Eagle Scouts Help Repair Fairfax Station Railroad Museum Sign

This announcement was submitted by Fairfax Station Railroad Museum Chair Michael Chinworth.

A group of Boy Scouts led by Eagle Scout hopeful Edmund Sparrow replaced an aging sign for the on the corner of Ox Road and Fairfax Station Road. 

Edmund, a senior at , volunteered to undertake the project last month in fulfillment of his Eagle Scout requirement to carry out a community service project that would leave a lasting value.

Edmund is a member of Troop 50, sponsored by the men's club of in Annandale. His childhood memories of visiting Fairfax Station and its train shows motivated him to volunteer for replacing the previous sign.

“I've worn and outgrown at least three train shirts from the Museum's gift shop,” Edmund said. “Replacing the sign seemed to be big enough to qualify as a Eagle Project and small enough to handle.” 

The previous sign directing visitors to the museum had been in place so long ago even long time volunteers at the Station could not remember when it was first installed.

The project involved members of the troop, Edmund’s family and others. Edmund’s sister Julianna Sparrow, a graphic design and advertising student at Savannah College of Art and Design, designed the sign, which was carved by shop teacher Steve Snyder. Snyder also donated the baseboard material for the sign. Others who assisted in removing the existing sign, and building and installing the new one included Robert Hoopes, Tony MacLachlan, Michael Araps, Michael Sparrow, Zac Polnow, Tim Polnow, James Day, Jack Ryder, Eamon Heaney and former Troop 50 Scoutmaster Joe Beene.  Parents Marta and Dave Sparrow also contributed their time and encouragement.

In addition to the replacement sign, other Troop 50 volunteers spent the day by cleaning station grounds of fallen branches and deadwood. Robby Renner, Joe Polchek and Peter Redgrave, three of Edmund’s friends since they were Tiger Cub Scouts, were a major force in organizing and executing the cleanup at the Station. In all, 55 volunteers devoted time to the efforts, 41 of them from Troop 50.

Mark Greer and Kevin Cummings of Troop 50 supervised and directed Edmund’s efforts to assure compliance with Eagle Scout community service requirements.  Fairfax Station Board members Jeff Mitulla, Jack Migliaccio and Michael Chinworth acted as liaisons for the station in the project.

In addition to Edmund's scout activities, he has been involved in Botball, a robotics competition, for four years and track/cross country. He plans to attend Virginia Tech this fall, majoring in engineering.

Fairfax Station Board President Joan Rogers commended him on his work.

“We were delighted with Edmund Sparrow's choice of his Eagle Project," Rogers said. "He and his fellow scouts and family did a wonderful job upgrading the Ox Road sign.”