Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-06-14
Citizens React to Airport News With Anger and Sadness
By Alex R. Preston

Va, are angry. A few are philoSo-
phical. And there are others who
are heartbroken.
The news that the Govern
ment is taking over more than
seven square miles of their land
for an alternate flying field fol-
National Airport broke during a
heavy rainstorm late yesterday.
Today the people are beginning
to comprehend.
My house Is not for sale. I'll
be damned If I'll give them my
home without a fight. ;" said M. D.
HERON. war veteran.
1--WE farmed this place for %
years but guess I'll just have
to get another" Was the reaction
of j. Golden Blincoe.
I'm worse off than those whose
will be taken" declared
Navy 1t. Comdr. N. w. Knowlton.
my property is ION the edge of
the airport and I won't get any,
thing for it. I moved. out here
to get away from it all. My little
girl Is an invalid and she can't
stand lot of noise"
Judge Browns Home Included.
Judge Paul Brown of Fairfax
Circuit Court stood on the veranda
Of his 150-year-old, columned
home and pointed up to the huge
oaks on his lawn.
you can't replace things like
that" he said.
There are more than SO homes
scattered over the 1870 acres
which the Government proposes
to acquire ''by purchase, lease,
condemnation or otherwise" ac-
cording TO the coldly- formal
Federal Court notice posted at
the Burke Post Office.
Burke, itself, is little more than
four corners at a crossroads. The
postoffice, is in Brownies Garage
on one corner. Less than an hour
after Secretary of Commerce
Sawyer announced the airport
plans to reporters at q press con-
ference in Washington, a deputy
United States marshal tackled a
Federal condemnation notice on
a post at the general delivery
Five miles away at the
Fairfax courthouse, the same
thing was happening.
About that time, reporters ar
rived. The people, at first,
wouldn't believe us. You're JOSH
ln'." they said.
Despite torrents from the skies
and overlooking spring branches,
the people came to see the post
office bulletin.
Across the road, about a dozen
gathered in the L. IL M. general
store. 1t is in the quadrant that
will be taken.
No Evidence of Speculation.
j. E. Stoub owns the store as
we'll as three new houses down the
'oad which also are scheduled to
20. Secretary Sawyer had told re-
oorters he acted fast to avoid
speculation. Mr.. Stoub said there
had been no evidence of specula-
ion at Burke. He'd heard rumors
If it over at Clifton.
The Government had studied
Tx sites in the county, including
treas nearer Fairfax. Annandale,
at Chantilly and one closer to-
highway.
why did they have to come
lere?" was heard in the hubuhI
# voices at the store. There are
,ther places where there are fewer
houses. This will take Burke off
he map"
Virgil Darlington Jones, author
If Ranger Mosby,' says Burke
Station was captured by Jeb
Stuart in December, 1862. The
Confederate forces captured the
telegraph operator there and
savesdropped for while on mes
sages being exchanged between
Union Army forces. Then, the
Confederate commander took de-
light in sending message to the
Yankees complaining of the quail
Ity of horses which he had cap
,ured.
Mr.. Jones says that Judge
Browns home site was the scene
If one of the last skirmishes of
the Civil War. Built prior to 1910,
The home was acquired by Mrs.
Browns family about SO years ago.
Mrs. Brown Tries to Call Sawyer.
Now known as Birthstone Hill, it
was designated Arundel Place
during the Civil War, Mr.. Jones
says. On April 10, 1865, the day
after Lees surrender at Appomat-
tox, Col. Mosby's forces surprised
The 9th Illinois Cavalry at Arundel
Place and in the exchange one
MoSby man was wounded and
four were captured. Four Union
soldiers were wounded.
Mrs. Brown was overcome by
the news of the airport plans. She
made an immediate attempt to get
IN touch with Secretary Sawyer
BY telephone, but could not get
through because of a switchboard
operators strike at Fairfax.
About a mile down county road
No. 645 stands the Burke Elemen-
AIRY School. Government survey
>rs have very nicely carved the
airport right-of-way so that it
surrounds the little school building
IN three sides.
why didn't they take the
7<3$$34#