The Story
What was Reston, VA before it was Reston? Let's get into it.
During the colonial era, King Charles II granted vast lands to Lord Thomas Fairfax that extended from the Potomac to the Rappahannock River.
In the 1850s Benjamin Thornton bought over 8,000 acres from the Fairfax family. When the W&OD rail came through, they named the station Thornton station.
In 1886 Dr. Wiehle bought 3,228 acres from the Thorntons on the north side of the railroad tracks. He planned to create the Town of Wiehle with 800 residences. While some businesses moved to the area, very few lots were sold.
In 1909, The Wiehles sold their land to Dr. Hugh Hutchison, who used it primarily for farming and named it Sunset Hills.
In 1927 A. Smith Bowman bought the property. He farmed until prohibition was repealed, then shifted to bourbon production.
In 1960, the Bowmans sold land to a development company that would create Reston.
