Bates Teacher Cabin

The old cabin has been moved from its original location about 200 feet to the southwest at the intersection of Little River Turnpike and what is now known as Backlick Road. Today, the building has been converted into a restaurant space.


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Here follows an excerpt from the Northern Virginia History Notes website:

Depression-Era Teacher Lodging Cabins
Annandale, Virginia

Written by Debbie Robison
December 19, 2012

In the heart of Annandale, Virginia there is a shop located on Little River Turnpike that was formerly the home of Martin and Anna Bates. Martin Bates worked as the janitor of the Annandale School. He and his wife constructed cabins on their property that provided lodging for teachers who also worked at the school.

The property was part of the subdivision of J. G. Dunn. A 1926 plat depicts a dwelling house and barn on the parcel that the Bates purchased. They also purchased the land shown as lot 5 and parts of lots 6 and 7.

By 1937, a new home was constructed on the corner of Little River Turnpike and what is now known as Backlick Road. (The small section of road north of Little River Turnpike was formerly known as Springfield Road.)

Mr. and Mrs. Bates provided lodging for teachers during the Depression. Census records indicate that teachers were lodging with the Bates by 1935. That year, teachers at the Annandale School typically earned $90 per month. The principal, Mrs. J. N. Howdershell, earned $115 per month.

Five lodgers were living on the Bates property in 1940, all of them public school teachers. The teachers presumably lived in the small cabins situated east of the house. Over time, the Bates constructed additional cabins. Martin Bates obtained a building permit to construct a two-room cabin in 1940 and the following year Anna Bates obtained a building permit for two more cabins.

The cabins were conveniently located within walking distance of Annandale School. The cabins dot the landscape east of the dwelling in a somewhat oval pattern.

The Bates family sold the property to Roberts Incorporated in 1952. Oral history asserts that one of the cabins was relocated nearby. The size of the building, roof configuration, and construction style suggests that this may be true.