults will find shopping at the stores apleasant change of pace as well. Many of thegifts in the stores have been chosen as perfectpresents for the children. At the General Storeat Colvin Run Mill in Great Falls, for instance,there are old-fashioned toys that make greatstocking stuffers, including games of chess,dominoes and checkers in a tin box and tea setsperfect for young ladies.

At Frying Pan Country Store in Herndon,there are all sizes of the popular Ertle tractorsalong with wooden and floor puzzles. There isa new line of Breyer horses, along with theirfarm sets and stables. A menagerie of stuffednoisy farm animals play throughout the store.

4 RESOURCES

V O L U N T E E R S

AL STUDHOLME (1913-2002)Al Studholme was a gifted storyteller. He ablytold the story behind the changing landscapeof Fairfax County. He honed these abilitiesthrough a lifetime of curiosity, studies with thepre-eminent ecologist Aldo Leopold and a pro-fessional career with the U.S. Fish & WildlifeService.

As a volunteer with the Fairfax County ParkAuthority for more than 20 years, Al sharedhis “reading” the landscape skills with staff

and the public. If you were fortunate enough to walk along side Al atMason District or Riverbend parks, he would help you look carefully anduncover clues to the present condition of the land, such as farming prac-tices and old home sites.

Al Studholme was a beloved mentor and friend to many at the ParkAuthority. He was a gentle, quiet man who generously shared his knowl-edge and love of the land. His passion for wildflowers was contagious!Hiking with him through wildflower-carpeted stream valleys in spring wasa delight. Behind each flower was a story to be revealed and habitatrequirements to be explained. As a skilled photographer, he captured theessence of spring wildflowers on film, allowing staff to share the storiesof these delicate resources year round.

Al Studholme’s voice may be gone but it has not been silenced. ForAl inspired and mentored many at the Park Authority who now share thestories of the land. u

GARDENING RESOURCESThe Internet offers a plethora of reference material. Here area few web sites to get you started:B The Virginia Cooperative Extension web site has exten-

sive information for the home gardener, including annuals;perennials; bulbs; trees and shrubs; insects and pesti-cides; lawns; monthly gardening tips and more. Go towww.ext.vt.edu/resources/, and click on “Home Gardening.”

B Green Spring Gardens Park’s web site offers informationsheets you can download on many topics such as de-ciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, perennials, nativesvines, groundcovers, garden installation and maintenance.Go to http://www.co.fairfax.va.us/parks/gsgp/index.htm,and click on “Gardening.”

B Also check out the numerous classes offered at GreenSpring that are listed on the web site and in Parktakes,the Park Authority publication.

B The Virginia Native Plant Society lists native plants andtheir uses. Go to http://www.vnps.org/, then click on“Native Plant References.”

B The Maryland Native Plant Society at www.mdflora.org.B The University of Maryland web site, especially for Inte-

grated Pest Management at www.hgic.umd.edu andwww.pest.umd.edu.

B An excellent site from the University of Georgia forxeriscaping—a guide to developing a water-wise land-scape. Includes planning and design tips, maintenanceand plant selection lists: http://www.ces.uga.edu/pubcd/B1073.htm#Tables.

WHERE TO SHOPOnce I’ve got some ideas of what I want to try, I delve intomy stack of mail order catalogs to see what is available.Pinetree Garden Seeds, Jung Quality Seeds and Johnny’sSelected Seeds are good sources for seeds. For bulbs I likeJohn Scheepers and Brent and Becky’s Bulbs.

There are many local nurseries as well, including WindyHill Plant Farm in Aldie, Virginia, Merrifield Gardens inMerrifield and Fair Oaks, VA and American Plant Food andBehnke’s Nursery in Maryland. The Spring and Fall Plant Salesat Green Spring are always a great resource for native plants.Favorite mail order sources include:B Fairweather Gardens: www.fairweathergardens.com,

856-451-6261 in New Jersey.B Singing Springs Nursery: www.singingspringsnursery.com,

919-732-9403 in North Carolina.B Plant Delights: www.plantdelights.com, 919-772-4794

in North Carolina.B Heronswood: www.heronswood.com, 360-297-4172 in

Washington state.B Woodlanders: www.woodlanders.net, 803-648-7522 in

South Carolina.B Stokes: www.stokestropicals.com.

Hooray forVolunteers!

