James Quander Home (Site)

Here follows a excerpt from the Bryant school history as published on the Fairfax County Public Schools website:

Eminent Domain and a Gentlemen’s Agreement
Bryant Intermediate School was built on land once owned by the Quander family. In 1960, James Quander, under threat of having his entire farm taken by eminent domain, entered into an agreement to sell 15 acres to the School Board for the Bryant Intermediate School site. Quander, then in his late 70s, retained ownership of 3.8 acres on which he maintained a kitchen garden and farmed potatoes and strawberries. Six years later, when FCPS sought to expand the size of the Bryant property, James Quander was threatened once again with condemnation proceedings for his land. This time, the community came to his aid.

The School Board of 1966 was composed of entirely different members than the board of 1960. The new board could not find any written evidence of the 1960 agreement regarding James Quander’s land.

School Board members decried Quander’s efforts to save his farm as a delay tactic to drive up the price of the land. This was met with immediate pushback from people in the community, who were appalled at the thought of the School Board forcing an 83-year-old man out of his home. Fortunately, former School Board chairman Waldron Leonard came to Quander’s aid and testified on his behalf.

"Waldron E. Leonard, the former school board chairman, confirmed Quander’s statement that he had been promised no more of his land would be taken for the school. “I was the one who arranged the agreement,” said Leonard. “We definitely understood that we would leave the old man alone on his remaining 3.8 acres for as long as he lived. I don’t know why they keep needling the old man. They’re going to kill him. He and his family are a fine bunch of citizens and good neighbors. It was his cooperation that made it possible to build Bryant quickly. At first all of his land was going to be taken. I learned of it when he came to my house with a petition, asking the white people to help him save his home. He was nervous and crying. When we promised to leave his house alone and leave a little land for a garden, he immediately agreed to sell us land.” ~ The Washington Post, July 21, 1966

Waldron Leonard’s testimony swayed the court in James Quander’s favor and saved his home.