Website: www.historicfairfax.orgHistoric Fairfax City, Inc."Fare Fac - PDF document

E-mail: Website: www.historicfairfax.orgHistoric Fairfax City, Inc."Fare Fac - Say Do" Iowa who was raised in California; aofficer in the Y.W.C.A., Girl Scouts oforganize the Travelers Aid Society of Volume 3, Issue 2 The Fair Facs Gazette Spring 2005 Volume 3, Issue 2 The Fair Facs Gazette Spring 2005 second term on the HFCI Board. Wemember of our Board. In additionHistoric Properties Committee. This is the committeemaking sure they are not lost to new development. Hea member of the Blenheim Committee. Mick has alsobeen an active member on the Historic Homes Tourhave had outstanding homes on the tour.company that renovates historic homes. Currently heis working on historic townhouses in Washington, DC.business as well as the advice he gives HFCI whenin 1995. He is married to Kulsoom Kazmi. They havetwo children attending Daniel’s Run Elementary School.they wanted to purchase an historic home; MickKulsoom because of her talents as a designer, to furnishit. We were fortunate to have his home of the favorites. It’s a work in progress – since the tour,Mick graduated from Ferris State University,Grand Rapids, MI. Mick grew up in Saginow Michigan.sold to large national companies. When his interestsMick’s dedication to preservation has made hima valuable member of the HFCI Board. We salute himGetting To Know YouHOMES TOUR & RAFFLEHistoric Fairfax City, Inc. is sponsoring a homes tourand raffle in the City of Fairfax, on Saturday, April 30, 2005.All proceeds from the tour and raffle will benefit the restorationTickets for the tour and raffle are available at theFairfax Museum and Visitor Center, located at 10209 MainStreet in the City of Fairfax. Advance sale tickets are $15;tickets purchased on tour day are $20. Raffle tickets will alsoCity of Fairfax, each highlighting a different decade ofchanging suburban styles throughout the century, from 1900new temporary exhibition on the emergence and growth ofthe Northern Virginian suburbs. The exhibition’s opening atthe Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center coincides with theHomes Tour on Saturday, April 30, 2005. Tour-goers are urgedto begin the tour with a visit to this fascinating exhibit in orderto enjoy the fullest experience. Admission to the Museum andVisitor Center and its exhibits is free to the public.CONTACTS and INFORMATIONTour and ticket inquiries, please contact theFairfax Museum and Visitor Center atprograms, please contact Susan Gray, CuratorCity, Inc., please contact Hildie Carney, 2005 Fairfax City Homes Tour(Raffle tickets are $5 each and will be available at the FairfaxMuseum and Visitor Center beginning March 15, 2005. Drawingwill be at 4:00 PM on April 30, 2005 at the Fairfax Museum andVisitor Center — need not be present to win.)ABS Unlimited Auto RepairOvernight stay incl. afternoon tea and breakfastBravadas Wigs DesignSun or gardening hatCirca Home & GardenHand-woven basket filled w/ a watercolor entitled“Mother’s Day,” a Pear Linden soap, and potpourriHalf-cord of firewood, delivered and stackedGeorge Mason Center for the ArtsTwo tickets to a concert during 2005-2006 seasonThe Second YardFrench Country kitchen basketTrader Joe’s Alexandria Gazette, April 29, 1790, p. 1, c. 1. Visit us on the web:HFCI Website! http://www On the morning of August 4, 1853 the village of FairfaxCourt House nearly burned to the ground. The law officesof William H. Dulany and William L. Edwards, themedical office of Dr. William Gunnell, the offices of thecompletely destroyed. The cause was thought to be arson Volume 3, Issue 2 The Fair Facs Gazette Spring 2005 Volume 3, Issue 2 The Fair Facs Gazette Spring 2005 supporting farm. In November 1911, they began to makePope’s Head Road, Fairfax County, Virginia. TheyPolly Ann Farm in honor of Sayre and Sarah Pearson.They did not move to their Fairfax farm right away,however. They leased the property, and began to plantheir venture down to the smallest detail. Ludemacontinued to work for the Y.W.C.A. and assisted in raisingfunds to build a new Y.W.C.A. headquarters at 