George Washingtons Townhouse, 508 Cameron St., Alexandria, Va. On May 9, 1793 George Washington purchased a quarter-block lot (Lot 118) for ten pounds, ten shillings. George designed and built the house on this site in 1769 for himself and Martha, as they need to visit Alexandria frequently (for political reasons, to visit friends, to attend service at Christ Church, among other things). The ten mile journey from Mount Vernon was considerable and took nearly half the day by horse. From 1769 to 1771, a modest one and and half story dwelling, a stable and other necessary buildings were constructed as a sort of pied-a-terre to Mount Vernon. The town house was the only house built by Washington for his own use. Prior to the Revolutionary War, he used it often when he was in Alexandria. During the war and his Presidency, the place was often rented or lent to friends and member so of the family. Dr. William Brown rented the house for about ten years; Martha Washingtons favorite niece, Fanny Bassett Washington lived here with her two boys for a little over a year in 1794-1795; and Colonel Philip Marsterrer, one of Washingtons pall bearers lived her in 1797. It is the first piece of property listed in Washingtons will, and it was the only piece of property that he left outright to his wife,Martha when he died. At her death, Mrs. Washington left the property to her nephew, Bartholomew Dandridge. Unfortunately the dwelling fell into disrepair and the derelict dwelling was demolished in 1855 and replaced with a garden. The original half-acre purchase bounded by the corner of Pitt and Cameron Sts, is now divided into seven lots. In 1960, Gov. and Mrs. Richard Lowe (he was governor of Guam) had the house reconstructed (Alexandrias only architectural replica of a historic building) based on existing accounts and rebuilt on the original foundation using bricks and stones excavated from the site. The house has changed hands a few times since the Lowes but remains a private home. Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac rented the house at one time.
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 18:59:51 +0000
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