Annandale derives its name from a Scottish town and an English lord of the same name. At one time, it was a toll station on Little River Turnpike and, until the late 1940s, it represented to many people the terminus of Columbia Pike and the beginning of the “boondocks.” Today this is not the case, for Annandale, though not a city, a town, or governmental unit of any description, is a thriving community with more than 40,000 people living within 7.8 square miles.
Our own community of Broyhill Crest has been growing steadily since 1950 when the M.T. Broyhill and Sons Corporation purchased approximately 90 acres of land, east of the Annandale Road–Falls Church Road intersection, upon which to construct modern, high-quality brick homes. The area, about a half a mile from the center of Annandale, was selected as one of unusual natural beauty that could be served by all city utilities as well as public transportation to neighboring areas of Washington, D.C. Development plans called for generously sized lots, preservation of the original trees, landscaping, and paved streets with curbs and gutters. It was expected that this subdivision, known as “Broyhill Crest,” would provide urban convenience in a rural atmosphere—an ideal environment for suburban family living—and this expectation has been admirably fulfilled.
Most of the original land for Broyhill Crest was acquired from Dr. Joseph D. and Jane A. Coker and Wilfred L. and Marion Dominy. Construction of homes began in the early spring of 1951, beginning at the Annandale Road–Falls Church Road intersection and building east of Valleycrest Boulevard and Wayne Drive. In a little over a year, 196 houses in the four sections were completed. The popularity of the area prompted the purchase of additional land from R. S. and Charlene B. Oliver. As a result, the building of larger ramblers and new-style, two-level homes began in the fall of 1952 on Gallows Road, down Oliver Avenue and out to the Columbia Pines subdivision. In 1954, the last piece of sod was laid in the eighth section, and the construction of Broyhill Crest was completed.
The location of the 500 homes in the original Broyhill Crest made them a natural focus of community activity, and neighboring subdivisions built more recently have since joined the Broyhill Crest Community Association. In 1954, residents of Annandale Gardens came into the Association. Residents of Rolf’s Heights joined in 1956. In 1959, the new homes in Oliver Park and Kenwood Park were added. In 1960, the addition of new homes in Holly Hills was completed. Oliver Knolls, with 16 homes, was added in 1962. Chatelain Village, Annanwood, and Annangrove joined the following year, and Masonville Heights joined the Association in 1994. With these additions, and more, there are now 1,157 homes comprising the 15 subdivisions of Broyhill Crest.