Freeman Store and Museum (Vienna, Virginia) facts for kids
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Freeman Store
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 Location in Virginia
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| Location | 131 Church Street Northeast, Vienna, Virginia |
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| NRHP reference No. | 11000834 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 12, 2012 |
The Freeman House Store is a historic building in Vienna, Virginia. It was once known as the Lydecker Store. This old general store is located in Fairfax County, Virginia. It's also close to Washington, D.C..
The store was built in 1859 for Abram Lydecker. During the American Civil War, both Confederate and Union Army soldiers used the house. Today, the house has been carefully fixed up to look like it did long ago. You can buy Civil War items in the store on the first floor. There's also a museum upstairs with Civil War artifacts.
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Where is the Freeman Store?
The Freeman House Store and Museum is in the town of Vienna. This town is in Fairfax County, Virginia. The store is on Church Street.
The house itself sits on about 0.83 acres of land. When Abram Lydecker first bought it, the whole property was six acres. Its location was very important during the Civil War. This is because it's less than twenty miles from Washington, D.C.
A railroad line was built through Vienna. This helped the town grow a lot. It also helped Lydecker's business. Today, the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail follows the old railroad path. It runs just south of the house.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The Freeman House is a two-story building. It has five sections across the front. The house has white panels on the outside. There's a wide porch across the whole front.
The main door is a bit to the right, not in the middle. You can see a chimney on each side of the house. On the right side, a small bridge was built. This bridge helped people cross a creek to get to the railroad. The house was built in 1859. It has been fixed up many times since then.
Changes Over Time
Leon Freeman inherited the house in 1911. He started making some changes to it. A big restoration project happened between 1975 and 1977.
The top floor of the house was once the family's living area. Now, it's the museum. The bottom floor was always the general store. It also served as Vienna's post office for a while.
A Look at the Store's History
The Lydecker Family Story
The Freeman House was first built in 1859. It was built for Abram Lydecker. He was an immigrant who came from New Jersey.
The top floor was where his family lived. The bottom floor was his store. This store also worked as Vienna's post office. It even served as the fire department! Lydecker ran the store until the Civil War came to the area. Then, he and his family had to leave.
How the Civil War Used the House
In 1861, the house was used for a special vote. People voted on whether Virginia should leave the United States. An empty house in this spot was perfect for soldiers. It became a headquarters for the Confederacy. Later, the Union Army used it too.
For both sides, the house was a hospital. It was also used as offices. After the war ended, the Lydecker family moved back into their home.
The Freeman Family Takes Over
In 1872, Abram Lydecker's son-in-law moved in. His name was Anderson Freeman. He lived there with his wife and family. He helped run the family business.
The store was eventually given to Anderson Freeman. Then, it was passed down to his son, Leon Freeman.
Leon Lydecker Freeman was a very active person in Vienna. He took over the family business when he was eighteen. He went to public schools in the county. He also attended Bethel Military Academy. Later, he went to the Spencerian Business College in Washington D.C.
Leon had many achievements. He was the first president of the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department. He was also a member of the Town Council. He even served as mayor for three years! After him, the house went to his wife, Hattie Belle. Then, it went to their daughter, Dorothy. In 1969, Dorothy sold the house to the town of Vienna. That's when the town started fixing it up.
The Freeman Store Today
The town of Vienna now owns the Freeman House and Museum. The town and a group called Historic Vienna, Inc., run it together. The building has been restored. It now shows Civil War artifacts. It also has a small museum.
On the first floor, the house sells many things. You can find toys, gifts, and souvenirs about Vienna and Virginia. They also sell old-fashioned candy! The second floor has the museum and offices. In the basement, there's a Used Book Cellar. It's open when the store is open.
You can take tours by appointment. Volunteers from Historic Vienna Inc. lead these tours. The house is open to everyone from Wednesday through Sunday. It's open from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. It closes in January and February. But you can still visit by appointment during those months.
Many special exhibits have been held over the years. There have been exhibits about World War II and the Civil War. There was also one about the local railroad. Most recently, an exhibit about World War I was very popular. In 2019, Historic Vienna showed what the town was like in the 1950s. This exhibit showed how the town looked. It featured local businesses and clothes from that time. It even had a working television set and radios from the 1950s! There were also model cars, trains, music, and movies from that era.
The area around the Freeman House still feels historic today. It has small local businesses and unique fairs. All the old outhouses that were once part of the property are gone now.
Recognitions and Awards
On September 22, 2011, the Freeman Store received a special honor. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources placed it on the Virginia Landmarks Register. It is the only building in Vienna to have this special recognition. On April 21, 2012, the Vienna community held a ceremony. They put up a plaque to celebrate the Freeman Store's place on the register.
The National Park Service also recognized the Freeman Store. They listed it on the National Register of Historic Places on May 15, 2012.
