Before There Was Reston

Before there was Lake Anne Village Center  - before there was even a Lake Anne - there was the Virginia countryside, the town of Wiehle and the Bowman family.

will be exploring some of the area's history in several public programs this fall.

On Thursday, Sept. 8 RHT will present "Before Reston: An Intimate View of the Town of Wiehle."

 Historical researcher Audrey Haugan will present an overview and slide show of the town founded by Dr. Carl Adolph Max Wiehle on land that is now Reston.

Wiehle was in place more than 60 years before Reston founder Robert E. Simon's vision took shape in the early 1960s.

Haugan will feature a slide show of some old Wiehle family photos plus anecdotes to reveal a personal side of the doctor, his family, and descendants.

At Haugan’s invitation, the descendants have spread word to other family members about the presentation. At least five of them plan to attend the event, including Wiehle grandchildren Carl, who lives in Loudoun County; Helen, of Williamsburg; and Jane, who lives in California. Two of Dr. Wiehle's 12 great-grandchildren will also attend.

Evidence of the town of Wiehle is still standing in the heart of Reston, including the Wiehle Town Hall, the Robert Wiehle house, and Dr. Wiehle’s mansion (c. 1896). Wiehle purchased the nearly 6,500 acres of land for about $4 an acre.

Wiehle's town existed from 1887 to 1923, but he died of pneumonia in 1901, after building only about six or seven of 800 planned residences, according to the Reston Historic Trust’s A Brief History of Reston. The town planning stalled after his death at age 50.

The program is at the Reston Community Center - Lake Anne from 7 to 9 p.m.  Admission is free. Donations to Reston Museum are appreciated. 703-709-7700; restonmuseum@gmail.com

On Sept. 22, there will be a presentation on the Bowman family, who owned nearly 7,000 acres of land here from 1927 to 1961.

The Bowman family property, called Sunset Hills Farm, is on land that now comprises Reston.

Participants will learn the history of the Bowman Distillery that continued its production of Virginia Gentleman bourbon in Reston through the 1980s.

Jay Adams, a member of the Bowman family who oversees their properties, and Joe Dangler, a 30-year employee and historian of the distillery, have been invited to participate in the program.

The distillery property changed hands twice more before Simon 6,750 acres (which would later go up to 7,400 acres) for a little over $13.1 million, or $2,000 an acre, in 1961.

The program is from 7 to 9 p.m. at RCC - Lake Anne. All are welcome, and admission is free. Donations to Reston Museum are appreciated.

The DeLong-Bowman House, located across from Reston Town Center, will also be featured as part of the RHT's 10th annual Reston Home Tour Oct. 15.