From ice sales and real estate to taxi cabs and trucking, Olander Banks was a man of many trades and a staunch entrepreneur. He eventually found his calling in the auto parts trade and opened a highly well-liked store in Alexandria, Virginia.
Banks married his childhood sweetheart, or Margaret or "Margaree" as she was known to loved ones in 1941. They purchased the property on which the house and park now exist in 1957,and in 1961, they began construction on a large house with 27 rooms in which they raised their six sons and nine daughters.
Before his passing, and Banks decided to honor his wife by sharing the estate with the local community. In 2001,the land was given to the Fairfax County Park Authority to develop as a place for recreation and contemplation.
The giving spirit of the Banks family lives on in this serene suburban sanctuary.
Source: atlasobscura.com