A t the recent ResourceManagement Divi-sion Volunteer Excel-

lence Award reception, eightpeople were honored forgiving over 20 years of

volunteer service to protecting the county’s natural and cultural resources.Pictured here are: Rose Quinn, a docent at Sully Historic Site, Gwen McIntyre,a volunteer-on-duty at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park and Michael Toms, a docentat Colvin Run Mill. They are proudly sporting their new shirts embroideredwith the division’s “20+ Years” volunteer logo.

Also honored were Jackie Culyer and Joyce Pearsall, volunteers with theCounty Archaeology program, Jack Moore and Karen Goodlatte, whovolunteer at Huntley Meadows Park, and Nick Yannarell, who volunteers atboth Ellanor C. Lawrence Park and Colvin Run Mill Historic Site.

Their dedication and commitment are remarkable, and we are truly gratefulfor all their continued efforts as stewards of our natural and cultural resources.

Think you might be ready to follow in their footsteps? Volunteeroppor tunities abound at the parks. For more information aboutvolunteer opportunities, contact Erin Chernisky at 703-324-8750 orerin.chernisky@fairfaxcounty.gov. u

Winter 2003 5

H O R T I C U L T U R E

Even though I miss the warm weather and get-ting my hands into the soil, winter is a veryproductive time for my gardening efforts. I finally

have the time to reflect on what I liked and didn’t likeabout my garden, what plants didn’t work out togetherand what landscaping projects I want to attempt. I lookat photos I’ve taken during the growing season.

Then I refer to some of my favorite gardening booksfor new ideas. Anna Pavord’s The Border Book providesinspiration for planning new garden beds. C. ColstenBurrell’s Perennial Combinations shows a variety ofplant combinations with color, form and texture in mind.Tracy DiSabato-Aust’s The Well-Tended PerennialGarden is a book I refer to again and again for solidadvice on how to manage a perennial garden.

Plant Selection: ShrubsI like to start planning

with shrubs—the backboneof my garden. Some won-derful small to mid-sizeshrubs to consider includewinterberry or deciduousholly (Ilex verticillata), whichis stunning when massed inearly January before thebirds devour the red fruit.But even without the fruit,the leaves of this shrub rivala hedge of burning bush

(Euonymus alatus), which is now on the list of invasives.Dwarf nandina (Nandina domestica “Firepower”)

—see above—is a small evergreen shrub that turnsbright red in the fall, and then new growth reverts toits chartreuse green color in spring. For a larger plant,choose the straight species, which is taller and knownfor its brilliant red fruit in the fall and winter. Redchokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) is a dependabledeciduous shrub that produces small white to reddishflowers in late May, although it is primarily plantedfor its bright red berries in late summer.

For interesting evergreen color look to hinoki falsecypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera “Golden Mop” or“Aurea Nana”) or American arborvitae (Thujaoccidentalis “Rhinegold”).

Winter Planning Sows Spring RewardsBy Sarah Brachman, Green Spring Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener

PerennialsNext I turn to perennials that bloom from year

to year. I have narrowed my choices consider-ably in light of our recent water shortage. I tryto focus on drought-tolerant perennials, whichstill gives me plenty of choice. My favorite purpleperennials include Russian sage (Perovskiaatriplicifolia) and lavender (Lavandula), whichboth have the added benefit of aromatic foliage.

My top choices for yellow are coreopsismoonbeam (Coreopsis verticillata “moonbeam”)for a lemon-yellow color, or coreopsis baby sun(C. grandiflora “Baby Sun”), that has daisy-likeyellow flowers with brown-eyed centers. Lentenrose (Helleborus orientalis)—see above—boasts hardy, early-blooming flowers(late winter/early spring) in a range of pinks, deep purples, cream and white.

You can also refer to perennial books or the recommended plant hand-outs found in the Green Spring Gardens Park library. For even more ideas,plan to attend the March 16, 2003 Winter Lecture Series, from 2 to 3 pm. atGreen Spring, where five horticulturists will talk about their top 10 favoriteplants.

AnnualsUntil recently, I never gave annuals much thought, since they only live for

one year. But I have since discovered their seasonal longevity and usefulnesswith filling in gaps before my perennials mature. Some fun ones includedianthus (Dianthus chinensis), a standout no matter which color you choose—the pink, red, lilac, and white with contrasting eye are all cheerful.

