Arlington Historical Society (VA)

Annual Banquet Featuring Ed Bearss’ Civil War Presentation

AHS — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 01:31:57 +0000

Ed Bearss, National Park Service Historian Emeritus and renowned expert on the Civil War, will be the keynote speaker for the AHS Annual Banquet scheduled for Monday, June 18, at 6 p.m. at the NRECA Conference Center in Ballston.

Bearss’ presentation, “Arlington and Northern Virginia in the Civil War…Union or Confederate?” will cover Union forces stationed in Arlington, Confederate sympathies, government, Arlington House, contrabands, occasional skirmishes and more. “Mr. Bearss is a living encyclopedia on the Civil War,” said AHS President Tom Dickinson, “and his interpretations and descriptions bring history to life like no one else.”

Tickets are $25 for AHS members, and will be made available to the public starting May 21 for $40. The deadline to order tickets is June 10.

AHS Members can purchase tickets here: http://www.arlingtonhistory.org/events/event-registration/?ee=9

The public can purchase tickets here beginning May 21: http://www.arlingtonhistory.org/events/event-registration/?ee=10

AHS May Membership Meeting & Public Program

AHS — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:53:13 +0000

Join us Thursday, May, 10, 7:00 p.m. at the Arlington Central Library. The meeting will open with the election of the AHS Board Officers & Directors. It will be followed by our public program, “The Sleeping Sentinel of Chain Bridge” presented by George Dodge. The program is free, but please RSVP here.

The Sleeping Sentinel of Chain Bridge was William Scott of Company K of the Third Vermont Infantry. He fell asleep at his post on Chain Bridge and at his court martial he was sentenced to be executed. A firing squad was selected and just before the firing a pardon was granted by General George McClellan at the request of President Abraham Lincoln. In April 1862 he was mortally wounded at the battle of Lee’s Mills, Virginia (near Yorktown.) A poet wrote a largely fictional account of his army life; the poem was read in Congress and he became a legend. In the portrayal George Dodge will attempt to separate fiction from the truth about William Scott.

Boundary Stone Bike Tour

AHS — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 12:22:21 +0000

Bike for 35 Miles Visiting Boundary Stones and Parks
See 12 historic D.C. boundary stones in Arlington, Alexandria, and Fairfax County

CYCLE ON
Mount Vernon Bike Trail
Four Mile Run Bike Trail
Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Bike Trail
Area Streets

VISIT SITES
Old Town Alexandria
Luna Park
Jones Point
Bluemont Junction
Brandymore Castle
Falls Line
Arlington Mill
George Washington Survey Marker
Carlin Springs

PACE: Leisurely; many stops. May travel all day.
DIFFICULTY: Easy to moderate; few long uphill climbs.
SURFACE: Paved streets and bike trails.
WEATHER: Cancelled if 55% or greater chance of rain.

DATE: Saturday, April 28, 2012
TIME: 9:15 a.m.
PLACE: Entrance to East Falls Church Metro Station (Under I-66 on Sycamore Street)

Bring lunch, water, and any type of bike.
No reservations necessary
Sponsored by Center Hiking Club (www.centerhikingclub.org)
Cost: $2.00 (non-member fee)
Contact: Bernie Berne
Phone: (703) 243-0179
E-mail: bhberne@yahoo.com

Spring Volunteer Day at Hume School/Arlington Historical Museum!

AHS — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 02:29:19 +0000

The Spring Volunteer Day at Hume School/Arlington Historical Museum is scheduled for 9 am to noon on Saturday May 5.

We hope you can all make it, and appreciate the now 8 years of growing support the community has given to this restoration and maintenance project for this neighborhood and Arlington icon. This past year saw Hume School on everyone’s windshield, thanks to local student Maya Giaccobe’s winning photograph. We also saw our informal volunteer group, “Friends of Hume School,” receive the County Parks Department’s Bill Thomas Outstanding Parks Volunteer Award, at the April 26, 2011 County Board Meeting. A special category for the award was started so that it could be given to our group, as it had previously gone only to individuals. We are pleased and proud of the support all of you have shown for this effort since it began on a modest scale in 2005. All should take pride in the way the community has come together around this project.

As always, there will be breakfast snacks, and Rich Kelly’s famed chili dogs for lunch. People should wear sturdy shoes with treads, long sleeves and pants. Bring gloves if you can – we will also have some to loan. If you have hand tools for help in weeding, that is also helpful, though we are increasing our tool supply.

Program and Book Signing – Civil War Northern Virginia 1861

AHS — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 01:04:28 +0000

A talk and book signing at The Alexandria Library will be on Saturday, April 7, 2012

William Connery will present a program on his book, Civil War Northern Virginia 1861

The event will begin promptly at 1:30 pm.

717 Queen Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
www.alexandria.lib.va.us
703-746-1719

In the mid-nineteenth century, Alexandria was a busy port across from the Nation’s Capital; Arlington was an eleven-hundred acre estate managed by U.S. Colonel and Mrs. Robert E. Lee; Fairfax, Prince William and Loudoun Counties consisted of rolling farmland and tiny villages. This peaceful region was thrown into chaos as South Carolina seceded from the Union in December 1860 and other slave states followed until Virginia finally joined the Confederacy in April and May 1861. The “invasion” of Northern Virginia on May 24, 1861, created a no-man’s land between Yankee and Rebel armies. Some citizens joined Confederate forces, while others stayed to face uncertainty. William S. Connery offers new insights into this most important time in American history.

