On Saturday, October 18, 2024, a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Annaburg Manor marked the completion of crucial stabilization work on the historic property. The event attracted history enthusiasts, local officials, and community members eager to see the progress made on the beloved 19th-century home.
In addition to the ribbon cutting, attendees were treated to the manor’s first-ever art show featuring local artists.
Manassas acquired Annaburg Manor in 2019 to preserve its historical significance while transforming the grounds into a public park. Originally constructed in 1892 by Robert Portner, a Prussian-born entrepreneur and brewer, the home served as a summer retreat and gathering space for the community. The property later became a nursing facility before being purchased by the city.
The restoration effort, which has thus far cost $4.4 million, including the purchase price, focused on essential repairs and upgrades. Highlights of the renovations include a new slate roof, fresh paint, refinished wood floors, new doors and windows, ADA-compliant accessibility features, and enhanced landscaping. The work also included the installation of new lighting fixtures, offering a glimpse of the manor’s original charm and grandeur. Additionally, archeologists uncovered the foundation of the Portner Tower, a structure that predates the home.
Annaburg Park, located at 9201 Maple St., is now an important community asset, providing residents with another green space in the heart of Manassas. The restoration has renewed interest in the property and will serve as a cultural and recreational hub for years.
The annual Art and Wine Festival will be held at Caledon State Park on November 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and November 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This family-friendly event features local art, wine tastings, live music, and food trucks. Attendees can enjoy free wagon rides, archery, and camping programs. Tickets are $25 online or $30 at the gate, with free admission for children and non-tasters. Pets are welcome but must be leashed. The festival will proceed rain or shine.
Press release:
The annual Art and Wine Festival will take place over two days at Caledon State Park on Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Nov. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The festival is an annual crowd pleaser with family-friendly activities and music for all to enjoy. There will be tastings available from local wineries, delicious foods available for purchase from local food trucks and vendors along with beautiful art on display from artists.
“Experience the beauty of fall along with the spectacular variety of local art, flavorful wine and rhythmic music,” said Caledon State Park Manager Nina Cox. “This event is sponsored by our Friends Group, and we are so grateful for everything they do for our park. We hope you come out and celebrate fall with us.”
The park will be offering free wagon rides several times during both days as well as archery and camping programs led by the “Let’s Go” staff.
Tickets are required for each day and are available online at Zeffy for $25 or guests can pay $30 at the gate. Non-tasters and children enjoy free admission.
The Art and Wine Festival is a pet-friendly event. All pets must be supervised and kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Pet owners must clean up after their pets.
This event will be held rain or shine.
For more information, visit the Caledon State Park website.
Dear Readers,
We are excited to present to you the second installment of our History and Heritage Feature Series, sponsored by Sentara. This special series celebrates the rich cultural heritage and history of Prince William County, Stafford County, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Fredericksburg.
We will delve into the historical events, landmarks, and personal stories that have shaped our communities. From in-depth articles on significant historical milestones to spotlights on notable landmarks and engaging oral histories from long-time residents, our series aims to connect you with the past in a meaningful and enlightening way.
We are proud to partner with Sentara, a name synonymous with community involvement and support. Sentara’s sponsorship helps make this series possible, allowing us to bring these important stories to you while highlighting their commitment to preserving our local history.
Join us as we explore the places, events, and people that tell the story of our region’s past. Understanding our history is crucial to building a better future and maintaining the rich traditions that define us.
Thank you for your continued support of local journalism.
Uriah Kiser
Founder & Publisher
Potomac Local News
Annaburg Manor Unveils First Phase of Renovations, Opens to Public
This Saturday, the City of Manassas will celebrate the ribbon cutting for the newly renovated Annaburg Manor, a historic estate built in 1892 by the Portner family. Once a nursing home and hospital, the manor was purchased by the city in 2019 with the vision of transforming it into a public park. After years of renovations, the first phase of the project is complete, opening the grounds to the public.
Mary Helen Dellinger, Curator at the Manassas Museum, spoke about the challenges the city faced while restoring the manor. “The single biggest challenge for us was that there were no architectural plans showing what the building looked like before. We don’t know what the inside of it looked like during Portner’s time; we only have pictures of the outside,” Dellinger explained. Changes made by previous owners complicated efforts to determine which parts of the house were original and which were later additions. To aid the process, the city worked with Portner’s descendants and used old photographs.
The restoration of Annaburg Manor was more of a renovation than a true historical restoration, according to Dellinger. “The home was in rough shape. There was mold, debris, and old systems that needed to be replaced,” she said. While they chose not to fully restore the home to its original 1892 condition, the team aimed to stay as faithful as possible to its historic design.
One notable feature of the renovation is the addition of a fountain to the manor’s grounds. While the original fountain was custom-cast and could not be replicated, a new fountain was installed that pays homage to the original water feature. “It’s not the exact sculpture that was there, but I think it’ll make the house look nice and is a nod to the original fountain,” Dellinger noted.
Beyond the structural renovations, the project aims to enhance the community’s green spaces. “One of the things we heard from the community was that there was nowhere in that area of town that was walkable,” Dellinger shared. Annaburg Manor is expected to provide much-needed green space where locals can relax and enjoy nature.