Pentas (Pentas lanceolata)—see below—feature clusters of small flowersthat surprisingly put out a lot of color; I like the pink and red colors. Coleus(Solanostemon) is popular for its colorful foliage and prefers partial to fullshade. Salvias (Salvias) come in an unbelievable amount of varieties and colors,and each variety looks different from thenext. As an added bonus, they alsoattract beneficial insects to your garden.

Dig In!So on those cold and dreary winter

days, I try to focus on planning my springgarden and not on the wind chill. I lookforward to seeing the bulbs bursting outof the ground and the buds poppingopen on warm spring mornings. Before Iknow it, I’ll be able to start digging inmy garden again. u

6 RESOURCES

S E A S O N A L E V E N T S

Sully Historic Site celebrates the holidayseason with candlelight tours on Fridayand Saturday, December 13 and 14. Stroll the candlelit path to the elegant

1794 home of Richard and Elizabeth Collins Lee and discover the many ways theholidays were celebrated through Sully’s 200-year history.

The buildings, decorated with natural greens, will glow with the splendor of realcandlelight. Seasonal music will echo throughout the halls and grounds during theevening. Outside, Confederate reenactors in Sully’s Civil War camp reenactmentshow visitors about Christmas in the field with musket firing and the opening of aChristmas box from home. In the main house, you’ll encounter costumed charac-ters from the gentry class of the Federal period (1790-1820) enjoying holiday revels.In the exhibit room, relive the 1885 holiday memories of a young visitor to Sullyseeing the tree decorated with pop-guns, dolls, candles and popcorn.

Outside, warm yourself by the bonfire and join in caroling. Meet Sully’s VictorianSanta and receive a special treat. Discover the sensational smells coming from the18th century kitchen and enjoy refreshments. Learn about the holiday activities ofSully’s enslaved African American community and gather by the fire to hear aboutlife at the quarter.

Tours begin at 4:30 pm with the last tour at 7:15 pm. Prepaid reservations arerequired and refunds require two-week written notice. The cost is $7 for adults and$5 for seniors and children.

Continuing in the festive spirit, Sully hosts holiday concerts later in the month. OnFriday, December 27, Ship’s Company Chanteymen return to Sully with their heartywork songs of the sea, soulful ballads and a recitation of “A Visit from Whitebeard.”

On Monday, December 30, IONA presents Celtic music including bagpipes andScottish dancing. Performances are at 2 and 3 pm. There is limited seating andprepaid reservations are required. Tickets are $6 per seat.

A guided house tour is included and refreshments will be served in the 18thcentury kitchen.

For information or reservations to celebrate your holidays at Sully, please call703-437-1794. u

Candlelight Tours andSully’s Christmas Past

On Saturday, February 22, you have severaloptions to try some orienteering, depend-ing on your level of experience. Families

with children 10 years and older can visit EllanorC. Lawrence Park, Walney, from 10 am to noonfor a beginners’ program. Following a short les-son on basic orienteering skills, you can find yourway through the woods with park-provided mapsand compasses. Reservations are required and the

cost is $3 per person. Call 703-631-0013.For those with more experience, ages 12 and over,come visit Riverbend Nature Center, from 9 amto noon. Review map and compass skills duringthe first hour, then hit the two-mile trail. This isonly for those comfortable with orienteering. Wearboots and warm clothes. Call 703-759-9018 for

reservations. The cost is $2 and the program will becanceled in case of rain. u

ORIENTEERING—YOUR WAY!

Winter 2003 7

S E A S O N A L E V E N T S

Long before electric refrigeration became reliable and affordable in the 1930s, generationsrelied on “natural ice.” Storing ice cut from ponds, lakes and rivers has been a major winterundertaking since at least the Roman times. In the 1600s the governor of Virginia received a

monopoly on the commercial harvesting of ice within the colony. Ice houses were common in manyparts of North America, from the mid-Atlantic region north.

As we learn from Emmeline Machen’s letter the harvesting of natural ice was an important activityon farms in 19th century Fairfax. For the average farmer, ice harvested from his own pond allowed afamily to keep dairy products from spoiling on the way to local markets, preserve food in ice boxes thatwere commonplace in kitchens by the mid-1800s and make ice cream and chill drinks.

