Twin Oaks Farmhouse (Site)

Here follows a history of the school as published on the Fairfax County Public Schools website:

The following is an excerpt from The Springfield & Franconia Times, January 31, 1973, by Barbara Lovelace:

"To some Franconia residents this brief history is a familiar part of their lives. Those who are new to the Springfield-Franconia area might like to go back to the year 1872. During the year of 1872, Franconia saw its first public school built. The school was the second house before the railroad bridge. The house still stands on the original spot and looks exactly as it did at the time with the exception of the picture window in the front. Originally the school was gray and is now painted green. Boys at that time used to play ball on the west side of the house in the potato patch...

You cannot mention the history of Franconia Elementary School without including the name of Higham. Mrs. Kathie Higham, who has lived in Franconia since 1916, owned the property on which the school stands. In 1916, Mr. and Mrs. Higham bought a farm with about 50 acres and moved into the white farmhouse. The Higham's called their farm "Twin Oaks" and their home was located four doors up from the school on Franconia Road. In 1931, while Mr. Woodson was superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools, Mrs. Higham sold about two acres of her farm to Fairfax County and the school started as a four-room schoolhouse with an auditorium. Fairfax County later purchased two more acres for the playground. When school was dedicated on January 29, 1932, the students numbered 114. Building additions have been made to the school in 1938, 1948, 1953, and 1956. The end of 1972 saw the completion of a new wing housing office, library, and classrooms."


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Here follows an excerpt from the "Franconia Legacies" newsletter published by the Franconia Museum:

In 1942, the members of Bethel purchased the present site on Franconia Road from Mrs. Kathy Higham for $1500. In September 1950, ground was broken and the church name was changed to Franconia Methodist Church. The first service was held in the new sanctuary in December 1954.


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Here follows an excerpt from the Fall 2008 "Franconia Legacies" newsletter published by the Franconia Museum:

In Memoriam
Robert Herbert Higham, Sr.
November 18, 1912 - August 18, 2008

Robert Higham, Sr. and his surviving twin Bill were born November 18, 1912, to Herbert and Kathie in Washington D. C. They moved to their newly purchased farm in Franconia during a heavy snow storm in December of 1918. He and his family were raised during hard times (as were most Americans in those days).

Then their father died in March 1923, their sister Emma was 14 years old, the twins, Bill and Bob were 10, and brother Richard (“Dick”) was 6 months old. Bob started working for the C & P Telephone Company at about the age of 16, for very minimal wages. In the mid-1930s Bob married Josephine from Alexandria. Bob was one of the first volunteer firemen for the Franconia Volunteer Fire Department, chartered in 1935, and was an active member through the late 1940s. Their family donated the first vehicle to the fire department.

Bob’s son, Bobby was born in 1937. In the early 1940s, nephew Wayne Mitchell came to live with them. Wayne was always treated like a son. Bob was a man who would help or give his family anything, but wouldn’t spend a penny on himself unless absolutely necessary. When Bobby would wreck a car, and he wrecked quite a few, Bob immediately helped him get another car. In 1960 Bob lost his first wife Jo.

Bob married his second wife Grace in the mid 1960s, and built a home in Florida which he still enjoyed after her death. Bob’s first grandson Wesley was born in October 1966, and his second Grandson Donnie was born in September 1968. Bob enjoyed fishing and boating in Florida with his son and grandsons.

Bob’s favorite past-time was hunting in Paw Paw, West Virginia, where he hunted for deer, turkey and foxes. At age 95 Bob would still tell Bobby how to do things the “right way”.

The Lord must have been looking out for him. Bob survived many trips to and from Florida, a shotgun blast to mid & upper body, and at age 92 he was run over by his tractor. He survived the accident with no broken bones, just a few pulled ligaments. Bob passed away peacefully, yet he fought for his life until the end.

At an early age he attended the Mount Olivet Episcopal Church, and in later years joined the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge 758 in Alexandria.

Bob will be missed by son Bobby, nephew Wayne, daughter-in-law Haddie, grandsons Wesley and Donnie, and grand-daughter-in-law, Sreymon (shrey-mom), his twin bother Bill, niece Diane, nephews Billy and Andy, along with several other nieces and nephews.