“A school was never built.” That’s the untold story of The Pines, a vanished Black community. At the turn of the 20th century, The Pines emerged. Close-knit African American families established it. The Johnsons, Robinsons, Spriggs, and Collinses were among the first to purchase land. They cleared pine trees. This enabled truck farming and sawmill operations. Residents created a vibrant community. They worshipped at the First Baptist Church of Merrifield. School functions and social gatherings were common. The Liberty Lodge Cemetery became their final resting place.
William Collins Jr., a descendant of freed slaves, played a key role. In 1905, he bought 22 acres. He used money saved from serving with Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders. This land became the heart of The Pines. Families sold produce in Washington, D.C. They also established a sawmill. The community thrived on faith and hard work.
The story of The Pines took a turn in the 1960s. Fairfax County decided to build a new high school. The public school system purchased land through eminent domain. This displaced numerous families. After years of litigation, residents were given 60 days to leave. Their homes had been in their families for generations. Ironically, a school was never built on the land.
Today, Pine Ridge Park stands where The Pines once flourished. The cemetery serves as the last physical reminder of this vanished community. In 1983, ball fields were constructed on part of the parcel. The cemetery suffered from neglect and vandalism. In 1990, the School Board cleared, fenced, and surveyed the site. They located forty-five graves. Only one original gravestone survives. It belongs to Bette E. Collins who died in 1920.
A historic marker now commemorates The Pines. It acknowledges the vibrant community that once existed here. The marker tells of the families. It tells of their resilience. It also tells of their displacement. It serves as a reminder of a forgotten chapter in Fairfax County’s history. Descendants of The Pines families gather here. They share stories and memories. They honor their ancestors. The Pines may be gone. Yet, its legacy lives on. It lives on in the hearts of those who remember. It lives on in the historical marker. It stands as a testament to a community that was. It was unjustly taken away.