All posts by steve lescure

History

CCH History – O’Daniel Family

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Ever wonder why so many things are named “Daniels” around our neighborhood?   

OK, probably not. I was curious though, so I asked some questions in the Virginia Room at the Fairfax City Library. Elaine McRey kindly provided a wealth of information.  

The library has maps back to 1760 that document the landowners in the County. Highlighted in yellow below is the land parcel owned by John O’Daniel, who probably inherited or bought it from William O’Daniel. This parcel would eventually become Fairfax City. (Or at least a good bit of it. It seems Frances Summers owned a piece too, but that’s a story for another day.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So why isn’t everything named “O’Daniel”? According to a video posted on the Daniels Run Elementary School’s website, William’s ancestors dropped the Celtic “O” from the name in the early 1800’s.

So – shouldn’t all the signs around town read Daniel’s (with an apostrophe)?

 

 

History

CCH History – Arial Photography

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I asked the staff of the Fairfax County Library if they had any material related to our neighborhood. They were very responsive, passing on a plethora of information. It will take some time to go through it all.

Here’s one tidbit.

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Fairfax County periodically takes aerial photos and makes them available on their web site.

 Fairfax County Historical Imagery Viewer

Our neighborhood is located in grids 57-2 and 58-1.

I did a search using the address of Fairfax High, then viewed the photo from 1953.  The red dot on the picture below marks the location of the school. Fairfax Circle is visible in the upper-right.

 

 

Our neighborhood was mostly open fields (part of a dairy farm, I believe).

Checking the “1960” box makes our neighborhood magically appear!

 

Pretty cool. 

 

Events

Photo Gallery – Decorations Contest

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Congratulations to all the winners!

 

Events

Holiday Decoration Contest Results!

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The Country Hills Garden Club judges drove through the neighborhood last night admiring the holiday decorations. The enthusiasm of our neighbors was very inspiring: It seemed that there were more houses decorated than we’ve seen in years. We also were struck by how colorful the displays were this year, including more houses with projected light displays. To everyone who strung lights, hung wreaths, put candles in their windows, and featured inflatables in their design, it all adds to the Holiday Spirit of Country Club Hills. Now for the awards!

The NEWBIE award goes to the Slappeys of 3521 Spring Lake Terrace, who are very new to the neighborhood indeed—they’ve been here for less than 2 months! Their entire roofline is outlined impressively in white lights. Green garlands decorate a post and railings by the front door, and a wreath hangs on the door itself. Green, red, and white-colored balls hang from the eaves. The real surprise, though, is when you view the house from Old Lee Highway: The large picture windows are brightly framed with lights: one with red, and the other with green. Welcome to CCH, Sandi and Tom!

The CREATIVITY award belongs to the Carusos of 3420 Park Hill Place. The focal point is a tree created by strings of lights radiating down the hill from a large, bright star on the house. To the left is a candy cane bush, and to the right is a large box covered with lights and wrapped with a bow like a special Christmas gift. Very nice!

The INFLATABLES award goes to the Havranek household at 10103 Spring Lake Terrace. A row of large, old-fashioned, multi-colored lights is strung across the yard in front of the vignette. To the left a polar bear (with a moving head) is lying down, next to a sign that says, ironically, “Do not feed the bears.” Next to the bear is a fire-breathing dragon wearing a Santa cap, and next to that is a reindeer. Behind the reindeer and dragon is a helicopter, with a spinning rear propeller. Behind the polar bear we see Santa, taking a rest from his travels. Eclectic and impressive!

The LIGHTING award is shared by the Bishops of 3410 Park Hill Place and the Tomsons of 10110 Spring Lake Terrace. At the Bishop house, white icicle lights outline the roofline. A wreath of greenery, intertwined with blue twinkling lights, hangs in every window. Along the right side of the driveway and curving around the flowerbed in front are large white lights standing at attention. At the Tomson house, the roofline is outlined in bright colored lights all the way around. There also are icicle lights on the eaves. The sidewalk is outlined with red-and-white candy canes. The bushes across the front are completely covered in lights, alternating between all-white and multi-colored. A wreath on the front door and a lighted cheerful Santa face complete the display. Thanks to both families for making our decision so hard that we just had to award it to both of you!

The BLOCK PARTY award goes to the residents at the intersection of Country Hill Drive and Pinehurst Avenue. Almost all of the houses in the area are lighted, and the overall effect is very festive. It’s impossible to describe in a brief paragraph, so you’ll have to check it out for yourselves!

 

Events

Winter Decorations Contest – 12/23

It’s time for our 2018 CCHCA Neighborhood Winter Decorations Contest! Already there are many wonderful displays! Join in the festivities and bring the Light of the Season to life by decorating your yard for the holidays! Wow us with your imagination and ingenuity!

