"Committed to Excellence" to "Committed Volume 2, Issue 1 Winter 2004 Historic Fairfax City, Inc. The Old National Bank of Fairfax Building "Fare Fac - Say Do" by William Page Johnson, II Executive Officers Only the oldest residents of the community will recall the Hildie Carney President original home of the National Bank of Fairfax. From 1905 to 1931, Ann Adams Vice-Pres. the building known as 4029 Chain Bridge Road in the City of Vacant Treasurer Fairfax, was home to the National Bank of Fairfax. The National Karen Stevenson Secretary Bank of Fairfax was organized on August 25, 1902, and was the first bank in the Town of Fairfax.1 Previous to this, Fairfax Fairfax, VA 22030 VA Fairfax, Patrick S. Cummins Director residents had to conduct their banking in nearby Alexandria, VA Norma Darcey Director 10209 Main Street Main 10209 or Washington, D.C. Kevin Frank Director Hildie Carney, President Carney, Hildie Mick Frasier Director At the turn of the 19th century a small economic boom was occurring in G. William Jayne Director Fairfax and the times were rapidly changing. In 1900, the first automobile was Return Address - Historic Fairfax City, Inc. City, Fairfax Historic - Address Return Hon. Wm. Page Johnson, II Director 2 Andrea Loewenwarter Director spotted on a Fairfax street. Fairfax was then home to some very influential David Meyer Director people. Among these was Joseph Edward Willard, purported to be the wealthiest Hon. John H. Rust, Jr. Director man in Virginia and heir to the Willard Hotel fortune. Willard had located his Betsy Rutkowski Director Dolores Testerman Director country estate, Layton Hall, here on 50 acres near the birthplace of his mother Edward C. Trexler, Jr. Director Antonia Ford Willard.3 Willard was deeply involved in Virginia politics and was Ellen Wigren Director first elected as a Delegate to the Virginia General Assembly in 1893. The Newsletter of By 1902, he had been elected Lt. Historic Fairfax City, Inc. Governor. In 1900, he authorized construction of Old Town Hall, which he gave as a gift to the people of the town. At the same time, Fairfax native, Robert Walton Moore, was making his mark, professionally, economically and politically. In 1904, Moore helped establish electric train service to Fairfax C.H.4 To secure The Fare Facs Gazette © 2004 that investment he became a driving force behind the formation of the Editor: William Page Johnson, II National Bank of Fairfax. He realized that for the town to continue to grow it needed a bank of its own. It was probably Moore who selected the first board of directors for the fledgling bank. Influential, or at least well- to-do members, of the The National Bank of Fairfax Building c. 1905 Photo courtesy of Lee Hubbard community served on the first board. Moore himself served as President.5 His business partner, Dr. Frederick Manning Brooks,6 served as Vice–President. Dr. Merton Elbridge Church,7 Stephen Roszel Donohoe,8 Milton Dulaney Hall,9 Hon. Joseph Edward Willard,10 Ecca R. Swetnam,11 Thomas Benton Putnam12, 13 served as the initial Board of Directors.14 All of these men were considered leaders in their respective fields. The only anomaly appears to have been Thomas Putnam. "T.B." Putnam was probably selected as a board member because E-mail: [email protected] he had recently come into a substantial amount of cash ($15,000) through Website: www.ci.fairfax.va.us/Host/hfci/index.htm The National Bank of Fairfax Building (2004) the sale of his farm, Sudley, on the border of Prince William and Fairfax Photo credit: Wm. Page Johnson, II Cos. Continued on Page 2 Volume 2, Issue 1 The Fair Facs Gazette Winter 2004 Volume 2, Issue 1 The Fair Facs Gazette Winter 2004 Building History... - continued from pg. 1 of the building were leased to such tenants as Dr. Theodore The bank began initial operations in the old Fairfax B. McCord, MD and the Fairfax County Office of Land County Clerk’s Office (1854-1934) in leased space.15,16 The Acquisition. In the 1960’s, a portion of the building was In Memorium old Fairfax County Clerk’s Office was situated on the leased to the law of Boothe, Dudley, Koontz, Blankenship George A. Hamill 25 opposite side of Chain Bridge Road just south of the and Stump. City of Fairfax resident and attorney Hugo 1924 - 2003 courthouse.17 It was located immediately south of the old Blankenship was a partner in this firm. In 1972, the law Court House and fronted on Chain Bridge Road. The bricks firm now known as Mackall, Mackall and Gibb moved next George A. Hamill passed away November 12th at the door. During this time the 1st floor housed the offices of Virginia Veterans Care Center in Roanoke, VA. He served as Fairfax Legal Aid Society.26 the first