Yesterday was the 200th anniversary of the founding of the town of Providence, now Fairfax City. The first City Historic Marker,  honoring Richard Ratcliffe, who "donated" (for $1) the land the courthouse was built on, was unveiled on Oak Street just north of Main (236). The ceremony was well attended and the guests included several descendants of the Ratcliffe family, from as far away as Louisiana and New Mexico (the couple from La. Had lived in the area for 20 years previously and had no idea they were descended from the Ratcliffes).

At 4 pm a new exhibit on the town's history was unveiled at the Fairfax Museum. It is really quite excellent and I would urge you to visit it in the coming year. (Many Virginia Room photos are prominent in the exhibit). The City has activities planned throughout 2005 to celebrate this bicentennial.
http://www.fairfaxva.gov/MuseumVC/MVC.asp

Suzanne Levy
Virginia Room Librarian
Fairfax County Public Library
3915 Chain Bridge Road
Fairfax VA 22030
Tel. 703-293-6383
Fax 703-385-1911
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www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/vr
 


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