PRESIDENT'S CORNER

A Message From our President's Desk:

e are all looking forward to spring and this year for we are going to have a new event. It is a spring luncheon that we are holding at 1:00 pm on April 11 at the River Bend Golf and Country Club. Holding this event during the day in April — instead of in the evening in February — was certainly a good idea this year! We are planning to present the Tibbetts Award at the luncheon and are very pleased to be presenting the fourth of these awards. Our past awardees were Milburn Sanders, Karen Washburn, and Tanya Beauchamp.

The Society's project of adding historical houses on Georgetown Pike to the Fairfax County Inventory is proceeding and Chris Washburn has presented his first documentation to the Board. It is encouraging to see Chris at work and to know that the important history of Georgetown Pike is being revisited. Efforts by the U. S. Congress, the National Park Service, local and state government agencies, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and citizen groups and individuals began in 1947. In 1973 Georgetown Pike was designated the first Scenic Byway of Virginia. In 1992 it was declared eligible for listing in the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places. We were not able to preserve the Toll House in 2008, but we can revisit the significance of the toll road through the written history. However, we are proud of those who have and maintain historical houses.

The decision to use fifty–years–old for qualification for the Fairfax County Inventory is an interesting and important one linking local historic research with nationally established standards. We have asked Chris to investigate how the period of fifty years was selected. We know that preserving houses that were here before 1949, and in some cases long before 1949, is truly consistent with preserving the historical heritage of Great Falls.

We have an interesting program of speakers for March and May and we look forward to your joining them. Also, please consider being part of the Great Falls Historical Society group of officers and directors, as well as committee chairs and members. Elections for officers and directors will take place at the May meeting at the Library. The Nominating Committee will be contacting you to discuss your participation.

Jacque
   Jacque Olin, President 2009-2010