Ford Building (Fairfax, Virginia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Ford Building
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
 Location in Fairfax
Location in Northern Virginia
Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 3977 Chain Bridge Road Fairfax, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Built | 1835 |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001432 |
The Ford Building is a historic house in Fairfax, Virginia. It was built around 1835 and looks like a classic old American home. Today, it is used as a commercial building. This building is famous because of one of its past residents, Antonia Ford. She was a spy for the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The Ford Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. This means it is an important place in American history.
Antonia Ford: A Civil War Spy
Antonia Ford was born and grew up in Fairfax, Virginia. When the American Civil War began in 1861, Union soldiers took control of her town. Antonia stayed in Fairfax even though Union troops were there.
Gathering Information
Antonia was very clever. She was able to get information from the Union soldiers. This information was about their plans and movements. She then secretly shared this important news with the Confederate leaders. This helped the Confederate side during the war.
Discovery and Capture
Eventually, the Union Army found out about Antonia's secret activities. She was arrested on March 13. After her arrest, Antonia was taken to Washington, D.C.. She was held at a place called the Old Capitol Prison.