13 and IStreet, N.W. in Washington, DC. In early 1912, she alsoassisted in organizing a troop of Girl Pioneers of America,in the Nations Capitol. The Girl Pioneers of America werea forerunner of the Girl Scouts of America. In FebruaryTaft, wife of President William Howard Taft, in the EastRoom of the White House. In the coming monthsLudema would assist Mrs. Taft with the organization of atroop of Campfire Girls in Washington, DC.In the late spring of 1912, Ludema and Ann leftWashington for Los Angeles to earn additional moneyPolly Ann Farmfor the Y.W.C.A. in Los Angeles, while Ann took a positionin a bank. In August 1912, Ludema held an organizationalY.W.CA. Within several months there were over 100girls in new organization. In addition to the outdooractivities of the Y.W.C.A. and Campfire Girls Ludemaalso instructed the girls in practical matters such as savingsestablishing a permanent Y.W.C.A. Summer Camp in theSan Gabriel Mountains east of Los Angeles. Using herprevious experience in establishing the Vacation Lodgein Virginia, the new Y.W.C.A. Summer Camp wasSan Antonio River just below Old Baldy, the highest peak At Old Baldy, the Los Angelesgirls enjoyed hiking, trout fishing, camp fires, games,found the Travelers Aid Society of Los Angeles.Ludema and Annie returned to Virginia and Polly In July, Ludema wrote to her“Dear Lou: Greetings to you from ato and fro, but a real farmer and on theWashington, a friend and I dreamed adream of having a farm which shouldwas bought, named The Polly Ann for ourearn the needful money. We studied andstudied and it was all planned even to anherb garden…. Incidentally, we arerebuilding an old log house. It’s allcreative work and I like it. The freedomas organizer of girls’ clubs, etc., and aspublicity secretary for a big philanthropicorganization in Los Angeles. Today webattled all day to save a little pig thatWe are five miles from Fairfax CourtHouse on the Robey’s Mill Road [and]25 from Washington. The auto road isgood to Fairfax; fair the remainder of theway. Do ride out sometime if you can.…Affectionately yours, Ludema Sayre” “My dear Sayrie: Very early inthe spring, before any leaves or vegetationwas out, while the roads were still quitemuddy, the boys and I tried to find youleave her in the car or take her with us. Abig overcoat, driving a gray horse and Polly Ann Farm loans. As the depression deepened her assets continuedto dwindle. To cover her mounting debts she was shesold her lot on Cedar Avenue to Paul & Elma Brown in“…And now, I am going to ask afavor for myself. Will you tell me, please,should apply for a loan from the HomeLoan Fund? I certainly shall be losingYou see “…the past three years ee years havebeen through a series of Hades, everythree months being scared to death thatBurke & Herbert, bankers of Alexandria,made there with them as security. Then,dollars worth of stocks were worth butgive them my farm as additional security.a $5,000 loan. This miserable loan wasmade for a stock purchase. The valuemay return, meanwhile, I just die everyfew months. The mortgage note is up ina year, and I am hoping that I may beone of the fortunate ones to secure aloan…. There have been times when Ithought that I should go under, physically,thing it would be if I were to pass outwithout finishing my job. My love to you,Mrs. Hoover, through her private secretary, sentPostmaster General in February 1932 regarding Ludema’sre-appointment as the Fairfax Postmistress. As a result,Ludema was reappointed in April for four years.two lots on Main Street in the newly created Westmoresubdivision in October 1932. The purchase was securedby a mortgage. That same year, 1932, was also anotherPresidential election year. Herbert Hoover, thePostmaster, the Democratic Deputy Treasurer of FairfaxCounty, Lewis M. Coyner. On July 3 Ludema failed tothe account books of the Fairfax Post Office to the newpostmaster. An audit was a routine step whenever a newpostmaster took office. She claimed to have taken themhome to “complete her quarterly account.” In truth, herfrom the Fairfax Post Office. She ultimately did turnout, Ludema immediately sold all of her Fairfax property.Polly Ann Farmto sister, Annesly L. Marquis, of Los Angeles. 