Ice harvesting in Virginia would begin as soon as ice was eight to twelve inches thick (six inches ina bad year). Although commercial harvesters used specialized tools, farmers relied on simple axes,large-toothed saws, hand ice plows and ice tongs.

At Machen’s Walney (Ellanor C. Lawrence Park), ice was cut from farm ponds and hauled bywagon or sled to the ice house behind the family’s dwelling. Blocks of 40 pounds or more were thencarefully stacked and straw packed around them for insulation. If the ice house was properly built andthe straw well packed, the Machens could have expected their ice harvest to last through the summerand into the next fall. They would have come to the ice house daily to break off a block of ice for useat the farm house.

Join us this winter on Saturday, January 18, 2003, from 1 to 2:30 pm at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park,Walney. Interpreters will demonstrate ice harvesting techniques, weather permitting, and show howthese big blocks of ice, packed in straw, were stored. Visitors will get a chance to help turn the hand-cranked ice-cream maker and taste the wonderful results! Call the park at 703-631- 0013 to makereservations of $1 per person. u

Ice Making in 19th Century FairfaxBy Charles Smith, Ellanor C. Lawrence Park Assistant Manager

Holiday Workshops at Green SpringA gardener’s dream, this Saturday, December 7, celebration is a full day

of holiday fun at Green Spring Gardens Park. It includes live holidaymusic, decoration demonstrations, displays of work by local gardenclubs, gifts just right for gardeners and an exhibition of birdhousescreated by students of Columbia Elementary School. Come and enjoyfrom 9 am to 4:30 pm and get in the spirit!

In addition to these treats, the festive day includes workshops andfamily programs to match the season. Using freshly cut evergreens,

instructors will demonstrate how to create three different projects. Pleasebring your own pruning shears, wire cutters and lunch. The workshops are

N Holiday Wreath-Making from 9:30 to 11 am, $35 per participant, with the costcovering all the interesting materials;

N Boxwood Tree Topiary from 11 am to 12:30 pm, creating aminiature holiday tree with boxwood and berries, $30 per participant;

N Centerpieces for the Holidays from 12:30 to 2 pm, fordressing up your dinner table for the celebrations, usinglong-lasting plant materials, $30 per participant.

To register for a workshop, call 703-642-5173. u

In a WinterWonderlandAdults are invited to join natu-ralists for a Saturday morningwalk through Scott’s RunNature Preserve on February8, from 9 to 11 am. Search forwoodland evergreens such asmountain laurel, hemlock,ferns, ground pine and par-tridgeberry vine. The programis free but reservations arerequired. Call Riverbend Parkat 703-759-9018. Canceled incase of rain. u

“…Since the snow stormof Saturday, we have hadsufficient cold weather tomake very respectable Ice,& James has been busilyengaged yesterday & today in filling the icehouse. It is the morepleasant to see the cartsgo by laden with this (inwarm weather) acceptable& necessary commodity,as we were beginning todespair of having any thiswinter….”

Emmeline Machen (at Walney)

to L.H. Machen,February 17, 1858

8 RESOURCES

P A R T N E R S H I P S

A t the Northern Virginia ConservationTrust (NVCT), we have seen first-handhow much can be accomplished by

working with local and state governments towarda common goal. As a non-profit land trust dedi-cated to preserving Northern Virginia’s openspace, NVCT has played a key role in numerousland protection projects since its inception in1994.

During that time, NVCT has enjoyed a veryproductive public/private partnership with FairfaxCounty that has resulted in the protection ofalmost 500 acres of land. It has also partneredwith the county on numerous stewardshipprojects on parkland and properties in the countythat have conservation easements.

Recently NVCT donated property adjacent tocounty parkland on Backlick Run to the FairfaxCounty Park Authority (FCPA). Our group hasalso worked with the Fairfax County Departmentof Planning and Zoning (DPZ) staff, the PlanningCommission and the Board of Supervisors tostrengthen the county’s conservation easementpolicy language to encourage the donation ofeasements.

One of the most successful results of this part-nership to date is the preservation of a 384-acreglobally rare basic oak-hickory forest in westernFairfax. In October 1999 the county’s DPZrequested the Division of Natural Heritage ofVirginia’s Department of Conservation andRecreation (DCR) to conduct a study of an areanear Centreville. Natural Heritage biologistsworking there identified the largest stand of basicoak-hickory forest remaining in Fairfax County,one of the largest intact stands in the entire state.

