Huntley

Friends of Historic Huntley HeadlinesFall 2016

Historic Discussions at Huntley: director, Carlyle House, and Carolyn Gamble, former assistant manager, Historic Homes of the Huntley Meadows Park, as your guides. Mount Vernon Area These were gatherings where southern Saturday, October 1, 1 p.m. Fairfax farming folk traded work tips, Norma Hoffman Visitor Center advanced their political interests, Huntley Meadows Park, $5 exchanged good-natured barbs, and cemented neighborly bonds. Discover old buildings in our midst Join us at our Annual Meeting for with fascinating stories to tell. Join this special presentation and the annual author Michael K. Bohn for a election of FOHH Board members. If Otis Mason House, c. 1900, a National photographic tour of the history-rich you haven’t already, please renew your Trust for Historic Preservation property, Mount Vernon community. His 2014 FOHH membership—only members book, Mount Vernon Revisited, shows located at former Woodlawn Stables, was moved recently for Route 1 widening work. in good standing may vote. For your the community to be much more than convenience, a membership renewal George Washington and his fabled form can be found on page 4. v home. From Woodlawn and Quakers, to Harrison Lane Clean Up Woodhouse and the George Washington Saturday, October 15, 9 a.m. Air Junction, Mr. Bohn reveals the area’s Update on Tenant House intriguing history through photographs, Huntley Meadows Park parking lot It is anticipated that the rehabilitation maps, and other images. After a 20-year Join fellow Huntley fans in beautifying of the Tenant House will begin this career as a naval intelligence officer, the road to Huntley. Gloves and boots September. Tours of Historic Huntley Mr. Bohn served as director of the are recommended wear. Trash bags will are expected to continue through the v White House Situation Room during be provided. end of the normal tour season and the Reagan administration. programming will take place during the A guided tour of Historic Huntley FOHH Annual Meeting: construction process. (See page 3 for more follows. Register at the event, at information on both.) An October 2015 www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/huntley- Woodlawn Agricultural FOHH program presented by Debbie meadows-park/calendar.htm, or by calling and Housekeeping Robison revealed new information 703.768.2525. Sponsored by FOHH. v Societies about the Tenant House that is helping in planning the rehabilitation.v Sunday, November 6, 2 p.m. A Salute to Ed Batten! Sherwood Hall Regional Library, free “A few days ago a large quantity For more than 13 years, Edward R. Not that long ago, chickens, cows, and of cord wood, at Huntley, near Batten, Sr., has served as the Lee hogs were at home where most of our town, the farm now occupied District representative on the Fairfax suburban houses now stand. Families and cultivated by Dr. King, was County Park Authority (FCPA) Board. lived with very different challenges burned, by the carelessness of As he relocates and begins a new chapter from those we face today, yet also met those engaged in burning brush in his life, FOHH extends to Mr. Batten to socialize and help one another. near to the wood pile.” a warm and hearty thank you for the Explore the worlds of the Woodlawn ongoing support he has steadfastly Alexandria Gazette, page 3, April 9, 1866 Agricultural and Housekeeping Researched by Jon Vrana provided to Historic Huntley. v Societies with Susan Hellman, Huntley Headlines • Fall 2016 1 President’s Column: more about these future changes issues. Her litigation experience and at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/ familiarity with environmental law On the Verge of a embarkrichmondhwy. The FOHH was extremely helpful with this case. Vanishing View mission to protect our beloved “small Diane is currently co-chair of the Mount by Todi Carnes house with a big view” includes the Vernon Council of Citizens’ Associations As part of its design, Historic Huntley preservation of the viewshed, an integral and has a broad understanding of local v was sited with great care. Specifically, the part of Huntley’s historic integrity. government and land-use issues. architecture of Huntley’s small villa was Had she known how much work this intended to incorporate expansiveness Meet a Community Hero: case would demand of her, she might by looking out—through main hall have thought twice before taking it on. doors thrown open wide—toward the Diane Donley I counted 130 emails from her in my Potomac River, taking in the sweeping by Carolyn Gamble inbox. She had one harrowing afternoon Hybla Valley vista below. In May 2012, Thanks to the expertise and generosity of driving to Richmond in rush-hour traffic with the restoration and opening of Diane Donley, lawyer and community during a heavy rainstorm to submit our the villa to the public, it seemed that leader, FOHH and FOHMP were testimony and exhibits to the SCC by Huntley’s preservation had at long last participants in the SCC case regarding the deadline, making it with minutes been assured. This rosy perspective took Dominion’s Transmission Rebuild to spare. Her attitude throughout the for granted that Huntley’s viewshed of Project along HMP’s southern entire arduous process leading up to the virtually uninterrupted tree cover would boundary. Her pro bono legal June 15 hearing remained upbeat and remain undisturbed. representation was essential for the two encouraging. As we came to recently discover, groups to submit testimony, exhibits, and Diane speaks high praise for her even the protective presence of Huntley rebuttal. While we are still waiting for clients, FOHH and FOHMP. She says Meadows Park (HMP) is no guarantee the official SCC ruling and issuance of the 300-page testimony and exhibits of the intact survival of the Huntley certification for the project,significant document was impressive, as well as viewshed. A utility easement runs along concessions were made as a result instrumental in affecting the outcome. v the park’s southern boundary, through of our participation. These include Thank you Diane! which Virginia Dominion Power runs 100-foot-tall transmission poles (instead power lines. Late last year, Dominion of 125-foot poles), detailed alignment Summer Intern: announced upgrade plans, which sheets of wetlands, rare plants, and the included replacing 60-foot poles below George Washington boundary ditches Greg Campbell-Cohen tree level with 21 towers 125 feet or more with “no go” zones clearly marked, Greg Campbell-Cohen is a graduate in height and well above the tree cover. installation of bird diverters if two or student at the University of Following intense negotiations more birds are killed by the transmission Edinburgh, majoring in history and between Dominion, FOHH, the Friends line, and a detailed archaeological study politics. During his summer FCPA of Huntley Meadows Park (FOHMP), of approximately 2,500 feet of the historic interpretation internship and Fairfax County, Dominion agreed, boundary ditches, including document at Historic Huntley, his work with one exception, to lower the new research and historic plat analysis. focused on the Amlong residency, towers to 100 feet in height. FOHH Diane retired in 2012 from federal as well as Henry Woodhouse and the members and supporters have made government service, during which she George Washington Air Junction. His a difference! The agreement is now litigated many cases under the federal research took him to Baltimore, the before the Virginia State Corporation Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act, Smithsonian Institution’s Air and Commission (SCC) for approval. including those involving wetland Space Museum archives, and the While it appears that the Huntley vaults of the Fairfax County Circuit viewshed has been safeguarded from Court. Greg designed an oral history the immediate threat of above-treetop database infrastructure, conducted transmission towers, the FOHH Board and transcribed interviews, assisted will be looking at other potential threats with camp activities, and engaged in to the viewshed as the pace of Route 1 webpage re-design. He reports that development increases. his experience at Huntley has been Embark Richmond Highway The extremely fulfilling. Many thanks to Advisory Group is strongly seeking Greg for his work and to generous community input in its ongoing revision The team at the June 15, 2016, FOHH contributors who sponsored of the comprehensive plan. Find out SCC hearing: Cathy Ledec, FOHMP his internship! v president; Diane Donley; George Ledec, ecologist; and Carolyn Gamble, FOHH.