56, 57 Federal Grand Jury on six counts of embezzlement. Theduring the period July 1, 1932 to July 1, 1933. In three sister, Annesly Marquis, in Los Angeles, where she died(Section N, Lot 40), Los Angeles, California. Volume 3, Issue 2 The Fair Facs Gazette Spring 2005 Volume 3, Issue 2 The Fair Facs Gazette Spring 2005 67 buggy, told us that we would not be ableto get further with the roads as theywere…Yours, as always, Lou.” witnessed byBy the summer of 1923, Annie Pearson’s healthbegan to fail. In August, the Fairfax Herald reported that This probablyApparently, Annie’s health problems were severe enoughIn June 1923, Fairfax Postmaster Charles F.Cummins announced his retirement. At the time,of the United States. Typically, a would-be postmasterhad to first secure the support of his/her CongressmanThe U.S. Senate then confirmed the President’sappointment. Although Postmaster’s were politicalseveral Fairfax residents to take the Postmaster’s Exam.enjoyed the support of either Congressman R. WaltonMoore or Senator Harry F. Byrd, both of whom wereDemocrats. However, being a Republican was a definiteWashington. In 1920, Warren G. Harding, a Republican,Republican, Herbert C. Hoover, as his Secretary ofCommerce. When President Harding died suddenly inAugust 1923 his Vice President, Calvin Coolidge,of Commerce. It is not known whether Ludema directlyboth were members of the Congregational Church. Inaddition, Grace Coolidge, the new First Lady, sharedLudema’s advocacy for young women, particularly theGirl Scouts of America and Campfire Girls. In a 1931letter to Lou Hoover, Ludema named Rev. John ThomasHuddle, of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Washington, However,including the influence of her old friend, Lou Hoover.appointed Acting Postmistress of Fairfax in November She immediately advertised for a caretaker forPolly Ann Farm and she and Annie moved to Fairfax,boarding with Rev. & Mrs. Frank Page.was the minister of Truro Episcopal Church.In 1923, the Fairfax Post Office was located onthe south side of Main Street just east of Sauls GroceryStore (s.e. corner of Main and University).In the spring of 1925, Ludema’s mother died inCalifornia and she traveled there for her funeral. In May1925, Annie, who had been ill, conveyed her half interestPolly Ann Farm Less than one yearlater, Annie Pearson died of a heart attack, at age 58.Sarah Ann Pearson in Oak Hill Cemetery, (Lot 244, East)Washington, DC. Her obituary perhaps best indicated “…Miss Sayre, with whom Miss Pearsonat the death of her more than sister.” Ludema was named the executor of AnniePearson’s estate.Immediately after Annie’s death Ludema wenton something of buying spree. In April 1926, she boughtalong Main Street, and a lot on Cedar Avenue in JulyThat same year she organized a patrol of GirlsScouts at Fairfax in July. By October there were twentyRed Clover PatrolEvelyn Coyner, Romaine Rooney, Reba Cupp, ElizabethWiley, Dorothy Hinds and Randolph Richardson, scouts.Pine Cone Patrol – Warwick Rust, patrol leader, GraceRooney, corporal; Mary Blake, Vivian Gillespie,Roberdeau Allison and Jean Ritchie, scouts. Pine TreePatrol – Mary Walton McCandlish, patrol leader, RuthMarshall, Mary Frances Cooper, scouts. Forget Me NotPatrol – Mary Louise Graham, patrol leader; Hannah Leecorporal; Esther Kincheloe, Margaret Rhodecap, LaVerneRhodecap and Emma Etter, scouts.The Post Office, along with the Hardware andGeneral Store was a place where everybody went forinformation and to share gossip. In the fall of 1928, thego away at election time. When pressedas to the reason, he said: ‘Miss Sayre, IHoover did during the War. He made$13,000,000 on sugar while the rest ofus were doing without.’ ‘Couldn’t be true,Mr. Rust. You certainly have gotten holdof some garbled version of something.true.’ …Now, this might not be importantbut for his widespread influence. Ourbrother that he was not for Smith but hemade $13,000,000 off sugar during theWar. Now this mail carrier is not areading, thinking man, but he does chatwith my friend as hundreds of farmersabout here do. He has the listening earhimself and they ‘drop in’ when they cometo the village.’ …Mail time. Success to Lou Hoover’s rapid reply came several days later: “Dear Ludema: What influence the ruralmail carriers do have! And how easy itis to refute the tales of Mr. Hoover makingthe Sugar Equalization Board, the WheatCommission, and similar organizationsset up at the time of the War…. I am tryinglawyer friend! …Yours sincerely, Lou”Ludema, who was a delegate to both the Eight Districtand Virginia State Republican Conventions, helpedHoover orchestrate an upset in Virginia and pierce the for the first time since the Civil War. Afterthe election Ludema would be a frequent visitor at theyou on Sunday! You made it so easy foryour old friend, too, by sending the car.Herbert Hoover became President just before thestock market crashed in 1929. The country was throwninto the economic crisis that became known as The GreatDepression. Ludema did not escape its effects. Not only Continued Volume 3, Issue 2 The Fair Facs Gazette Spring 2005 Volume 3, Issue 2 The Fair Facs Gazette Spring 2005 Continued Sayre... - continued from pg. 1“This is a picture of my school house inGreen Meadows. This is my second yearthere. May the word ‘school house’ bringAngeles located some 6 miles south of downtown. From1896 to 1906, Ludema taught at the Vernon AvenueSchool in Los Angeles. At about the same time she beganperforming with a seven piece, all female orchestra,“We Are Seven.” Ludema9, 10, 11 The orchestrapreformed at small social and charitable events in Los In addition, Ludema found time to enjoy herIn June 1904, Ludema attended the World’s Fairin St. Louis, Missouri. In July, she traveled to Europefor a six-month tour, which included a stop at the Bavarianvillage of Oberammergau. Oberammergau is the siteII’s, Neuschwanstein: Linderhof Castle; and, a passionin the village since 1634. Ludema was sufficiently movedexperience in the Los Angeles Times titled, Oberammergau – Days Spent by a Young Woman of LosIn 1907, Ludema moved to Washington, DC towork for the Young Women’s Christian Association(Y.W.C.A.) as the extension secretary of the newly formedIndoor-Outdoor Club. The membership of theWashington, DC Y.W.C.A. was composed of single youngIn May 1908, Ludema went to the White Houseto hear President Theodore Roosevelt address a group ofY.W.C.A. workers. This was the probable first of visits Ludema would make to the White House over thecountryside of Arlington, Virginia. The lodge would beof Washington, DC to take a vacation. Dr. Joseph TaborArlington County, Virginia for this purpose. VacationLodge opened in August of 1910. Inscribed on thethe words of the Author and Naturalist John Burroughs:“I come here to find myself; it is so easyVacation Lodge operated each summer for thirty-eight years until it was demolished in 1949 by ArlingtonCounty to make way for Stratford Junior High School.One of the most valuable services the Y.W.C.A.traveling alone in large cities throughout the U.S. InWashington, DC the Y.W.C.A. set up a booth at UnionStation for this purpose. However, by 1910, with theY.W.C.A. leaders organized the Travelers Aid Society ofWashington. Travelers Aid of Washington continues tooperate today.While in Washington, DC Ludema becamefriends with a young government secretary, seven yearsher senior, named Ann Pearson. By 1910, the two womenEuclid Street, near Howard University. Annie was thedaughter of Joseph L. and Sarah Ann Pearson. JosephWashington, DC. When her father died, Annie inheriteda portion of his estate. When her brother Henry died in1895, Annie contested his will and received a portion of She was also the sole beneficiary ofher brother Joseph’s estate in 1914, and was one of sixheirs to her uncle Charles B. Pearson’s $200,000 estate The value of her Uncle’s estate alone wouldequate to approximately $3,400,000 in today’s dollars.In short, by 1916, Annie Pearson was probably a very(Endnotes - Mary Ludema Sayre) California Death Index 1940-1997, Mary Ludema Sayre;California Department of Health Services, Office of