From the neighborhood known as Midgetville
Neighbors,
Many citizens of Virginia want the Wedderburn historical site and its spring-fed stream preserved. Protecting the property will enhance the privacy of the W&OD trail and is an ideal area area to provide bikers and hikers a peaceful and quiet place to rest, relax, and experience a bit of Northern Virginia history near a true headwaters stream of the Chesapeake Bay.
What can be preserved:
- Eight arts-and-crafts cottages ranging in styles from Spanish to European built in the 1930s (dwellings that are small, quaint, with handcrafted wood and brick work, and concrete construction. Because the architecture is so unique, the area has been called “Midgetville” for many decades.
- Nine park-like acres adjoining the W&OD bike trail
- 100 year-old towering canopy of pines, impressive oaks, and monarch trees
- Homes of Barred owls, Pileated woodpeckers, deer and fox
- Original location of the publication of the Alexandria Item—published at the turn of the century
- A walled garden, and other secret gardens colonized with thousands of nursery plants by early residents
- Native bluebells and wild flowers of many kinds
- A one-room schoolhouse on the neighboring lot which was also caught up in the project
- Area of an original whistle stop train platform
- Little Bear Run, a stream that courses through Vienna, Virginia, which may soon be turned into a storm drainage ditch, instead of remaining a cold, clean spring-fed stream in the headwaters of Chesapeake Bay
The local newspapers have been sounding the alarm of this impending development for about a year. Who can help protecct this land so the acreage can be turned into a foot-path park for the benefit of all Virginia citizens?
- The arts-and-crafts cottages would make excellent facilities for park personnel.
- There is ample room for weddings, parties, arts and craft festivals, folk-art festivals, and access for the handicapped
- The acreage could be easily accessed by citizens via foot, because of the W&OD trail and enough room for parking near Cedar Lane, a major thoroughfare
- The acreage could easily be protected by fencing that will disappear into the wooded surroundings—for example black chain link such is used by the Metro system
- Shade and coolness from the stream and the tall trees prevail even on the hottest summer day
- Colonies of flowers and plants that have lived for decades are ideal for garden clubs to restore
- The one-room schoolhouse, a replica of the Wedderburn train platform, the horse-and-buggy ring roads, the antique newspaper publishing house could all be revitalized to create a fabulous learning environment for children of our area
- The park may easily pay for itself as a for-hire facility
Please note how the W&OD trail adjoins the land and the many features such as the arts-and-craft cottages that could easily be included in a park similar to Glenn Echo park in Maryland.
Friends of Accotink Creek, in partnership with Northern VA Trout Unlimited, would participate in stream restoration with the goal of supporting the stocking of native Eastern Brook Trout from a local school Trout in the Classroom Program
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Neighbors,
Wedderburn is located in Vienna near Cedar Ave. next to the W&OD bike trail and is adjacent to park land. In 1892 George Wedderburn bought this property that was a farmer's grange. Using the existing structures and building new ones, he created a village of little cabins he would rent out the people during the summer. The cabins were then converted to year-round use and rented out to artists and musicians. Given the unusual architecture, people in the surrounding area began to believe that Wedderburn was the legendary “Midgetville”.
This property has remained unchanged for over a hundred years and is extraordinarily beautiful. Many local residents, Friends of Accotink, Friends of Accotink Creek and other organizations are exploring partnerships to protect the property, a family of Barred owls, majestic oaks, tall pines, monarch trees, and a pristine spring-fed stream that is a true headwaters stream of the Chesapeake Bay. The property is home to many other creatures and plants, including the Pileated woodpecker and the protected Virginia bluebells. There is also a one-room school house located there that should be saved as well to preserve part of our Fairfax County history.
Wedderburn is a very unique property. We appreciate your help and suggestions for how to best protect the property.
Sincerely,
CMO, Vienna, Virginia
Friends of Accotink
Friends of Accotink Creek
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From the neighborhood known as Midgetville
Visitors have been stalking the woods of Wedderburn this summer with cameras in hopes of capturing a picture of one of the three owls born in spring of 2006. Here’s the winning photo of a baby owl ...
... and the most likely parents, who are mated for life.
Their homes will be destroyed after hundreds of years
of ancestry unless the land is given protection as part of the W&OD Trail._____________
Virginia bluebells and large colonies of woodland flowers
line Little Bear Run, the stream through
the Center of Wedderburn._____________
This is a view from nearby Cottage Road of the stream that will benefit from a buffer of shrubs and trees as well as much needed bank restoration.
Friends of Accotink Creek, in partnership with Northern VA Trout Unlimited, would participate in stream restoration with the goal of supporting the stocking of native Eastern Brook Trout from a local school Trout in the Classroom Program
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