A panel of judges from the Country Hills Garden Club will cruise through the neighborhood looking at displays after sundown on the evening of Sunday, December 23. All entries must be well-lit for night judging. Displays will be judged based on curbside appeal only. Judges will not enter the property.

“Enchanting” is the effect the judges are looking for! Recognition will be given for the best in each category.

We look forward to your participation! Here are this year’s categories:

TRADITIONAL:

Think Currier and Ives, Victorian, sleigh bells and holly, old-fashioned Santa Claus and reindeer, Christmas trees, poinsettias, wreaths, lighting, and ornaments.  

BEST LIGHTING: 
 
All things illuminated!  Lights on the house, roof, in trees, shrubs, wreaths, and garlands, illuminated characters such as Santas, toy soldiers, snowmen, etc. Whatever you do, shine a light on it!

OVERALL EXCELLENCE:

For those who go all out and put it all together: Think Traditional, Winter Wonderland, Window and Door Trimmings, Ornaments, Lights, Lanterns, Wreaths, Displays, all rolled up into one perfectly wrapped package.
 
NEWBIES:

If you’re relatively new to CCH, this is a great opportunity to introduce yourselves to the neighborhood in style! This category is only for residents who have moved into the community within the past 2 years. Please contact Jennifer Judelsohn at 703-273-0485 or mandalas@hotmail.com if you wish to be considered in this category.

Happy Holidays!
Your Country Hills Garden Club Judges

 

Beauty Spot of the Month

November, 2018 Beauty Spot

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The Country Hills Garden Club is pleased to honor Joyce and Len Skoglund’s landscape at 3415 Country Hill Drive as the November, 2018 Beauty Spot of the Month. As a Gardening Consultant, Joyce is familiar with the elements of good landscape design and the plants compatible with Virginia soil and climate. The Skoglunds have used this knowledge to create spectacular year-round views of flowers and foliage outside their windows.

At the end of the growing season, curving garden beds bordering house walls and walkways feature dramatic differences between plant forms and textures. Prickly needles of upright cactus and conifers are juxtaposed with delicate arching fern fronds.  Symmetrical evergreens overlook shape-shifting ornamental grass. Silvery green sword-like blades of iris and yucca contrast sharply with dark green, oval leaves of camellia and azalea.

Nighttime chills followed by daylight warm-ups bring the panoply of autumn color to the yard. Dogwoods with ruby red leaves shimmering on gracefully posed limbs lure visitors nearer for a close look at garden accents and seasonal transformations. Arbor arches and yard art harmonize with natural shapes and shades. Reddish-purple pods hang from a hyacinth bean vine. Gold-brushed leaves glow on a witch hazel shrub. Bronzed florets crown sedum stems and Joe-Pye Weed stalks.  Yellow and copper chrysanthemums, ornamental cabbages, and pied pansies will brighten urns and borders through the Thanksgiving holiday.

Does this striking landscape inspire you to consider adding something new to your garden? It’s not too late to display a fall-themed wreath or to plant spring-flowering bulbs!

Respectfully submitted,

Anita Johnson

Events

CCHCA Halloween Party!

Come out to the CCHCA Halloween Party.

Wednesday, October 31st (rain or shine)
5:00 – 6:00 P.M.

at The Commons – Spring Lake Terrace & Andover Drive

Pizza  Popcorn  Lemonade
Bring a side to share!
Contact: Jason Gray, 703.691.4163, social@cchca.org

 

Beauty Spot of the Month

October, 2018 Beauty Spot

The Pumpkin

BY JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER

Oh, greenly and fair in the lands of the sun,
The vines of the gourd and the rich melon run,
And the rock and the tree and the cottage enfold,
With broad leaves all greenness and blossoms all gold,…

The Country Hills Garden Club has chosen Susan and David Pepin’s unique yard at 3413 Park Hill Place as the October, 2018 Beauty Spot of the Month. A change of seasons makes an exciting show at this address. Throughout the summer, holly and azalea shrubs along the house walls provided a verdant green backdrop to lavender and pink floral sprays filling blue containers. Although September’s weekly rains have strengthened stems and coaxed new growth, harbingers of the fall harvest season are the main attractions of this October garden. Mother Nature has applied bold brush strokes from her rich autumn palette. Dogwood leaves are edged claret red. Branches of a stately spruce tree are laden with glossy green needles and umber cones. Orange ribbed pumpkins and yellow star-shaped flowers peek from a tree skirt of curling vines and leaves. Susan claims she does little to nurture the prolific “Pepin Pumpkin Patch.” She credits luck with favorable soil and weather. Whatever the charm for garden success, this colorful yard puts us in the mood for family fun at Oktoberfests and Halloween celebrations!

Respectfully submitted,

Anita Johnson and Joyce Skoglund
Country Hills Garden Club

(click image to increase image size.)