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William S. Connery grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, considered to be “neutral territory” in the Civil War/War Between the States. As a
young boy, his family visited the battlefields of Gettysburg, Antietam and Harpers Ferry and other local historical sites. He has a degree in history from the University of Maryland, College Park. Since 1989, Mr. Connery has lived in Fairfax County, near Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. He has contributed to the Civil War Courier, the Washington Times Civil War page and other publications. Mr. Connery is a member of the Company of Military Historians, the Capitol Hill Civil War Round Table, the Sloop of War Constellation Museum and the E.A. Poe Society of Baltimore. As a frequently requested speaker on Civil War and American history topics of that period, he speaks often in the Washington, D.C., metro region. He is married and has two sons.

March Program – Do You Remember? An Interactive Journery Through Arlington’s Commercial History

AHS — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:31:54 +0000

The Arlington Historical Society will be hosting a program entitled Do You Remember? An Interactive Journey Through Arlington’s Commercial History on Thursday, March 15, 2012, 7:30pm at the Arlington Central Library. The program will be given by Charlie Clark, longtime contributor to the Arlington Historical Magazine, author of the “Our Man in Arlington” column for the weekly Falls Church News-Press, and senior correspondent for Government Executive magazine, a part of Atlantic Media. The program is free, but please RSVP here.

Do You Remember…

Herbert’s Youth Fashions?
The Blue-Gray Market?
McCrory’s Five and Dime?

These are just a few of the vanished businesses once familiar to thousands of Arlingtonians in decades past. Come hear local journalist Charlie Clark share some resurrected tidbits from Arlington’s commercial history. Be prepared to share your won recollections of our country’s once-beloved hardware stores, eateries, haberdasheries and more.

Charlie Clark first came to Arlington as a one-year-old in 1954, and attended Cherrydale and James Madison Elementary Schools, Williamsburg Junior High and Yorktown High. For the past 20 years, he has lived in the East Falls Church neighborhood.

The Arlington Historical Society is a non-profit 501 c-3 organization dedicated to preserving the historical record of Arlington County and providing programs of historical interest to the community.

Uniforms Not Costumes – A ‘Real’ History of Civil War Uniforms – January 12, 7pm

AHS — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 02:00:16 +0000

Thursday, January 12, 2012, 7 pm at the Arlington Central Library Auditorium, 1015 N. Quincy St
The program is free to the public, but please RSVP.

“Uniforms not Costumes” will be an engaging discussion dispelling Hollywood myths about what Civil War soldiers North and South actually looked like. The speaker will show clips from films and give examples of how 150 years sometimes distorts historical accuracy. Other topics covered are a history of the textiles, styles, and supply of uniforms and equipment for Confederate and Union soldiers. The talk will be given by Chris Clarke, a twenty year student, re-enactor, and maker of historically accurate Civil War military equipment.

Open House Pictures

AHS — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 01:55:00 +0000

Hume School Illuminated at Night

On Sunday, December 4th the Arlington Historical Society held an Open House and Holiday Social at the Arlington Historical Museum.

AHS Membership Enrollments Now Online

AHS — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 01:01:27 +0000

In an effort to reduce costs and to provide additional options to our members, AHS is now able to accept both new and renewal memberships online. Payments are processed through Google Checkout Please note that we will continue to accept membership forms and payment submitted via usps. Our Membership Checkout can be found under the Join tab, or by clicking the following links: Membership Checkout. For those wishing to mail in the Membership Form, please click here to download.

Aurora Hills Women’s Club Holiday Boutique 12/3 Proceeds benefit the Arlington Historical Museum.

AHS — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 01:10:05 +0000

Saturday, December 3 2011 from 10am-4pm at Our Lady of Lourdes located at 830 23rd St St in Arlington.

Find the Perfect Gift for Everyone on Your Holiday List

One-of-a-Kind Items You Won’t Find Anywhere Else! Hand-crafted jewelry, handwoven scarves, handmade herbal soaps and candles, global handcrafts, heirloom toys, ceramics, silk and cashmere shawls, custom handbag designs, and much more!

Women’s Club Bake Shoppe
Irresistible homemade treats and—new this year—take-away meals
Fresh Holiday Wreaths! Custom-made to match your holiday style (for convenience, you may pre-order on our website)

Win Valuable Prizes!
Lawn Service, Christmas Tree, Spa Services, Restaurant Gift Certificates and more!

Our fabulous raffle baskets are always a Boutique highlight!
Join us for Lunch. Take a break from shopping and enjoy a great lunch.
Shop For Quality Artisan Gifts and Support A Good Cause!

Proceeds benefit Doorways for Women and Families and the Arlington Historical Museum (Hume School Building).
Visit our website: http://ahwc1958.org/

The Aurora Hills Women’s Club is a 501(c)3 organization