Vital Records,M.S. 5103, P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410.Los Angeles Times, July 31, 1904, p. A2. U.S. Census of 1900, Los Angeles, CA, p. 822.Los Angeles Times Papers of Lou Henry Hoover, Herbert Hoover PresidentialLibrary, 210 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358. Postcard from Ludema Sayre to Lou Henry, October 29, 1894,Papers of Lou Henry Hoover, Herbert Hoover PresidentialLibrary, 210 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358.Los Angeles Times, Various Issues 1896-1906.Los Angeles Times, February 10, 1901, p. A10.Los Angeles Times, February 10, 1901, p. A10.Los Angeles TimesThe Washington PostLos Angeles Times, June 23, 1901, p. A10.Los Angeles Times, August 11, 1901, p. B12.Los Angeles Times, August 12, 1901, p. 11.Los Angeles Times, May 29, 1904, p. A3.Los Angeles Times, July 31, 1904, p. A2.Los Angeles TimesThe Washington PostLos Angeles Times, August 4, 1912, p. 3. Stratford Junior High School, National Register of HistoricPlaces Registration Form, p. 8, Virginia Department of HistoricResources, 2801 Kensington Avenue, Richmond, VA 23221.The Washington Post, January 9, 1910, p. A11.The Washington PostThe Washington PostThe Washington Post Fairfax County Deed Book K7, Pg. 635, Fairfax County CircuitCourt Clerks Office. Letter from Ludema Sayre to Lou Hoover, July 17, 1917, Papersof Lou Henry Hoover, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library, 210Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358.The Washington PostThe Washington PostLos Angeles Times, August 25, 1912, p. 17.Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times, April 25, 1914, p. 15.Los Angeles Times, June 17, 1914, p. 11.Los Angeles Times, August 2, 1914, p. 9.Los Angeles Times, June 26, 1914, p. 11. Letter from Ludema Sayre to Lou Hoover, July 17, 1917, Papersof Lou Henry Hoover, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library, 210Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358, August 3, 1923, p. 5. Letter from Ludema Sayre to Lou Hoover, February 20, 1931,Papers of Lou Henry Hoover, Herbert Hoover PresidentialLibrary, 210 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358., January 15, 1926, p. 3; obituary of Annie, January 15, 1926, p. 3; obituary of Annie Fairfax County Deed Book 59, p. 211 & Deed Book U9, p.336; Fairfax County Circuit Court Clerk, Fairfax, VA. Letter from Ludema Sayre to Lou Hoover, October 4, 1930,Papers of Lou Henry Hoover, Herbert Hoover PresidentialLibrary, 210 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358. Letter from Lou Hoover to Ludema Sayre, October 8, 1928,Papers of Lou Henry Hoover, Herbert Hoover PresidentialLibrary, 210 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358., August 31, 1928, p. 1. Letter from Ludema Sayre to Lou Hoover, June 5, 1930, Papersof Lou Henry Hoover, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library, 210Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358. Letter from Ludema Sayre to Lou Hoover, July 13, 1932, Papersof Lou Henry Hoover, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library, 210Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358.The Washington Post Fairfax County Deed Book I-11, Pg. 464, August 17, 1933. Fairfax County Deed Book I-11, Pg. 487, August 21, 1933.The Washington PostThe Washington Post California Death Index 1940-1997, Mary Ludema Sayre;California Department of Health Services, Office of VitalRecords, M.S. 5103, P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899- The HFCI Board meets on the 2nd Wednesday ofeach month in room 306, at City Hall, Fairfax,Virginia. Visitors are welcome! "Preserving the Past. Protecting the Future."Return Address -Historic Fairfax City, Inc.Hildie Carney, President10209 Main StreetFairfax, VA 22030 The Newsletter of Volume 3, Issue 2 Spring 2005 Mary Ludema SayreFirst Postmistress of Fairfaxby William Page Johnson, IIHildie D. CarneyPresidentAnn F. AdamsVice-Pres.Hon. John E. PetersenTreasurer Iowa who was raised in California; aofficer in the Y.W.C.A., Girl Scouts oforganize the Travelers Aid Society of