2 Fall 2016 • Huntley Headlines Original Resident Returns to Huntley: Mary Jane Alcorn Hillman by Charlotte Brown, author of Groveton Spring’s Huntley Farm Day served as the backdrop for Mary Jane Alcorn Hillman’s reunion with her Huntley home. Mary Jane came to the event with her daughter Dee Downey, her nephew Gene Butts, and his wife Terry. Mary Jane’s mother was Gladys Wease, daughter of Fairfax County Constable Frederick Jasper Wease. The Wease family were neighbors of the Harrison family, Mary Jane Alcorn Hillman, here with Carolyn Gamble, graciously donated the long-time owners of Huntley. Huntley house key, a family memento of their time at Huntley, to FCPA through FOHH. Albert “Bert” Harrison (son of Albert W. Harrison) asked Gladys FCPA Programs at Historic Huntley to help him at Huntley by caring for For homeschoolers: Hitching a Ride Through Huntley his sister, Mary Curtis Harrison, who Taux Trail September 24, 2 p.m. suffered from arteriosclerosis. Gladys September 8, 10 a.m. or $7 (residents)/$9 (non-residents) married Earl Augustus Alcorn and October 3, 1:30 p.m.; ages 5-13 Enjoy a wagon ride through Huntley they raised their family at Huntley. $12 (residents)/$14 (non-residents) Meadows Park to discover its World Mr. Harrison, who had the same Immerse yourself in the life of War II and Cold War secrets. affliction as his sister, asked that the Virginia Indians 400 years ago by Delicious Dairy at Historic Huntley couple remain at Huntley to care taking part in corn grinding, pot October 7, 1 p.m. for him. Mary Jane spent nine years making, and corn darts activities. $7 (residents)/$9 (non-residents) living at Huntley. Her parents, twin National History Day Churn butter, taste fresh cheese you sister Dorothy, and brothers Earl Jr. can make at home, and tour the house. “Sonny” and Everett lived there with September 22, 1:30 p.m., ages 11-18 Mr. Harrison until his death in 1946. $108 (residents)/$123 (non-residents) For Scouts: Young scout programs Mary Jane and her family were Students learn about the use of are available on both weekdays and thrilled with the Farm Day event and primary and secondary sources, create weekends for 1.5 hours to 2 hours, depending on the badge requirements. seeing the restoration of the house to individual or group projects that may be submitted to the National History its original Mason-era appearance. For more information and to register: Day competition, and take a field Huntley had undergone “remodeling” Huntley Meadows Park, 703.768.2525, trip to the Virginia Room, Library of since it was built c. 1825 to meet www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/huntley- Congress, or National Archives. the changing times and needs of the meadows-park/calendar.htm. v Harrison and Amlong families. For kids: Mary Jane’s visit to Huntley brought Toys at Historic Huntley Tours of Historic Huntley­ back many memories of her and her September 10, 11 a.m., ages 3 and up Enjoy southern Fairfax County’s most siblings, cousins, and friends playing $7 (residents)/$9 (non-residents) scenic view at Historic Huntley, in the hay, running through the fields, Enjoy toys and games from the past the small house with a big view. and sleighing down the hill. She as children who lived at Huntley may Tours on Saturdays, April 30 through remembered the Tavenner family have, take a special house tour, and October, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and that lived in the caretaker’s house and participate in a scavenger hunt. by appointment. $5 adults; $3 children my father “Brownie” (Alvin Brown, For all ages: and seniors; under 5, free. The grounds a cousin of the Tavenner family), who are open from dawn to dusk from March worked on the dairy farm. She talked Ice Cream at Historic Huntley to November. about her mother, Gladys, cooking September 24, 11 a.m. For more information, call Huntley over the hot stove, and the kindness $8 (residents)/$10 (non-residents) Meadows Park, 703.768.2525. Historic of Bert Harrison. It was truly a delight Make and enjoy hand-cranked ice Huntley is a Fairfax County Park to share a “moment in history” with cream just as Huntley’s Harrison Authority historic site. v Mary Jane Alcorn Hillman. v family would have. Huntley Headlines • Fall 2016 3 FRIENDS OF HISTORIC HUNTLEY P.O. Box 7241 Alexandria, VA 22307-0241 Address correction requested

