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Whiteoaks House

GPS Coordinates: 38.7968408, -77.2685620
Closest Address: 9324 Old Burke Lake Road, Burke, VA 22015

Whiteoaks House

The historic Whiteoaks was originally a two-room school house known as Burke Elementary School.


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

What’s in a Name?
Did you know that the name of our school was inspired by the name of a historic home in Burke that used to be an elementary school? Learn more in this video from the FCPS Red Apple 21 series What’s in a Name?

White Oaks Elementary School in Burke opened in 1980. Inspiration for the school's name comes from two sources: the white oak trees which are very common in our area and a historic home in Burke that used to be a school. White oaks are one of the most sought-after types of hardwood trees in the eastern United States.
They grow between 80 and 100 feet tall and their trunks can grow up to 4 feet in diameter. White oak tree leaves have rounded lobes and their bark has a light gray color. The fruit of the white oak tree is an acorn, an important food source for deer, bear, squirrels, and other wildlife. Lumber made from the trees is used for beams, railroad ties, barrels, and furniture, making them one of the most sought-after trees by the timber industry. The 12th largest white oak tree in Virginia is located in Burke. It stands next to a historic farm house built by the Keene family and is estimated to be around 200 years old. Another historic residence in Burke directly influenced the naming of White Oaks Elementary School. This residence named White Oaks served as the Burke's school from 1912 to 1939. In the early 1900s, children from the Burke community attended school in the village's old train depot. As the community grew, a larger schoolhouse was needed. In July 1911, the Marshall family sold two acres of land in the village of Burke to the school trustees of Lee District. A two-room schoolhouse was built on the property. It was later expanded to three rooms and eventually replaced by a new brick Burke Elementary School in 1939. The Fairfax County School Board sold the three room Burke School in 1942 to the Eldridge family who remodeled it into a residence. The Eldridge's later sold the home to the Nelson family who gave it the name White Oaks. White Oaks Elementary School was named in connection with this early Burke schoolhouse and carries on the rich tradition of education in the Burke community.


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Here follows an excerpt from the Patch newspaper as written by Emily Leayman in 2021:

BURKE, VA — A historic Burke property that was once a school house will be listed for sale on Thursday, Sept. 16 and offer tours that weekend. The listing comes from Jennifer Mack Properties.

Whiteoaks is now a five bedroom, 3.5 bedroom home, but it started out as a two-room school house known as Burke Elementary School. Built in 1911, the school house had no electricity or running water with heat supplied by two wood-burning stoves. The school house featured a large center hall that now serves as a study and two classrooms, one of which is now a living room. A third classroom was added in the 1920s.

By 1939, population growth led to a new school known as the Burke School being built at Burke Lake Road and Lee Chapel Road. The former school house property remained vacant until the 1940s when a neighbor purchased it. The ceiling was lowered to accommodate two bedrooms and a bathroom on the second level, and electricity and a "Pullman" kitchen were installed.

The Cornelson family purchased the home in 1950 and renamed it Whiteoaks, referring to a large white oak tree in the front yard. The house has since remained in the Cornelson family. According to a statement from the current owner, the father was in the Army and rented it out from 1950 to 1967.

When he retired, the owner and parents moved to the home permanently. The new owners added air conditioning, a screened porch, and a garage to the home but kept the original hardwood floors and the charm of the original school house.

The owner inherited the home upon the father's death in 1996. The family took down the wall between the kitchen and back porch to make a large family room, as well as gutted two bedrooms and bathroom to make a master bedroom. Two other bathrooms were renovated, the home transitioned to gas heat, air conditioning was installed in remaining areas, and the hardwood floors were refinished.

Other renovations include the addition of a sunroom with a washer and dryer enclosure, hookup to the county sewer and water and waterproofing/sump pump system in the basement. The property still has a well to maintain a fish pond.

"Whiteoaks has been home to me for much of my life, both as a child and as an adult. My son spent many of his childhood years here with his grandparents," the owner stated. "It is full of very happy memories, around each corner. I only hope that a family will purchase it who appreciates the history and will love it as much as I have."

The home will be listed on Thursday, Sept. 16 for $1 million.


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Here follows an excerpt from the Long and Foster realty website:

Welcome to 9324 Old Burke Lake Road! Your chance to own a little part of Northern Virginia history! This property, named Whiteoaks, is the original two-room Burke schoolhouse built in 1911. In 1920 an additional room was added. By 1939 the population grew and a new school was needed in Burke and the school was converted to a private residence. In the 1940s the owner added the two upstairs bedrooms and bath, as well as electricity for the kitchen. The current owner's family purchased the property in 1950 and it has remained with them since. They have lovingly maintained this special home and modernized the property in many ways including many renovations and adding air conditioning, garage with workshop, and a lovely sunroom in 2020. The HVAC was replaced in 2015 and one water heater was replaced in 2017. A new roof was added in 2019. This large property features 5 bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms. The main level living room is the original school room and features the hardwood flooring from 1911, custom built-in shelving, and a gas fireplace. The large primary suite has a lovely corner fireplace, walk-in closet and large full bath with jetted tub. An additional bedroom finishes off this wing. The large kitchen space offers a breakfast area and reading nook. Off the kitchen you will find the newly added light-filled sunroom, perfect for your morning coffee. This level is finished off with a formal dining room, additional bedroom, and full bath. Upstairs offers two additional large bedrooms and full bath. The finished storage space could be used as a home office or play space. The exterior is an entertainer's dream with a large slate patio with pond. This is the perfect space for summer barbecues and fall nights by the firepit. Whiteoaks is ready for its next owner to appreciate the history of this property. This quiet street does not have any thru traffic and offers privacy on the almost one acre lot. Don't miss this opportunity!

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Award-winning local historian and tour guide in Franconia and the greater Alexandria area of Virginia.

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Nathaniel Lee

c/o Franconia Museum

6121 Franconia Road

Alexandria, VA 22310

franconiahistory@gmail.com

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