Lake Occoquan Club

Area History

Lake Occoquan Club was formed in the mid 1970's as an equestrian themed large-lot community on the Occoquan River. At that time the Bacon Race corridor was largely undeveloped and most roads were gravel. Davis Ford and Bacon Race roads follow paths established in large part by the Indian tribes that lived here for hundreds of years. These roads were later improved by and important to the european settlers that followed, and included important roles in the American Revolution and the Civil War. There were numerous river crossings into what is now Fairfax County before the current dam was built at the Town Of Occoquan. Logging, subsistence farming and even moonshine production were important contributors to the early economy. Below are some specific instances of local history.

Bacon Race Church

This church (pictured above) stood at the intersection of Bacon Race and Davis Ford Roads next to Bacon Race Cemetery and was in operation from the 1880's to the 1930's, and finally fell down on Christmas Eve of 1984. The story goes that the last preacher (Reverend William Smoot) of the church told his flock on his deathbed that he didn’t want anyone else preaching in his church until he came back, so they complied with his wishes and the church was never used again. The church cemetery is still being used and is kept well maintained by the cemetery trustees and others.

Old Davis's Ford

One part of our area that is very interesting historically is the original Davis's Ford. According to a county historical map, this ford was roughly where Occoquan Club Drive ends now, and picked up on the other side of the river at the site of the boat launch ramp at Fountainhead Park. There is a large Davis family cemetery near the main parking lot in Fountainhead Park and the Davis family owned a lot of land on both sides of the Occoquan River. Davis Ford existed as a river crossing until the river was dammed at the current location downstream near the town of Occoquan in the 1950's. The old Davis Ford road that leads away from the ford follows the ridgeline roughly paralleling Occoquan Club Drive. The old roadbed, four feet below grade in some areas, can still be seen. According to the historic map, this road was Davis Ford Road and the road that is now Davis Ford Road running between Prince William Parkway and Yates Ford Road was at that time Bacon Race Road, possibly named after the stream paralleling it that is now known as Crooked Creek. There’s a Civil War gun emplacement in our community adjacent to the old roadway and near Cardinal Ridge Road that overlooks the Occoquan River and Davis's Ford. There was a bivouac area nearby with sleeping dug-outs that has now been obliterated by road construction for Cardinal Ridge. The Confederates built these in early 1862 just months before pulling back to Fredericksburg. There is also a Civil War breastworks (low chest-high earthen berm) in the LOCHA rec area, along with an 1800's era cemetery with around fifty graves. There was a large encampment of 12th Vermont Volunteers on the other side of the Occoquan just up river at Wolf Run Shoals- they took over after the Confrederates pulled back. There’s evidence that this old road and river crossing have been around since colonial times, and was likely used by General George Washington’s troops and his comrade Marshal Rochambeau (see below) as an alternate supply route to Yorktown in addition to its role in the Civil War. According to period maps, the nearby crossing at Wolf Run Shoals was the primary river crossing for the Rochambeau Route.

Washington, Rochambeau Wagon Route

by Bill Olson

September 27 marks the opening of Wolf Run Shoals Road and ford that crossed the Occoquan River at Wolf Run Shoals on September 27, 1781. The French Expeditionary forces lead by Rochambeau, and the Revolutionary Forces lead by Washington decided in only weeks before the strategy for defeat of the English forces would be to have a surprise attack at Yorktown, where English troops under Cornwallis were assembled. Much of the revolutionary forces under Washington were in New Jersey, where there was a plan to attack the English in New York City. Rochambeau with the French Expeditionary forces were mostly camped Rhode Island. Rochambeau suggested, and Washington eventually agreed to the offensive at Yorktown. Plans were made to move the troops, with some remaining in New Jersey to make it appear that the New York attack was still planned.

The troops were to move down a route that roughly follows the present Route 1. There were ferries at Colchester for crossing of the Occoquan River, but these were not adequate for heavy equipment such as supply wagons and cannons. Washington and Rochambeau ordered the Virginia Militia to clear a road and prepare for the crossing of the wagons at Wolf Run. The order was given to Colonel Henry Lee (Lighthorse Harry, who lived at Leesylvania Plantation) on September 10 to prepare the roads and crossings. Lee employed 285 Militia Men (on severe duty) so as to complete the road and crossing for the wagons and cannon to use on September 27, 1781. The rest is history, Cornwallis Surrendered, the English Prime Minister resigned, and soon after the Revolution had been accomplished. Recently the Historical Commission has erected a marker noting this accomplishment at the cul-de-sac, at the end of Wolf Run Shoals.

The Red House

If you’ve ever noticed the red house on Bacon Race Road across the street from Occoquan Club Drive (at top of page), you’ve probably thought that it looks pretty old. Property records indicate that it dates back to around 1870. It’s not a log cabin, but in the basement you can see the floor is supported by logs with the bark still attached. The floorboards are held in place with hand-cut nails and the house has a beautiful part stone, part brick fireplace. Update: this house is slated to be torn down to make way for new home construction.

Simpson Property

Another property near us that dates back hundreds of years is in the Cannon Bluff neighborhood near the end of Bacon Race Road. There are remains of a house and out buildings at Wolf Run Shoals that were part of a farm and gristmill dating back to the 1700’s. George Simpson built the gristmill around 1770, and the Simpson family owned the property into the early 1900’s. Dorcas Simpson, the last person buried in the cemetery on the property was the grandmother of Clinton Purcell, who owned the farm at the intersection of Bacon Race and Davis Ford Roads.

Ryons Dam

Part of this dam can still be seen (pictured below) in the Occoquan Reservoir about half a mile upstream of Fountainhead Marina. It provided power hydroelectrically to the surrounding area, helping with rural electrification. The building that was on top of the dam is no longer there, and the main dam structure is now underwater. Ryons Dam was instrumental in providing much-needed employment for area residents in the late 1920's. There was a house and other related buildings on shore immediately next to the dam.

The dam was built by Fred B. Ryons, a Colonel in WW I and a military engineer with an interest in hydroelectric energy. The residents in the area were not very wealthy, and work was hard to find. Most of the economy was agricultural, and probably the most common industry after farming was the production of "moonshine," which was mostly sold in Washington, D.C.

Colonel Ryons found willing sellers of the land that would be flooded by his project. Most of the homes were on the higher areas of the parcels, and he let the owners stay for life in the homes. His dam building resulted in employment for many residents in the area such as Henry Purcell, who had a sawmill and benefited from the project. Henry's oldest son, Clinton, remembered much of the detail of the building of the dam. Clinton owned the farm at the corner of Davis Ford and Bacon Race Roads until he passed away in the late 2000's. Clinton and Rue Purcell's grandmother, Dorcas Simpson, lived near the dam and she and her brother Robert sold the Simpson farm to Colonel Ryons on December 28, 1927. Clinton spent a good deal of time with the Simpson's, and visited the dam often during construction. One of his most vivid memories of the project was of the swinging bridge spanning the Occoquan that the workers used to cross.

Colonel Ryons built a fine house for himself and his wife on top of the hill overlooking the Dam. He also built cottages on the property for his stepdaughters. Until approximately 2004 the cottages were still standing and the foundation was still intact for the mansion.

The property was sold to the Alexandria Water Company on 12/17/1947. On 4/6/1971 the land was sold to the Occoquan Land Company. It was later sold to Diane Cox Basheer, who in turn sold it to Mike Garcia. The Ryons estate structures were demolished and a new house built, which is now part of a ten acre private residence.

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