The Great Falls Grange, 9818 Georgetown Pike (Virginia route 193), Great Falls Virginia: The Grange is six miles west-northwest of the I-495 Beltway exit 44 (old exit no. 13).
Built in 1929 for the Great Falls chapter of the Fraternal Order of Husbandry (also known as the Grange movement), this classic public assembly hall has been the site of private and community gatherings, as well as musical and theatrical performances, throughout its life. The upstairs room, has phenomenal acoustics for Sacred Harp singing, and is of the ideal size for 100-135 singers. The room has hardwood floors, plaster walls, barrel-vaulted bead board (wooden) ceiling, and large windows, and has elegant touches, such as chandeliers, as well.
Directions:
A: If coming from Interstate 495 (Beltway), exit at Virginia exit 44 (old exit no. 13) (Rte. 193, Georgetown Pike) following the signs to Great Falls, VA. (The ramps are simple when coming from Virginia, but if coming from Maryland, cross the Potomac River in the right lane, and just after the bridge, you MUST enter a service lane marked for exit 43-44; stay in this service lane until you reach exit 44/Rte. 193.) Travel west on Rte. 193 toward Great Falls, VA for 6.2 miles to the red-brick Grange on the right at 9818 next to the public library and just prior to the Village shopping center (see close-up map below).B: If coming from D.C., get onto the George Washington Parkway along the west bank of the Potomac and follow it northwest to the Beltway, at which point follow the "Virginia" sign and then the service lane to Rte. 193, and proceed as above.
C: If approaching from the west on Rte. 7, turn eastward onto Rte. 193 at Dranesville and go 3.1 miles east to Great Falls Village and continue 0.2 mile to the Grange on the left.
Parking is in lots and spaces for the Grange and sometimes the public library. There is frequently an employee of Fairfax County Historic Properties to guide you. Sometimes all spaces are full and singers have parked on the side of Georgetown Pike or in the lots of the shopping center just beyond (west of) the Grange area.
Note for Sightseers: After singing, consider visiting Great Falls National Park (fee), which is entered 1.8 miles east of the Grange on Rte. 193.
Public Transportation? None on weekends. For help with transportation, join the email list Chesapeakeshapenotes@yahoogroups.com at http://go.to/shapenotes, and then request a ride.
The first two below were prepared by Miriam Kilmer starting with maps published by ADC "The Map People"
and on Microsoft's Expedia Streets and Trips 2000 The third map was found on a Fairfax County Web page.
Note: Printed convention flyers with maps to singing locations, designed by Miriam Kilmer, are available. To obtain one by mail, call Steven Sabol at 301-908-1702 or send e-mail to him at sabol@his.com.