president of Historic Fairfax City, Inc. from 1983- In 1992, after more than 60 years, the venerable 1989. old building once again became the home to a local bank. Born in Washington, DC, and raised in Fairfax, George In that year, Community Bank of Northern Virginia was was a 1942 graduate of Fairfax High School. He entered the organized in Sterling, VA. They leased the building from US Army Quartermaster Corps in 1943 and served in the the Mackall brothers and continue to operate their Fairfax European Theater during World War II. He remained in Europe City branch from this location today. for several years after the war working as a mapmaker. In 1946, he entered the College of William & Mary where he graduated in 1950. He returned to Fairfax and embarked on a Chain of Title career as an Insurance Agent specializing in Commercial and 1967-Present Henry C. & Douglas S. Mackall, III Business lines. 1964-1967 James & Anne B. Keith, Henry C. & Source: Fairfax Herald, November 11, 1907, p. 3 He served on the Fairfax Town and City Council from Douglass S. Mackall, III 1960-1968, and as Mayor of Fairfax from 1968-1970. He National Bank of Fairfax Building c. 1931 1960-1964 Charles Pickett, James Keith & Henry Photo credit: Wm. Page Johnson, II C. Mackall resigned in 1970 citing business and family pressures. In 1972, he was instrumental in helping saving the Ratcliffe-Allison from the old Clerk's office were used to repair the streets 1937-1960 John S. & Mary G. Barbour 1904-1937 National Bank of Fairfax House, which was formerly known as Earp's Ordinary. In of the Town.18 Plans were already underway for a more 1899-1904 Robert Walton Moore addition to his service on the HFCI board, George also served permanent home, however. 1852-1899 John R. & Fannie B. Taylor as president of the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce Construction began on a permanent home for the 1850-1852 James & Sarah Ann Hunter (1958) and the Fairfax Rotary Club (1963). bank in August 1904. Oliver B. “O.B.” Campbell (1870- 1849-1850 George W. & Mary A. Hunter, Jr. He was the father of seven children. His wife, Sally, 1953) and John R. Taylor (1820-1906) acted as General 1843-1849 Edward Sangster, Nelson Conrad, died in 1987. Contractors. The building was completed in May 1905 – Edward R. Ford, N. Cockrill, John the centennial anniversary of the town.19 The bank Dulin, Gilbert Purdy, James Kidwell, maintained its offices on the first floor and leased space to Dabney Ball, John B. Hunter, Trustees the law firm of Moore & McCandlish on the 2nd floor. for the Methodist Church. In 1930, the National Bank of Fairfax hired Albert 1840-1846 John B. Hunter 1836-1840 Edward Sangster & John Powell, Reuben Sherwood (1879-1963) to construct a new bank Commissioners in Chancery 20 building on the site of the Willcoxon Tavern. In that year, 1825-1836 Nancy W. Daniel, dau.of R. Ratcliffe the Tavern was torn down and the bricks used by Francis Pickens Miller to construct his home, Picken’s Hill, in (Endnotes) Oakton, VA.21, 22 Construction of the new bank began in 1 Fairfax Herald, January 11, 1907, p. 3. November 1930 and was completed in May of 1931. 2 Fairfax Herald, July 13, 1900, p. 3. The National Bank of Fairfax continued to operate 3 Antonia Ford Willard (1838-1871) Was purported to be a until 1981 when they merged with First & Merchants Bank. Confederate Spy during the Civil War. She was made an Honorary Aid-de-Camp by Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart. She was The merger of First & Merchants Bank and Virginia imprisoned during the war on suspicion of being a spy at which National Bankshares created Sovran Bank in 1983. Sovran time she met her future husband, Major Joseph Clapp Willard, was in turn acquired by Nations Bank, NA in 1991. Bank owner of the Willard Hotel in Washington, DC. Sign raising May 8, 1962, (l to r) Stacy C. Sherwood, Daniel J. Harrison, of America subsequently acquired Nations Bank in 1998 4 The Fare Facs Gazette, V. 4, No. 1, Newsletter of Historic Fairfax Roland Clark, John C. Wood, Dr. John N.G. Finley, George A. Hamill, and continues to operate today.23, 24 City, Inc., Fairfax, VA. and Dr. Fred M. Everley. The sign reads: "George Mason College of 5 After the construction of the new building the old Robert Walton Moore (1859-1941). Attended the Episcopal High the University of Virginia, On February 10, 1959, this tract of 150 School near Alexandria, Va., and the University of Virginia; acres was given by the citizens of the town of Fairfax as a permanent bank building was leased entirely to the law firm of Moore studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1880 and practiced in site of the College." and McCandlish.