Murray-Dick-Fawcett House
Murray-Dick-Fawcett House | |
.jpg) Murray-Dick-Fawcett House in 2014 | |
| Location | 517 Prince Street, Alexandria, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°48′13.76″N 7°2′45.2″W / 38.8038222°N 7.045889°W |
| Built | 1772–1774 |
| Architectural style | Hall house[1] |
| Part of | Alexandria Historic District |
| Designated CP | September 18, 2017 |
The Murray-Dick-Fawcett House (also known as the John Douglass Brown House and the Fawcett-Reeder House) is a home known for being the oldest unaltered building in Alexandria, Virginia.[2]
In April 2017, the building was acquired by the City of Alexandria,[3] and in September of the same year, the home was listed as a contributing property.
History
In 1772, Irish-immigrant,[a] Patrick Murray, began the construction of the house and was completed two years later in 1774. The property was expanded in 1784, 1793, and sometime before 1823.[1]
In 1816, John Douglass Brown purchased the house.[2]
In 1936, the property was opened to the public for the Historic American Buildings Survey.[1]
In 2000, after 184 years of the property belonging to the descendants of John Douglass Brown, the property was sold to Joe Reeder.[1][6] In 2012, Reeder, who had been renovating and restoring the house, put the house up for sale $1,849,000.[7]
On April 27, 2017, the City of Alexandria purchased the house from Reeder.[3]
Reeder passed away on June 23, 2026, at the age of 99.[8]
Etymology
The house is named after early owners Patrick Murray, Elisha Cullen Dick, and the Fawcett family, who were decedents of John Douglass Brown.[4]
List of owners
- Patrick Murray (1772–1794)
- Elisha Cullen Dick (1794)
- John Thomas Ricketts (1794–1806)[b]
- William Newton (1794–1806)[b]
- William Smith (1806–1816)
- John Douglass Brown (1816–1830)
- Decedents of John Douglass Brown (1830–2000)[5]
- Charles Joseph "Joe" Reeder II (2000–2026)[c]
- City of Alexandria (2017–present)
Source:[4]
Notes
- ↑ The City of Alexandria claims that he was born in Ireland,[4] but the Washington Post claims that he was born in Scotland.[5]
- 1 2 Subdivided
- ↑ Reeder was given permission from the city to stay in the house, which he did until his death in 2026.[8]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Exploring the History of the Murray-Dick-Fawcett House". The Zebra. May 5, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
- 1 2 Dingmann, Sara (May 12, 2021). "Alexandria's 10 Oldest Homes". Alexandria Living Magazine. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
- 1 2 Sullivan, Patricia (April 28, 2017). "Alexandria completes purchase of historic 18th century home". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "History of the Murray-Dick-Fawcett House". City of Alexandria, VA. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
- 1 2 Kelly, John (November 21, 2020). "These two homes were once among the oldest in D.C. They're in Virginia now". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Documenting Alexandria's Murray-Dick-Fawcett House". Connections Newspapers. November 17, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
- ↑ Kenny, Cheryl (March 1, 2012). "Fawcett-Reeder House For Sale". Patch. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
- 1 2 Wadland, Mary (June 28, 2026). "Joe Reeder, Old Town Original and Guardian of the Murray-Dick-Fawcett House, Dies at 99". The Zebra--Good News in Alexandria. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
Further reading
- "Out of the Attic: The Murray-Dick-Fawcett House at 250" (PDF). Alexandria Times. May 12, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
External links