Save the Dates: Historic Homes program - October 1

Harrison Lane Clean Up - October 15 Annual Meeting - November 6 Educational programs for all ages

Huntley-Related Web Sites www. historichuntley.org www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/histhunt/ www.friendsofhuntleymeadows.org

bunnies, and chickens), making and Participants also could relive “The Record-Setting eating ice cream and butter, taking in Way it Was” through items from FCPA Attendance at Farm Day the beautiful view from the hilltop after collections once belonging to Margaret With more than 250 attendees, spring’s touring the house, finding out “how the “Maggie” Harrison (daughter of Albert Huntley Farm Day enjoyed perfect Groveton streets got their names” from W. and Angeline Crane Harrison), weather and was one of Historic the students of Groveton Elementary, who married Norman Gibbs on May Huntley’s most successful events ever, viewing Civil War displays by John 27, 1886, at Huntley. Adding to the surpassing the prior event attendance and Nancy Berfield, learning about atmosphere was Jon Vrana in period record of 207 set at the 2012 opening Green Spring Gardens and Frying Pan attire portraying Albert W. Harrison, of a restored Huntley. Farm Park, and seeing historic photos a New Jersey farmer and owner of Events on this special day included from Charlotte Brown’s Groveton and Huntley from 1868-1911. v playing with the farm animals (goats, dairy farm artifacts. Huntley Headlines is produced by Friends Join Friends of Historic Huntley today! of Historic Huntley, a local citizens group Support Historic Huntley by joining this group of history- and historic preservation- formed to preserve Historic Huntley and related cultural resources through advocacy minded people. Members receive the newsletter, an invitation to a members-only event, and education. and a 10% discount on FOHH merchandise. FOHH is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Board of Directors: Todi Carnes, Membership dues and contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. President • Charles O. Davis, Vice With your volunteer efforts and financial support, we can make a difference. President • Carolyn Gamble, Secretary • Jere Gibber, Treasurer • Erica Hershler, Name ______Tel ______Publicity • Charlotte Brown • Peter Address ______Christensen • Harry Glasgow • Stephen City, State, Zip ______F. Kimbel • Patty Young • Susan Email ______May we email Huntley Headlines? ______Escherich and Norma Hoffman, Emeritus • Todi Carnes, HMHOA Representative • Connie Carpender, q $15 Individual q $20 Family q $10 Student/Senior FOHMP Representative • Bruce Dilks, q $150 Lifetime Membership q Additional donation ______Woodlawn Faith United Methodist Church Representative q q New Member Renewing Member Total enclosed ______Advisors: Barbara Ballentine • C. Richard Bierce, AIA • Susan Hellman • I’m interested in volunteering in the following area(s): Robbie McNeil q q q HH (work with staff at HMP): Docent Greeter Research Address changes: FOHH: q Fundraising q Program Planning q Public Relations q Special Events Please send your mailing label with corrections to the address above or to Send completed form with check payable to Friends of Historic Huntley to: [email protected]. FOHH, P.O. Box 7241, Alexandria, VA 22307-0241 4 Fall 2016 • Huntley Headlines