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 Store is a very old general store and museum in Vienna, Virginia. It's located in Fairfax County, Virginia, not far from Washington, D.C.. This historic building was first built in 1859 for Abram Lydecker.
During the American Civil War, both Confederate and Union Army soldiers used the house. Today, the Freeman Store has been carefully restored to look like it did long ago. On the first floor, you can find a general store that sells items related to the Civil War. The second floor has a museum with many Civil War artifacts.
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Where is the Freeman Store?
The Freeman Store and Museum is located on Church Street in the town of Vienna. This town is in Fairfax County, Virginia. The building itself sits on about 0.83 acres of land. When Abram Lydecker first bought the property, it was much larger, about six acres.
Its location was very important during the Civil War. The store is less than twenty miles from Washington, D.C. A railroad line, built by the Alexandria, Loudoun & Hampshire Railroad, passed through Vienna. This helped the town and Lydecker's business grow a lot. Today, the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail follows the old railroad route, just south of the store.
About the Building
The Freeman House is a two-story building with a classic design. It has white panels and a wide front porch. The main entrance is a bit to the right of the center. There is a chimney on each side of the house.
On the right side of the house, a small bridge was built. This bridge helped people cross a creek to get from the house to the railroad. The house was first built in 1859 and has been restored several times since then.
Changes Over Time
Leon Freeman inherited the house in 1911 and started making changes. A big restoration project happened between 1975 and 1977. For many years, the top floor was where the family lived. Now, this floor is home to the museum. The bottom floor always served as the general store and even a post office.
A Look Back in Time
The Lydecker Family Story
The Freeman House was originally built in 1859 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, which also served as Vienna's post office and fire department. Lydecker ran the store until he and his family had to leave when the Civil War reached their area.
How the Civil War Used the House
In 1861, the house was used as a place for people to vote on whether Virginia should leave the Union. Because it was empty, the house became a perfect headquarters. First, the Confederate army used it, and later the Union army took it over. For both sides, the house was used as a hospital and for offices. After the war ended, the Lydecker family moved back into their home.
The Freeman Family Story
In 1872, Abram Lydecker's son-in-law, Anderson Freeman, moved into the house. He lived there with his wife and family and helped with the family business. The store was eventually passed down to Anderson Freeman, and then to his son, Leon Freeman.
Leon Lydecker Freeman was a very active person in Vienna. He took over the family business when he was just eighteen years old. He went to public schools and then to Bethel Military Academy. He also studied at the Spencerian Business College in Washington D.C. Leon had many achievements. He was the first president of the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department. He also served on the Town Council and was even mayor for three years.
After Leon passed away, the house went to his wife, Hattie Belle. Then, it was passed to their daughter, Dorothy. In 1969, Dorothy sold the home to the town of Vienna. The town then began the important work of restoring and changing the building.
The Freeman Store Today
The town of Vienna now owns the Freeman House and Museum. The town works with a group called Historic Vienna, Inc., to run it. The building has been restored and now shows Civil War artifacts. It also has a small museum.
On the first floor, the store sells many different things. You can find toys, gifts, souvenirs related to Vienna and Virginia, and old-fashioned candy. The second floor has the museum and offices. In the basement, there is a Used Book Cellar. It is open whenever the store is open.
You can take tours of the house by making an appointment with volunteers from Historic Vienna Inc. The house is open to everyone from Wednesday through Sunday, from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. It is closed in January and February, but you can still visit by appointment during those months.
Many special exhibits have been shown at the museum over the years. There have been exhibits about World War II, the Civil War, and the local railroad that ran from 1855 to 1968. More recently, there was an exhibit about World War I. In 2019, Historic Vienna shared the story of Vienna in the 1950s. This exhibit showed how the town looked, the local businesses, clothes from that time, and even old televisions and radios. It also featured 1950s model cars, trains, music, and movies.
The area around the Freeman House still has its historical feel. You can find small local businesses and unique fairs nearby. All the small buildings that were once part of the original property have been taken down.
Special Recognitions
On September 22, 2011, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources added the Freeman Store to the Virginia Landmarks Register. This is a special list of important historical places in Virginia. The Freeman Store is the only building in Vienna to have this honor. On April 21, 2012, the Vienna community held an event to celebrate the store being added to this register.
The National Park Service also listed the Freeman Store on the National Register of Historic Places on May 15, 2012. This is another important recognition for historic places in the United States.
