Burke Historical Society Triples Membership, Awaits 501(c)3 Status

Col. Silas Burke (aka Jon Vrana), for whom Burke is named, presented the "Annual State of the Society" Sunday night at Burke Historical Society's (BHS) monthly meeting.

The event received so many RSVPs, it had to be enlarged to two sessions, one at 4 p.m. and one at 6 p.m.

Members and guests gathered in the historic Silas Burke House, now owned by Terry and Suzi Neal.

"The year 2011 was one of growth for Burke Historical Society and for our membership," said Vrana, president of BHS.  In the last year, BHS membership more than tripled, increasing from 35 members to 116 at the start of Sunday night's meetings.  "More have joined tonight," he said.

In addition, Vrana reported the society's application for nonprofit status is proceeding. "We expect to receive confirmation of our 501(c) 3 status any day," he said.

In the last year, Burke Historical Society events have included:

• Monthly meetings featuring guest speakers;
• Sponsored displays at ;
• Participation in special events, including the , Fairfax City Festival, Eastern Star Festival, and Fairfax History Conference, and
• A at the Silas Burke House

Following the brief business meeting, Vrana introduced the evening’s guest speaker, Mike Copperthite. He is the great-great grandson of Henry and Johanna Copperthite, founders of the Connecticut Copperthite Pie Company, and Burke summer residents from 1899-1925.

"In about 1900, Henry Copperthite purchased a 600-plus acre farm and structures at Burke Station, Virginia to facilitate the provision of dairy products for making his pies," said Mike. What is now known as the Silas Burke House became the Copperthite summer getaway from their Georgetown home.

Copperthite built the Burke Station Racetrack. "It had stables for 75 race horses, grandstands to seat more than 2,000 guests, four hotels, and stores," said Mike Copperthite. It became the destination for both social elites and average citizens to enjoy horse races, motorcycle races, car races, dance contests, boxing events, and baseball games. The land is now home, in part, to .

President William McKinley boarded and raced his horses at Copperthite's Burke racetrack.

"From Declaration Day—Memorial Day—through the fall, trains ran from Union Station, Georgetown, Alexandria and Richmond to the weekend getaway in Burke," said Mike.

On Memorial Day 1909, in what may have been the first flyover of a sports venue, the Wright Brothers buzzed the racetrack.

The evening ended with guests enjoying pies provided by the Copperthites and O'Neils, browsing the racing display provided by Preserve Harness Racing Group LLC, and dancing to the live music by Hot Buttered Nuggets.

The Burke Historical Society, originally founded in 1978, was inactive for several years before Fowler Neal reorganized the group in 2009.

The mission of Burke Historical Society, according to the group's website, "is to create interest in the history of Burke, to bring people together who share the interest, and to research, collect and preserve material and sites which are a part of Burke community’s history."