WEDDERBURN

The village known as Midgetville

Truly one of the most unique areas in the Fairfax County, Wedderburn has carried the secret name of Midgetville for the better part of a century. Established in 1892 the village adjoining the W&OD trail is home to tiny folk-art cottages, towering 100-year-old
pines, colonies of naturalized garden flowers, and wildlife along a beautiful stream.

Located near the intersection of Cedar Lane and the W&OD trail in Vienna and Dunn Loring, Virginia, the village is now the death grip of Elm Street Development who will, if not stopped, erase all traces of the village, the trees, and the stream in order to erect densely-packed houses and storm drains.

Take a virtual tour of Wedderburn at this web site and let the government and media know that you want this area included in the W&OD Trail so that you and your loved ones can enjoy this future at Wedderburn:

• Shaded jogging paths
• Party facilities
• History trails
• Wildlife
• Music and art exhibits

Click to go to contact links.

 

How did the Midgetville myth begin?

The builder of Wedderburn ignited the little-people myth in the 1930s when he built several decorative and picturesque cottages in a woodland along the W&OD Railroad. George Wedderburn's inspiration for the cottages came from his travels in Cuba and from his homeland, Scotland.

The proximity of the railroad tracks gave more fuel to the theory of little-people living in a secret enclave. Legend held that the little-people abandoned a circus entourage by jumping off the train and hiding in these woods, to later build a secret town.

The legend of Midgetville grew as bands of teenagers throughout the decades, crept onto the property at night to investigate. The picturesque cottages at night, lit from within, held a magic air. The the blend of gardens and woods wove an enchanted world from which the stories grew.

Owls, fox and deer took refuge here in the undisturbed woods, but the cottages themselves went into decline as the descendents of George Wedderburn—tiring of curious visitors and high taxes—lost interest in protecting the land.

How small are the cottages? The average height of the cottages is about one foot shorter than today's standards. The room plans are compact and unique, some only the size of dog houses or small sheds. Most of the windows and doors are hand-fashioned. The artist's handwork can be seen throughout the neighborhood, literally in every stroke of the stucco finishes.

The woodlands around Wedderburn have been left undisturbed so long, they tower above the cottages giving the place a quiet and magical air.

What does the name Wedderburn mean?

The name comes from the Scottish "Wedder" for lamb and "Burn" for stream. Legend tells of a knight in Olde Scotland that had his life saved when he stumbled onto a field of lambs after battle—and thereafter took the name Wedderburn.

The descendent of Sir Wedderburn, George Wedderburn was involved in many creative industries in the New World, from sugarcane farming in Cuba to photography, along with publishing a newspaper called the Alexandria Item and operating a country resort along the W&OD Railroad.

A brother of George Wedderburn was honored for his contributions to the field of surgery with a monument.

George Wedderburn's grave in Virginia is marked with the same unique folk architecture as his former property.

Inspired by cottages he had seen in on his travels, George recreated the style at his property in order to welcome travelers and give them respite from the heat and pollution of the city. The buildings were created between 1892 and the 1930s.

The diminutive style and hand-made details of these homes caused rumors to abound through the century. Stories told of a band of little people who left the circus in order to build a private village in the woods of Northern Virginia. Thus the name: Midgetville.

Today, gardens designed by the founder, the tiny cottages, and even the Norfolk pines he planted still exist today and can be viewed from the Fairfax County W&OD Trail.

Without your help, this unique landmark will be destroyed to create another subdivision heavily overshadowing the W&OD trail. Please, take a moment to let the government and media know that you would like this area reserved for you, your family, and the future as a park along the W&OD trail.

Vote to make Wedderburn a County Park

Tour Wedderburn On-Line

S T O R I E S
from Wedderburn

The neighborhood known as Midgetville

Famous for its Halloween parties, the evenings of October 31st have always found the central lawn of Wedderburn Lane magically transformed into a zombie-fest.

You can imagine the costumed characters that have visited the Riddle House-turned-haunted-house over the decades. And the startling visions in the enchanted woods around Wedderburn. Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf are just two of the characters who have been there, but also the more sinister types, the kind that might arrive in the silhouette of a bat.

Adding to the magical air of Wedderburn, actual hauntings happen on ordinary days in and around the Lilliputian cottages. Here are just some of the ghost stories from "Midgetville" . . .

 

Blue Orb

A long-time tenant of the Cobalt house stepped onto the porch one evening only to be startled by a blue orb traveling at great speed on Wedderburn Lane. The sphere passed directly through the closed wooden door of a garden shed shown below.

The tenant did not, and still does not, believe in ghosts. Ball lightening? Or the ghost of George Wedderburn? Today the apparition is simply referred to as the Flying Blue Orb.

Apparently, the orb continued through the shed that night … through the neighboring pump house and enclosed courtyard, and two rooms of the Editor's Cottage. It was seen shortly afterwards hovering over the seat of a chair by a young man in the first bedroom.

Neither viewer of the orb knew of the other's experience when they told their tales.

Oh ... and the Editor's Cottage? (aka Riddle House.)

I don't know if Uncle George knows all the house-secrets, but he might know how to give a warm welcome.

The picture below shows a door facing south leading into the tiny kitchen and dining alcove. Legend has it that some unknown force turns the stove on in the kitchen. The last tenant didn't believe the tale. But shortly after moving in, he found the kitchen growing warmer. The stove had turned on by itself.

 

Piano Orb

Pianos meant a great deal to the builder of Wedderburn. Each cottage was designed with its own pint-sized music room complete with a piano—giving way to the Midgetville legend "A piano in every cottage."

The piano in the old house by the W&OD Trail sat undisturbed for many years until the day a particular photo was taken.

The orb in the photo is called "Uncle George."

Photo coming soon.

 

 

Vinnie

One day a cat named Vinnie, for Van Gogh, experienced a life-threatening accident. Perhaps hit by a speeding bike or a deer along the W&OD Trail, she was found and immediately rushed to the hospital. Nevertheless, Vinne passed away in the night.

At the same time, miles away at her home in Wedderburn, the meow of a cat was heard in the air with an eerie quality as if coming through an AM radio. Sadly, she was never seen again.

However, other Wedderburn cats lingered even after their deaths. At the road-bridge crossing Little Bear Run, the stream in the center of Wedderburn, workers saw a cat-shaped mist watching from about 20 feet away in the gravel road. A few moments later, the mist moved and hovered from the other side of the bridge.

 

Visit again soon for more stories from Wedderburn/Midgetville.