This kind of forest is characterized by a plantspecies mix that grows in alkaline or diabasesoils that have a high pH level created by thepresence of volcanic rock. Such soil is unusualin our region where the soil is generally acidicwith a lower pH. These soil conditions allowplants, such as hickories that grow well in lessacidic soils that have a higher pH, to dominatethe landscape.

Conservation Takes PartnershipsBy Jeannie McPherson, Outreach Manager, Northern Virginia Conservation Trust

This kind of basic oak-hickory forest com-munithy exists only in certain temperate climatesin the world and the mid-Atlantic region is oneof them. But even here it has represented only asmall percentage of our forestland. And over timethese lands have been used increasingly forpasturelands or development. So this remainingstand is a rare remnant.

In an effort to protect the forest from imminentdevelopment, NVCT won a grant from the Vir-ginia Land Conservation Foundation (VLCF)toward the purchase of the forest in January 2001.The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors quicklyprovided the additional funds needed to save thearea, in effect doubling the available funds.

Currently, the Fairfax County Park Authorityowns the land, which is adjacent to 830 acres ofexisting parkland, and NVCT and the Virginia DCRwill soon acquire easements to protect approxi-mately 200 acres of the most environmentallysensitive areas of the property. The land will becalled The Elklick Woodlands Natural Area Preserve.

“These acquisitions along the Pleasant ValleyRoad will put the finishing touches on a new parkexceeding 1,500 acres in one of the fastest-growing parts of the county,” said Greg Evans ofthe VLCF Board of Trustees. “For me, it marksthe successful end of a long road. Obtaining moreopen space was a priority for me as a formerPark Authority Board Chair. I was very happy tobe able to support NVCT’s grant request.”

“This project is another major step in thepreservation of Virginia’s rich natural heritage anda great example of what can be accomplishedthrough private-local-state partnerships,” saidDavid Brickley, former director of DCR.

NVCT is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trustdedicated to the preservation of natural andhistoric resources in Northern Virginia. NVCT hasprotected almost 1,000 acres, with projects inFairfax, Arlington, Stafford, Loudoun and PrinceWilliam counties, and the City of Alexandria. Formore information about NVCT events orconservation easements, visit www.nvct.org orcall 703-354-5093. u

An aerial photo of the 384 acres offorest purchased through thepartnership.

Fall in the rare oak-hickory forestlocated of Pleasant Valley Road inCentreville

Winter 2003 9

L O C A L H I S T O R Y

Blacksmithing in Fairfax CountyBy Jeanne Niccolls, Collections Manager

T ang! Tang! Tang!The sound of theblacksmith work-

ing at his forge once rangout across the FairfaxCounty countryside. Fromthe earliest days of thecolonial period until wellinto the 20th century,blacksmiths were impor-tant members of FairfaxCounty communities.Each large plantation,neighborhood and smalltown probably had atleast one blacksmith, justas many localities todayeach has a hardware storeand auto repair shop.

In the late 18th cen-tury enslaved blacksmithsSam and George worked at Sully in western Fairfax County. FromNew York in 1789, Richard Bland Lee, owner of Sully, inquired as tothe probable success of establishing a shop, asking “Am I likely tomake anything of the Blacksmith’s shop?” About the same time,blacksmiths Nat and George, also enslaved, were working at GeorgeWashington’s Mount Vernon. Recent archaeological excavations therehave unearthed evidence of their brick forge and shop.

Other records about blacksmithing are numerous. In 1814 nearColvin Run Mill, Rezin Offutt willed a tract of land “where myblacksmith’s shop stood” to his children and “what blacksmith toolsis on the plantation” to his wife Mary. Years later John W. Tracey,who also lived close to Colvin Run Mill, called himself a “Coachand Wagonmaker” on the 1884 Fairfax County census; by 1906,however, he was listed as a “Blacksmith, wheelwright, and farmer.”

The skills required of the blacksmith were many. He crafted andrepaired farm implements, domestic tools and firearms for himselfand for the local community. As a wheelwright, he made andrepaired wagon and carriage axles and wheels. As a farrier, hefashioned and fitted horseshoes.

