From the President's Desk

I would like to thank everyone for their patience regarding the printing of the fall edition of the Societies News Magazine. Our new format is courtsey of our new designer Chase Graphic Communications. Much has happened since our last magazine. You may have noticed the placement of the Welcome to Gum Springs area signs. They are located at Sherwood Hall and Parkers Lane, Richmond Highway and Fordson Road. Our third sign which was located at Richmond highway and Sherwood Hall Lane, was removed due to construction, however it will be replace by the Virginia Department of Transportation when construction is completed.

Gum Springs was nominated by, Fairfax County's Mount Vernon Supervisor, Gerry Hyland to have Gum Springs History Week Proclaimed through out the county, during the week of 11-17 December. The Proclamation was received and passed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

New homes are being built in the community, it seems almost everyday, and of course with the building of something new something old is removed. In coming editions, the society will showcase some of the few older architectural treasures remaining in Gum Springs to give you an even greater appreciation of this wonderful community. In addition, we had two other events that were very important to the society that you may have missed. One, the society celebrated its Tenth Anniversary, which was a great success. Anniversary Souvenier booklets are still available through the society's tape and book order department. The second event was the society's annual Memorial Day Service where we honor past community leaders. Last year's guest speaker was Channel 4 News Anchor Ms. Susan Kidd. Rev. James Kearse, Bethlehem Baptist Church's 4th pastor. Dr. Battle of Howard University Spengarn Center

As Gum Springs evolves, the Gum Springs Historical Society's task of recording and preserving its history has an even greater urgency then ever before. Those who the society has relied upon for historical material and oral histories are gradually becoming one with the ages -- Frances Johnson-Washington and Hilcress Stokes just to name a few. The list is long, time is short, and a morning and an evening count.
Anyone with old photos, documents, and other material of historical value can contact the society to donate artifacts or have those artifacts cataloged. I would like to give a special thanks to Hanna Adams. She donated two porcelain decanters handed down from the George Mason Estate.