If You Lived Here
Explore the Rich History of Burke, Virginia
Clip: Season 4 Episode 1 | 2m 52sVideo has Closed Captions
Stories from Burke, Virginia's past.
Explore the rich history of Burke, Virginia! From the founding of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad in 1848, with early investor Silas Burke, to the area's strategic importance during the Civil War, Burke has played a crucial role in the region’s development. Discover the fascinating stories of enslaved individuals seeking freedom, Henry Copperthite’s famous racetrack, and the Burke Nursery.
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
If You Lived Here is a local public television program presented by WETA
If You Lived Here
Explore the Rich History of Burke, Virginia
Clip: Season 4 Episode 1 | 2m 52sVideo has Closed Captions
Explore the rich history of Burke, Virginia! From the founding of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad in 1848, with early investor Silas Burke, to the area's strategic importance during the Civil War, Burke has played a crucial role in the region’s development. Discover the fascinating stories of enslaved individuals seeking freedom, Henry Copperthite’s famous racetrack, and the Burke Nursery.
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch If You Lived Here
If You Lived Here is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
CHRIS: In 1848, the Orange and Alexandria Railroad Company chartered with the intent of building a railroad from Gordonsville through Orange and ending in Alexandria, Virginia.
Silas Burke was one of the early stockholders and he convinced his neighbors to donate a portion of the right of way to have the railroad go through Burke.
The railroad was a very strategic resource for both the Union and Confederate Army.
During the Civil War, enslaved people escaped to the city of Alexandria and worked along the railroad chopping wood and Burke became just quite a hub of these wood choppers.
LESLIE: They were referred to as contraband.
They were in great danger here not only the physical danger from the Confederate troops but also, you can imagine if they were captured, they would have been sold back into slavery, if not killed on site.
The lumber that came out of this activity was used in any number of ways.
Bridge trusses and also fuel.
Had these men not made their contributions, we could be talking about a very different outcome in this country.
There's a lot of history in Burke and the stories continue to be uncovered.
MARY: During the Civil War, Henry Copperthite was a wagon master.
And then after the war, Copperthite was a pie company owner in Washington, DC.
He was very successful selling pies for the Connecticut Pie Company and he wanted a summer getaway and he chose the Burke area.
Bought the Silas Burke Farm around 1900 and he built the Copperthite Racetrack in 1908 and had motorcycle racing, car racing, and also the harness racing.
And it actually puts Burke on the map.
MISTY: Burke Nursery and Garden Center sits on the area that used to be the Copperthite Racetrack.
FRED: We officially opened in the spring of 1978.
We're still a small family-owned business.
We started out with just the basics and have slowly expanded.
MISTY: Burke Nursery and Garden Center loves to bring the community together.
Every October we have what we call the Fall Farm Market.
The atmosphere at the farm market is amazing.
There's a lot of joy and so to me, the nursery carries on the tradition of the Burke community.
(doorbell) (doorbell) (doorbell)
Support for PBS provided by:
If You Lived Here is a local public television program presented by WETA