Henry Moffett (1898-1984) was a fifth-generation blacksmith.The first shop his family owned was located in Leesburg. In 1904Henry’s father purchased a lot in Herndon and built a new shop.That blacksmith shop burned in the Herndon fire of 1917. Attestingto the importance of smiths to communities they served, the shop

was the first building intown to be rebuilt andthe first one to be wiredfor electricity.

Henry Moffett wasthe last owner of theshop. He served theneeds of his rural com-munity during a periodof changing technology,from a time of horse-drawn wagons to auto-mobiles and from hand-operated machines andtools to devices poweredby electricity. Besidesrepairing wagon tongues,mending plows andshoeing horses, Moffettsold coal, wood andstove equipment.

By 1955 there were not enough horses left to shoe, wagons torepair or ironwork to be done to keep him in business. He closedthe shop at the age of 68.

In 1975 the entire building was moved piece by piece andreassembled at Frying Pan Park. It became a permanent part of thecounty’s heritage, thus preserving that last known original black-smith building left in Fairfax County.

Today citizens and visitors can visit this once-common elementof the Fairfax County rural and town landscape. The art and skill ofthe blacksmith have not been lost, however, still present in horse-shoe making and other iron work and in traditional American folkart and contemporary architectural forms.

The Moffett Blacksmith Shop is open for demonstrations duringselected special events. By next spring visitors will be able to viewthe interior of the shop during regular visits to the park. Moffett’scollection of tools used in blacksmithing is fascinating in and ofitself and will be part of the interpretation of the blacksmith’s workand life. Call Frying Pan Farm Park at 703-437-8261 for furtherinformation. u

Note: You can help us with our historic research — please tellabout other blacksmiths who worked in Fairfax County in the past.Please contact the Historic Collections Office at 703-631-1429.

Henry Moffett Shoeing a Horse held by Pete Dean,from the W. Berkely Green Collection

10 RESOURCES

N A T U R A L R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T

A s Fairfax County continues to becomemore urban, the Fairfax County ParkAuthority (FCPA) is finding one of

its core missions increasingly difficult tofulfill. What was rural land in the county aslittle as 10 years ago has now been devel-oped as residential or business and shop-ping areas. Land that supported wildlife,green spaces and cultural resources is shrink-ing rapidly.

Planning for the Future:the Green Infrastructure Initiative

create a unified approach for preserving thecommunity’s underlying environmental andcultural foundation.

One necessary element for the model-ing was excellent mapping devices. Thecounty’s Geographic Information System(GIS) is an electronic mapping system thatincludes layers of information about the landand structures within the county. Thesetransparent layers can be put together inmany combinations to compare one kind ofinformation with information in other layersin the same location. For the Green Infra-structure modeling, the missing part wasidentifying the values—decisions about whatmatters most—that needed to be considered.

Over the last 18 months, staff in the Plan-ning and Development Division of the FCPAworked with many different county agen-cies and other FCPA staff to analyze andgather a wealth of data and to identify valuesthat are critical to making conservation andpreservation decisions. They organized thatdata into three broad categories:environmental, cultural and open space/proximal (what’s close to existing protectedresources).

county historical districts and historic sites.In the last category, proximity to existingparkland, other public lands and open spacewere also factored into the analysis.

Next, FCPA created an analysis of theimportance of each individual feature type.Again working with consulting agenciesand an informal project team, staff assigneda numerical value or weight to each indi-vidual feature that matched its perceivedimportance.

Finally they put these weighted valuesover a layered GIS county map that includedtopographical, cultural, existing parkland andundeveloped land in the county. Together thegroup was able to establish the relativeimportance of each 25-square-foot area ofland based on the resources located there.

The most obvious product of the projectwill be the Green Infrastructure Map show-ing areas where there are the greatestcombinations of high-priority natural andcultural resources that are not currently man-aged as parkland. Generally those areas arefound in stream valleys or contiguous uplandforests where important cultural resourcesare also located.

For the FCPA the Green Infrastructuremodel will first be used to help target areasfor resource management, preservation and/or parkland acquisition. This tool has short-and long-term planning applications and canbe used for site-specific work and broadercommunity and regional study.

The model is one that can be used bymany agencies to help develop a similarapproach to preservation and managementefforts. Certainly it makes visually clear muchof what has been difficult to follow in policycircles. The hope is that a shared vision forprotection for the county’s resources willemerge. This major Green Infrastructureproject has given the FCPA a strong tool forplanning our county’s future. u

“How do you decidewhat resources toprotect? Who decides?Under what rules?”

