In preparing this little book it has been the aim of the Editor to obtain facts of the early history, as well as to set forth what changes time has wrought in the erstwhile veritable hamlet of years gone by. To this end he has exerted every effort in the examination of records, that authentic data only, in describing the old church and village, may appear in these pages. Aside from the descendants of the old settlers, the heads of many households in the village of Falls Church have left kindred and friends in other sections of the country, and identified themselves heartily in the work of developing and beautifying the natural advantages of the spot they have selected for the building of new homes. It is but natural that interest should be taken in the evidence of their thrift and enterprise, by those whose lives were linked with theirs in times past, as in the town they have helped to build up. The attempt has been to join the past with the present, in reciting incidents of the early days, to show no less the improvements that have come as the years roll on.

The joint work has been done by Messrs. Chas. A. Stewart, Pickering Dodge and George M. Newell, Mr. Stewart having collected, edited and compiled the text, Mr. Dodge the photographic work, and Mr. Newell the printing.

The Editor is indebted for courtesies and assistance to Mr. H. H. Dodge, Superintendent of Mount Vernon, a vestryman of Pohick Church, Mr. H. S. Ryer, stenographer, Mr. F. M. Richardson, Clerk of the Court, Fairfax Co., and Rev. George S. Somerville, Rector of the Falls Church. Valuable information was obtained from Howe's History of Virginia, Snowden's Old Landmarks in Virginia and Maryland, as from the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies.

M. M. O.