Insurance Office? Think Again: Local Agent Uses Space to Keep Burke History Alive

Did you know that Burke has a museum?

Well, it's not an "official" museum, but the seating area in front of Rudy Shields' State Farm office located at 9415 Old Burke Lake Rd is the closest thing Burke has to an official collection of its history.

In fact, the office itself is part of history. It's located where the old Burke Train Station was built back in 1854. The building was once the site of the Burke Methodist Church many years ago, according to Shields. The pew that sits along a wall in the office belonged to the church. The pew is just one of the many historical artifacts found in the office.  

Additionally, there are photo albums that include more of Burke's history available for viewing on the display cases in the office. 

The collection of items in Shields' office was put together by an earlier chapter of the Burke Historical Society (BHS), according to Brian Slawski, chair of programs for the BHS.

You can view photos of some of the artifacts. Burke Patch will update this gallery once we receive additional information about the collection.

For more on Burke's history, check out our three-part series on the identity of Burke:

Part I: Burke: An Oasis Outside the Beltway
Part II: What’s in a Name? A Look at Burke’s Roots
Part III: Amidst Rising Urban Centers, Burke Tries To Find Space of Its Own

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