Wise General Store (Site)

These coordinates mark the exact spot where the store once stood. No visible remains exist.


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Here follows an excerpt from the Spring 2014 edition of the "Franconia Legacies" newsletter published by the Franconia Museum:

Wise's Store (circa early 1900s) was located on Franconia Road near what is now the intersection with Ridgeview Drive until a few months ago when it was torn down and replaced with a new house. Woody and Helen Wise lived there for many years and raised four sons, Woody, Jr., John, Robert and Ron. Woody, Sr., died about 10 years ago and Mrs. Wise lived there until 2011 when the house was sold and she moved to live near Ron in Fredericksburg. She is 93. Woody, Jr., the only other surviving son, lives in California. That's great grandfather Henry Wise sitting in the rocker on the porch of the old store. The property originally was owned by Harry Javins, who gave one acre to Woody Sr., and Helen. Harry was the father of Woody Senior's mother, Nelly. Javins Drive in Ridgeview is named after the family.


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Here follows an excerpt from the Spring 2014 edition of the "Franconia Legacies" newsletter published by the Franconia Museum:

IN MEMORIAM
Robert L. Wise
Born on 04/01/1950
Departed on 12/12/2013
Thomas A. Edison Class of 1968
Resided in Spotsylvania County , Virginia

Robert Lee Wise, 63, of Spotsylvania County passed away Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013 at his residence. Mr. Wise was an amateur radio operator and liked astronomy. He had worked for EOIR Tech. Survivors include his wife of 15 years, Fonda M. Wise of Spotsylvania; mother Helen Wise of Fredericksburg; step-sons Stan Miles and William Ryckman of Spotsylvania; brothers Ronald D. Wise of Fredericksburg and Woodrow Wilson Wise Jr. of California; grandchildren Kayla Ryckman, Chance Ryckman, Mackynzie Ryckman and Anita Presser; and nieces and nephews Laura Wise, Tony Wise, Nicole Morales, Tiffany Wise, John Wise Jr. and Michael Wise; great nephews Prince Morales and Kingston Morales He was preceded in death by his father, Woodrow Wilson Wise Sr. and brother John Wise Sr.

Bob grew up on Franconia Road in the house near Ridgeview Drive that was Wise’s country store years ago. He attended both Franconia Elementary and Edison High School. Friends remember him on his motorcycle on Franconia Road and making contact from home via CB Radio. He later spent much of his leisure time fishing on the Potomac River near Colonial Beach and telling his fellow CBers about how they were biting, among other things. He loved astronomy, science and electronic communication devices. His CB handle was "Gum Bar Bum." 10-4, Good Buddy from your friends in Franconia. His Franconia home place recently was torn down and replaced by a new house.


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Here follows an excerpt from the Spring 2018 edition of the "Franconia Legacies" newsletter published by the Franconia Museum:

IN MEMORIAM
HELEN PEVERILL WISE

Once upon a time, Franconia Road was a narrow two-lanes with farms dotting the landscape and lots of open space in between. At the corner of Telegraph and Franconia Roads, there was a German family named Wise. Up the road, near where Ridgeview is today, there was a family named Javins who operated a store and a farm. A little further on was the Peverill dairy farm, just before you got to the Rose Hill manor house property, and then the Facchinas where Edison High School is today. Long ago, it was all Rose Hill and individual farms before the first subdivisions began to appear.

One of the last connections to those days gone by was lost February 18, 2018, with the death of 96-year-old Helen Wise. She was the last of the 14 children produced by the union of George and Fanny Peverill. Helen Peverill would marry Woodrow Wise, Sr., in 1937 and the couple was given one acre of land and a building that had been used as a store by Woody’s maternal grandfather, Harry Javins. Woody, Sr., was the son of Phillip and Nettie Wise.

Woodrow Wise, Sr., died in 2004 after the couple had spent a lifetime in Franconia, with the exception of summer retreats to Colonial Beach. He worked as an engraver, designing identification for parts of equipment for the government and private industry. His office was in the home, including the time he spent providing ID service for military equipment during World War II.

Helen was buried next to Woody at Sharon Chapel, where they rest among friends and the familiar names of long-time Franconia families. She is survived by two sons, Ronald Wise and Woody (Sonny) Wise, six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Two other sons, John (2011) and Robert (2013), had previously passed away. She had worked for the School Board in the cafeteria at Mark Twain and with special education students.

She grew up on the farm, the youngest of the Peverill flock, and attended the old Franconia School and then Lee Jackson High School on Quaker Lane in what is now Alexandria. Helen lived at 4309 Franconia Road until just a few years ago, when she moved to Fredericksburg to be near her son, Ron. The old house was torn down and replaced by a modern residence.

Like most Franconia families of the Depression and World War I and II eras, the Peverills raised most of what was on the table at meal time. They also went to market in Alexandria every Saturday, selling what they had left. Everyone pitched in when chores needed to be performed.

Memories of families like the Peverills and the Wises are preserved at the Franconia Museum. They wouldn’t recognize the old stomping grounds today, but the Museum is available to help those who have come later realize just how Franconia survived when times were lean. Visit the Museum, take a step back in time, and salute those who left their footsteps.