Historic Oak Hill Property Opens Its Doors to The Public

Release, Fairfax County Park Authority:

Each year Historic Oak Hill opens its doors and invites the public to explore this unique property. On Saturday, September 27, 2014, from noon until 4 p.m. visitors can once again visit the property located at 4716 Wakefield Chapel Road in Annandale. The event is sponsored by the “A Look Back at Braddock Project” Committee as well as Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova, Braddock District Supervisor John Cook, and the Fairfax County Park Authority staff at Lake Accotink Park.

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova noted, “Oak Hill is a beautiful, one-of-a-kind place to celebrate Fairfax County’s exciting history. The Oak Hill Open House is the community’s chance to tour the grounds and first floor of one of the oldest homes in the region. Our program this year features period music and information about the Oak Hill Manor House and the role it played during our country’s early years. It is one of my favorite places!”

Oak Hill is a privately owned 18th-century Georgian-style home that was preserved in October 2004 when the Board of Supervisors, Park Authority Board, and Northern Virginia Conservation Trust negotiated the purchase of an historic easement from Seville Homes. As part of that agreement, limited public access to the site is provided each year.

Braddock District Supervisor John Cook said of the event, “Oak Hill brings the history of Braddock to life. This event offers a fascinating opportunity to learn more about our community’s past.”

The home and adjacent property are part of the original Fitzhugh land grant, the Ravensworth Tract – totaling more than 22,000 acres – dating from the 1680s. In Fairfax County, Oak Hill is the sole surviving plantation home built by the Fitzhugh family. Today, the original home remains intact along with much of the historic landscape, including 200-year-old boxwoods.

Activities include a welcoming ceremony at 12:30 p.m. and self-guided tours of the first floor of the home from 1 to 3:45 p.m. The event features the music that entertained the Oak Hill community of the 1800s and includes a performance by the Annandale Symphony Orchestra ensemble. Historical reenactor Joe Vrana will share the story of the property and its inhabitants. Free refreshments will be provided by Annandale High School Culinary Arts students.

Due to extremely limited site parking, visitors are asked to utilize Fastran transportation provided from the Nancy F. Sprague Technology Center located at 4414 Holborn Avenue in Annandale. Transportation via Fastran begins at 11:45 a.m. For more information, please call Christina Fullmer at 703-324-2321or Ann Sharp at 703-425-9300.