The FCPA is tasked by the county gov-ernment with protecting those resources.But with so much going on and because ofthe limits in the Authority’s manpower andbudget, what takes precedence? Conserv-ing open space or protecting archaeologicalsites? Preserving wetlands or restoring his-toric sites? Are independent forest standsmore important than land close to existingparks? And who decides? Under what rules?

Following a new initiative being usedelsewhere, the FCPA has adapted the con-cept of “Green Infrastructure” modeling tohelp focus the county’s conservation andenvironmental planning efforts. It will enablethe county to respond quickly and effectivelyto questions involving the protection of ournatural and cultural resources.

The draft model allows us to look at howwe can integrate preservation of our naturaland cultural resource values together withwhere they exist geographically and topo-graphically across the county. The idea is to

The environmental features consideredincluded hydrology, tree cover and wetlands,among others. Upland forest was consideredan increasingly valuable habitat because ofthe major losses of such forests to other uses.

The cultural features evaluated were his-toric and prehistoric architectural sites,

“The project…has giventhe Park Authority astrong tool for planningour county’s future.”

Winter 2003 11

� Bald Eagles continued from page 1

� Dranesville Tavern continued from page 1

Dranesville Hotel (Old Jackson Tavern), from “The Rambler,”Washington Star, July 28, 1918.

H I S T O R I C S I T E S

In the air, the bald eagle reigns supreme.While circling several hundred feet abovewater, a bald eagle can spot a small fishbelow the surface, sweep into a gracefuldescent and snatch it with its talons in aroutine show of predatory power. Its eye-sight is so sharp (at least four times moreacute than a person with perfect vision) thatit can identify prey as small as a rabbit fromwell over a mile away.

While migrating, the eagle can average30 miles per hour, effortlessly gliding alongon columns of air called thermals withoccasional slow ponderous beats of itsmajestic wings. While courting, bald eaglesperform breathtaking aerial displays includ-ing rapid dives and turns. Sometimes, wheretwo bald eagles grasp talons in mid-air, theyplummet in spiraling cartwheels to within afew feet of the ground before releasingtalons. These aerodynamic marvels are rela-tively light and hollow-boned, the malesaveraging about nine pounds, females a fewpounds heavier. Each skeleton weighs about

a half-pound, its 7,000 feathers one pound.Bald eagles often mate for life, and care

for their newborn eaglets, which have a lowsurvival rate. In the nest, adult eagles clenchtheir powerful talons into harmless balls tospare chicks and coax them to take shreds ofmeat from their beaks. If fledglings survive,they will live to an average of 15 to 20 years,although some have been recorded livingclose to 30 years in the wild.

Bald eagles prefer to nest in trees withlarge canopies and high perches near water,where they can survey and prey for fish, astaple, but they will also eat waterfowl,mammals and turtles, both live and ascarrion. Eagles are notorious for stealing

catches from ospreys and for hijackingcarcasses and injured prey of such fellowscavengers as vultures, ravens and crows.

Usually eagles winter in this area fromOctober through March; however, nestingpairs may stay through summer. Some popu-lar spots for viewing bald eagles locally areMason Neck State Park, the Accotink Wild-life Refuge on Fort Belvoir, Pohick Bay RegionalPark, Riverbend Park on the Potomac andHuntley Meadows. The last two are FairfaxCounty Park Authority parks.

A good chance to see bald eagles willbe on Saturday, January 11, when natural-ists from Hidden Oaks Nature Center lead afree tour from 9 am to noon at Mason NeckState Park in search of eagles. Bring binocu-lars and a spotting scope if you have oneand dress for the weather. Meet at PohickBay Regional Park Marina and caravan toMason Neck State Park (pay fee at gate). Ifthere are hazardous road conditions, the tripis cancelled, with a snow date of January18. Call Hidden Oaks at 703-941-1065 byJanuary 8 to make your reservation. u

as “one of the best roadside inns in the state of Virginia.”When the Park Authority became the site’s owner, it reopened

Dranesville Tavern in 1978 as a historic site. Soon after a number ofpeople returned to the inn to offer their own stories of earlier visits.They told of having meals and staying overnight at Dranesville Tavernin the years before Leesburg Pike became a hard-surfaced road andelectricity reached as far into the country as the Dranesville area ofFairfax County.

