Historic Burke Property To Be Listed, Offer Tours In September

BURKE, VA — A historic Burke property that was once a school house will be listed for sale on Thursday, Sept. 16 and offer tours that weekend. The listing comes from Jennifer Mack Properties.

Whiteoaks is now a five bedroom, 3.5 bedroom home, but it started out as a two-room school house known as Burke Elementary School. Built in 1911, the school house had no electricity or running water with heat supplied by two wood-burning stoves. The school house featured a large center hall that now serves as a study and two classrooms, one of which is now a living room. A third classroom was added in the 1920s.

By 1939, population growth led to a new school known as the Burke School being built at Burke Lake Road and Lee Chapel Road. The former school house property remained vacant until the 1940s when a neighbor purchased it. The ceiling was lowered to accommodate two bedrooms and a bathroom on the second level, and electricity and a "Pullman" kitchen were installed.

The Cornelson family purchased the home in 1950 and renamed it Whiteoaks, referring to a large white oak tree in the front yard. The house has since remained in the Cornelson family. According to a statement from the current owner, the father was in the Army and rented it out from 1950 to 1967.

When he retired, the owner and parents moved to the home permanently. The new owners added air conditioning, a screened porch, and a garage to the home but kept the original hardwood floors and the charm of the original school house.

The owner inherited the home upon the father's death in 1996. The family took down the wall between the kitchen and back porch to make a large family room, as well as gutted two bedrooms and bathroom to make a master bedroom. Two other bathrooms were renovated, the home transitioned to gas heat, air conditioning was installed in remaining areas, and the hardwood floors were refinished.

Other renovations include the addition of a sunroom with a washer and dryer enclosure, hookup to the county sewer and water and waterproofing/sump pump system in the basement. The property still has a well to maintain a fish pond.

"Whiteoaks has been home to me for much of my life, both as a child and as an adult. My son spent many of his childhood years here with his grandparents," the owner stated. "It is full of very happy memories, around each corner. I only hope that a family will purchase it who appreciates the history and will love it as much as I have."

The home will be listed on Thursday, Sept. 16 for $1 million. Tours will be held on Saturday, Sept. 18 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Check back for the listing at www.jennifermackproperties.com.