Looking ahead, there are plans for further development. While the public will initially only be able to tour the grounds, Dellinger hinted at future events and rental opportunities. “You’ll be able to rent the space for any kind of event,” she said, adding that the manor’s spacious porch would make it a picturesque wedding venue, with meetings and other gatherings possible inside the house.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, October 19, at 9201 Maple Street, Manassas.
Join Stafford County Parks Recreation Facilities and Tourism for a day full of autumn fun and festivities at our annual Fall Family Festival.
During the Tuesday, Oct. 1, Stafford County Board of Supervisors meeting, Parks, Recreation, Facilities, and Tourism Director Brian Southall, we provided details of the increase and the facility's current state. "We’ve been leasing parts of the facility since the mid-'90s. The entire lease for the year is $177,000," Southall said. He explained that the county’s gymnastics program, which serves over 600 children weekly, has outgrown the 25,600-square-foot space, noting, "We’ve outgrown it."
The proposed rent hike prompted a lively discussion among board members, with some raising concerns about continuing to invest in an aging facility. Garrisonville District Supervisor Dr. Pamela Yeung emphasized the need for a more long-term solution. "We need to ask ourselves whether we should continue to invest in this location or seek a more suitable and permanent space for our children," Yeung said. She pointed out that neighboring Prince William County is debating a state-of-the-art sports complex in Woodbridge that, if built, would leave Stafford County behind in providing adequate facilities for its residents.
This article is for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade and Become a Locals Only Member today! Make the smart choice for staying informed about your community. Thank you!
The City of Fredericksburg’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Events received four awards at the 71st Annual Conference of the Virginia Recreation and Park Society in Norfolk, Virginia. Over 400 delegates, exhibitors, speakers, and volunteers from across the state attended the event, which highlights excellence in parks and recreation programs.
Out of 140 applications across 16 categories, Fredericksburg was recognized in four areas:
- Most Creative Marketing Piece for FXBG Park Picks
- Most Creative Marketing Strategy for Garret the Carrot
- Best Health and Wellness Initiative for the Farmers Market Sprouts Program, and
- the Distinguished Private Sector Service Award for the Sunshine Ballpark Foundation.
Parks, Recreation and Events Director Todd Brown expressed pride in his staff’s achievements, saying, “Our team works hard to bring creative programming to the Fredericksburg community and I’m proud of what we are achieving.” Mayor Kerry Devine said, “The great work that our Parks, Recreation and Events Department provides on an ongoing basis is vital to the health of
community and I encourage everyone to explore the City’s program offerings and outdoor park spaces.”
From smashing a railing to ending up behind one. A group of teenagers were found attempting to flee from an auto accident, according to police.
From a Stafford County Sheriff’s Office press release:
On September 26th at approximately 2:57 a.m. Deputy T.G. Croson responded to Smith Lake Park, located at 360 Doc Stone Road, for an auto accident. It was advised a vehicle drove into the gate for the park and struck a sign as it was attempting to flee. When Deputy Croson arrived, he located the creamed fence and three individuals. Immediately after noticing Deputy Croson’s presence, the three took off into the woods.
Deputy Croson would stay with the crash site as he broadcasted the suspects’ descriptions to nearby deputies, who were establishing a perimeter. At the crash site, Deputy Croson would locate an empty beer bottle and partially full bottle of Hennessy. Considering Stafford deputies don’t give up easily, First Sergeant N. Zotos would locate the trifecta on Cliff Circle and detain them. Two of the suspects were 18 years old while the other was a juvenile who was reported as missing out of another jurisdiction.
The 18-year-old male suspect was identified as the driver. He had signs of intoxication, no driver’s license, and admitted to running “for the fun of it.” His so-called “fun” would end when he was charged with driving under the influence, hit and run, driving without a license, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail on a $5,000 secured bond. The 18-year-old female suspect was also discovered to be intoxicated. She was charged with public intoxication, failure to report a crash, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail until sober. Deputy J.W. Ahern would return the missing juvenile back to her residence.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for Braemar Park will be held on Thursday, September 26, at 11 a.m. at 12401 Braemar Parkway in Bristow. The park has seen several updates, including a new playground, repaved parking lot, renovated basketball and tennis courts, and the addition of two pickleball courts. The event is open to the public.
A new playground design has been finalized at Fairmont Park, located at 9801 Fairmont Avenue near Manassas. The community is invited to participate in Build Week from October 23 to 26. Volunteers are needed to help with tasks such as assembling equipment and mixing concrete. All necessary tools and safety gear will be provided, along with food and drinks for participants. Volunteers must be 18 or older, though those aged 14 and up are welcome to assist with certain tasks.
A consulting firm, Lardner/Klein Landscape Architects, is seeking more public input on the future of Alum Spring Park, Old Mill Park, and Ficklen Island in Fredericksburg. Since February, they have been gathering feedback to refine the city’s Parks and Recreation master plan.
Key issues identified include flooding and outdated facilities at Old Mill Park, the need for improved access and trail repairs at Alum Spring Park, and the potential removal of a concrete dam at Ficklen Island. The consultants have developed several concepts to address these concerns and now ask the public to weigh in on their recommendations before presenting them to city council this fall.The firm’s presentation, including maps and surveys, is available online.
Fredericksburg Free Press has more information on the proposed plans.