One delightful elderly woman, Margaret Ailes Wilmer, remem-bered a visit she made to the tavern when she was 10 years old.She was being treated to a trip from Harper’s Ferry to Washingtonwith her father. They were going by horse and buggy. It was winter—December 10, either 1909 or 1910, and very cold. They had startedin Harper’s Ferry with hot bricks to warm them. At Leesburg Mrs.Wilmer’s father went into a drug store and bought a newspaper,half of which to stuff in back of her coat and half in front to keepher warm.

They reached Dranesville Tavern after dark, halfway to their desti-nation. Upstairs, their bedroom was on the east end of the tavern,above the closed parlor and away from the heat of the kitchen andthe parlor fire. Sixty years later she still remembered the cold.

When father and daughter awoke in the morning, the water inthe washbasin pitcher had an ice coating that her father broke forher to wash her face. Breakfast she recalled with glee. As the onlyguests, they ate with the family in the dining room at a long table

where she ate a “huge” stack of pancakes with syrup before climb-ing back into the buggy.

Today the trip from Leesburg to Georgetown is a brief one, on aroad crowded with residential communities and shopping destina-tions. The Dranesville Tavern is just a spot along the way, a landmarkthat has many stories to tell of other times. It reminds us of what adifference a few decades can make in the journeys we take. u

This article was taken from research by Barbara Naef, the former ResourceStewardship Manager in the Authority’s Resource Management Division,and now an invaluable volunteer working with the FCPA’s Historic Collec-tions. She worked to develop the early interpretative tours and events atthe Tavern.

S U B S C R I B E !

Burke Lake Park7315 Ox Road, Fairfax StationCall 703-323-6600

Colvin Run Mill10017 Colvin Run RoadGreat FallsCall 703-759-2771

Ellanor C. Lawrence Park5040 Walney Road, ChantillyCall 703-631-0013

Frying Pan Park2709 West Ox Road, HerndonCall 703-437-9101

Green Spring Gardens Park4603 Green Spring Rd., AlexandriaCall 703-642-5173

Hidden Oaks Nature Center7701 Royce Street, AnnandaleCall 703-941-1065

Y O U R P A R K S

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Apt. #

Here are some of the parkswhere winter becomes a wonderland

Hidden Pond Nature Center8511 Greeley Blvd., SpringfieldCall 703-451-9588

Huntley Meadows Park3701 Lockheed Blvd., AlexandriaCall 703-768-2525

Lake Accotink Park7500 Accotink Park Rd., SpringfieldCall 703-569-3464

Lake Fairfax Park1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, RestonCall 703-471-5414

Riverbend Park8700 Potomac Hills StreetGreat FallsCall 703-759-9018

Sully Historic SiteSully Road, ChantillyCall 703-437-1794

Need directions? More information?Visit us online at: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks

❑ Nature centers❑ Local history❑ Kids’ projects❑ Hiking

❑ Birds❑ Archaeology❑ Events❑ Historic sites

❑ Gardening and❑ horticulture❑ What else?

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Winter WondersWinter WondersMaple SyrupBoil-Down

Celebrate the coming of spring with a maplesyrup boil-down at Colvin Run Mill! On twoSundays in February, the 9th and the 16th,from noon to 2 pm, bring the family toexperience this traditional experience. Watchas the sap is collected from the maple treeson the site. Afterwards it is reduced over anopen fire down to delicious maple syrup!The program is free; call Colvin Run Mill at703-759-2771 for directions.

Family WreathMaking

Enjoy a creative holiday time on Sunday,December 15, from 2 to 3:30 pm at HiddenPond Nature Center. Instructor Clara Aileswill inspire you and your family to createtwo seasonal wreaths of straw and vines,decorated with greens, cones, dried flowersand ribbons. Call 703-451-9588 for reser-vations to this memorable program. Thecost is $15 per family for supplies.

uBirding forBeginners

Winter is a great time to begin birding. OnSaturday, January 25 from 8 to 10:30 am,visitors aged 16 and over will meet at Hunt-ley Meadows Visitor Center to get a goodlook at the avian stars of the air. First, we’lldiscuss various aspects of different fieldguides and optics. Then we’ll walk to lookfor resident birds. Call Huntley at 703-768-2525 to make reservations for this freeprogram. Canceled in case of rain.