atronage of the circuit-riding judges and their
entourages of attorneys and others combined with the regular passage
of travellers on the Little River Turnpike to create a prosperous
business climate.

After the Civil War, the brick tavern was purchased by Col. H. B.
Taylor, who operated it during the 1870's and 1880's. Because of its
favorable location near the courthouse, the tavern continued to be
frequented by those who had business with the court, and lawyers
maintained their offices there. An advertisement in the _Fairfax
Herald_ of April 8, 1887 refers to the building as the Union Hotel,
and describes it as a three-story brick building with annex,
containing about twenty-five rooms, with stable and outbuildings, a
two-acre garden and a fine well--"a desirable residence for summer
boarders." Later in 1887 the name was changed from Union Hotel to
Fairfax Hotel and its management was taken over by James W.
Burke.[137]

The hotel continued to be operated until 1932 when it was demolished
to clear the site for subsequent construction of a building for the
National Bank of Fairfax. The bricks, mantels and doors from the hotel
were re-used in construction of the home of Helen Hill and Francis
Pickens Miller, called "Pickens Hill." It is located on Chain Bridge
Road north of Fairfax, and in recent years has become a major building
of the Flint Hill private school complex.

_The Well._ At the time of construction of the courthouse, a well was
dug on the south side of the building. Over the years, pictures show a
variety of overhead coverings to shelter the well and its users. The
well was a large one, appearing to be four or five feet in diameter at
the top, and was surrounded by a raised platform. Standing on this
platform, one drew water from the well by a windlass operated by a
hand-crank. Later the box on which the windlass was mounted was fitted
with a hand pump, and a trough for filling buckets or other containers
was placed at the side of the well. This well served the courthouse
into the twentieth century, but was closed and capped when the town of
Fairfax installed underground water mains. The gazebo-like well
structure was moved to Sully.

"_Public Comfort Station._" Many references to the early privies in
use on the courthouse grounds appear in both the court order books and
the board of supervisors minute books. As recently as 1931, outside
toilets were still in use. In October of that year, "the County