Serving Fairfax Areas of Burke Gooding family descendants attended the unveiling of the Gooding Tavern historical marker on Little River Turnpike Sunday, July 10. (From left) Carolyn Martinez, A Kathie Gunther (who re- searched the Gooding family), Martha Colavita, Ben Martell and Margaret Colavita. Historic Family Home Rediscovered Life News, Page 3 Style Page 8 Classified, Page 14 Classified, ❖ Sports, Page 11 ❖ Calendar, Page 13 Comedy Play At Robinson Requested in home 7-15-11 home in Requested News, Page 4 material. sensitive Time Attention Postmaster: Attention PERMIT #322 PERMIT Easton, MD Easton, PAID U.S. Postage U.S. PRSRT STD PRSRT Photo by Victoria Ross/The Connection Ross/The by Victoria Photo www.ConnectionNewspapers.comJuly 14-20, 2011 online at www.connectionnewspapers.comFairfax Connection ❖ July 14-20, 2011 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Fairfax Connection ❖ July 14-20, 2011 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Fairfax Connection Editor Michael O’Connell News 703-778-9416 or [email protected] Photo by Photo A Historic Family Rediscovered Ross Victoria Gooding Tavern marker dedicated on Little River Turnpike. /The Connection By Victoria Ross “The Gooding Tavern served The Connection Little River Turnpike travelers and stagecoach passengers from 1807 athie Gunther, a re- to 1879, and was famous for the searcher with the ‘best fried chicken,’ and ‘peaches Martha Colavita, a K Fairfax County Public and honey.’ The Goodings also op- Gooding family descen- Library’s Virginia erated a blacksmith shop and dant, holds the photo of Room, often receives inquiries stable. Several Civil War skirmishes herself as a little girl in about Civil War history. occurred around the tavern on 24 the exact spot where the But when she received a call in August 1863, Confederate Partisan original photo was taken 2008 from a descendant of the Ranger Major John S. Mosby was Donated by Martha Colavita more than 50 years ago. man who shot Confederate Major severely wounded by the Union As a 7-year-old, Martha Colavita took this photo between John S. Mosby, she had no idea it 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry. Two of two Gooding family headstones, including ‘Uncle Billy’ Gooding-Seaton adjacent to the would unearth a treasure trove of his officers were killed and three Gooding, who owned the famous Gooding Tavern. Pleasant Valley Memorial Park history about another historic Vir- men wounded. Union losses in- Cemetery. She said her grand- ginia family: the Goodings. cluded: two killed, three wounded squarely in the Mason District, In an 1857 newspaper article, mother was concerned about cem- Nearly four years and 244 and nine prisoners taken. The tav- where the Gooding Tavern was Lipsey said, the tavern was de- etery preservation, and she and pounds of documents later, ern burned down in 1879.” located,” Gross said. But she con- scribed as “old-fashioned, clean, her family would visit many of the Gunther could write a book about Before the dedication ceremony, ceded the stables and blacksmith well-kept, famous for its fried gravestones on Easter Sunday. the family. During the Antebellum the group met at the Little River shop were located across Little chicken and entertainment for man “This means a great deal to us, to South, when a quarter of the United Church of Christ for a short River Turnpike in the Braddock and beast.” Apparently, the tavern have the marker here, near the Commonwealth’s population were history program on the Gooding District. and its stables were the last stop cemetery, and recognized as part slaves who worked on tobacco family and the Gooding Tavern. “I didn’t think I’d need my in- before sheep and cattle were taken of our history,” Colavita said. plantations, the Gooding family ternational passport today to cross to the slaughterhouse, Lipsey said. “The history of Fairfax County owned almost 2,100 acres, a fa- THE GOODING TAVERN, the borders,” Cook said, smiling. When “Uncle Billy” died in 1861, fascinates me, “said Board of Su- mous tavern, a blacksmith shop, a owned by William Gooding, “It’s important to know our history, Lipsey said there were “glowing pervisors Chair Sharon Bulova (D- stable and a drover’s pen. served as an important social and and this family was clearly a rel- obituaries. They called him ‘kindly, At-large), who spoke at the cer- “The Gooding family was so en- commercial gathering place. Also evant part of Fairfax County his- cheerful, a remarkable man who emony and walked with visitors meshed with the County’s history,” known as “ordinaries,” these tav- tory. And I’m looking forward to retained his full vigor at 93.’ The through the cemetery. “What I love Gunther said. “They were a great erns provided food and lodging for going out in the 92-degree heat newspaper said he never traveled about history is learning about the family with important historic ties, travelers and their horses or other among the poison ivy to dedicate more than four miles in his life, families and the stories behind the but they were under-the-radar.” animals. Prices were established the marker,” Cook said, drawing and he never saw a train but heard markers,” she said. No more. On Sunday, July 10, by court order. laughter from the crowd. its whistle even though he lived The historic marker, one of eight elected officials, historic-preserva- Fairfax County Supervisor Penny Mary Lipsey, Fairfax County’s within five miles of a train.” The in a three-mile area, was made pos- tion groups and descendants of the Gross (D-Mason) said the Gooding History Commissioner, gave the Gooding family sold the tavern sible by donations from the Bull Run Gooding family gathered on Little Tavern was also known as the “10- most salient information about property when the tavern burned Civil War Round Table, the Fairfax River Turnpike to dedicate the mile-house” because it was 10 “Uncle Billy” Gooding (1768- down in 1879. County History Commission and Gooding Tavern Historical Marker. miles from D.C. William Gooding’s 1861), who was “a well-known Christopher and Mary Lipsey. Lipsey Located near the Little River brother owned another tavern in and well-liked man.” He began his MARTHA COLAVITA, a Gooding is also a member of the Fairfax United Church of Christ, and just Alexandria, called the “5-mile- tavern career on Little River Turn- family descendant, attended the County Cemetery Preservation As- outside the boundary of the Pleas- house,” because it was five miles pike with an “ordinary” license. dedication and said she remem- sociation, a non-profit local orga- ant Valley Memorial Park, the sign from the district. “He was a slave owner, but we bered visiting her grandmother’s nization. “We are small in number, commemorates the location of the Gross and John Cook (R- know from documents that he was farm — where the Gooding Fam- but very dedicated,” Lipsey said. tavern. Braddock) good-naturedly dis- someone who treated his slaves ily Tavern once stood — when Benjamin Martell, a descendant, puted the exact political district well,” she said. His son left land Colavita was a little girl. For more information on the FCCPA, go to www.honorfairfaxcemeteries.org. uncovered the sign, which is en- where the Gooding Tavern was to slaves and sold land to freed- The Goodings are buried in a For more information on Fairfax County’s graved with this inscription: located. “The new marker is men. family cemetery known as historic markers, go to www.hmdb.org. Week in Fairfax said all four males punched and kicked him. up to $1,000 if their information results ment and mannerisms, a general physi- Four Robbery The suspects took cash, a cell phone, a hat in an arrest. cal description, vital personal informa- Suspects Sought and a debit card from the teen. He was later tion and a family code word. Private in- transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital with formation is encrypted and accessible City of Fairfax Police are investigating non-life-threatening injuries. Helping Keep only by law enforcement. a robbery on the grounds of the Foxcroft The suspects are described as black and Children Safe Missing-persons posters can be created Condominium complex. It occurred last ranging in age from approximately 15-19. and printed directly from the mini-CD in Tuesday, July 6, around 12:36 a.m. The Three are thin and range in height from City of Fairfax police, in conjunction with English, Spanish and French. The Safe victim was an 18-year-old male who at- about 5 feet 4 inches to 6 feet two inches; the Optimist Club, will be offering Safe As- Assured ID kits can also be used as a valu- tended a party at a local business and the fourth is muscular. sured identification kits on Tuesday, July able aid for adults with special needs. then asked others for a ride home. Anyone with information about this in- 19, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at the City of The kits are free and an appointment is Police say an unidentified male and cident is asked to call police at 703-385- Fairfax Police Department, 3730 Old Lee necessary. Go to www.fairfaxva.gov/Po- three acquaintances agreed, and the teen 7924; Detective Mike Boone, 703-385- Highway. lice/SafeAssuredIdentification.asp to followed them to the nearby grounds of 7959; or Crime Solvers, 703-591-TIPS Parents will receive a full-color photo ID download the enrollment form. Call Sgt. the Foxcroft condominiums. The victim (8477). Callers to Crime Solvers may re- and a mini-CD containing digital finger- Dan Grimm at 703-385-7966 for further reported being struck from behind and main anonymous and receive an award of prints, a digital photo, video showing move- information.