Clark House at Barcroft Mews

The Clark House at Barcroft Mews is the surviving architectural remnant of a large dairy farm that operated for more than 50 years in Annandale. It is a 1902 Victorian farmhouse with a front porch, wraparound veranda and landscaped grounds, plus several rooms inside that can be rented for dining and events.


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Here follows an excerpt from the 1970 Fairfax County Master Inventory of Historic Sites which contained entries from the Historic American Buildings Survey Inventory:

The Clark House is a fine example of the kind of craftmanship which went into building of houses at the beginning of this century. The structure is the work of a local carpenter, a Mr. Manchester of Lincolnia. There are three stories to the house, with fourteen large rooms. It is of wood construction.

From the outside, one can see such decorative details as the sculptured garlands on the upper front of the house and the "widow's walk" on the roof. Baileys Crossroads can be seen from it clearly, as well as the Washington Monument in the distance.

The garlands and the large front porch with its modified Doric columns suggest the influence of the neoclassical revival. Such details as these give the Clark house a genuine elegance.

The same careful attention is paid to interior trim as well, particularly in the staircase and the ornate oak mantelpieces.

It was not long ago that Fairfax County was primarily agricultural in character, with dairy farming being the largest interest. The Clark House was originally the main house for a 200-acre dairy farm. It now sits upon a six-acre plot of land. Mr. W. B. Clark is the present owner, and it was his father who built the place about seventy-five years ago. Mr. Clark says that when in operation, the farm had about 180 head of cattle.

In terms of design, materials, and craftmanship, the Clark House stands as an unusual example of what was once standard.


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Here follows an excerpt from the Annandale Chamber of Commerce website:

The Clarke House
Family Homestead & 400 Acre Dairy Farm, Now an Events Venue
Contributor: Fairfax County Park Authority

The Clark House was built in 1902 by William Lee Clark and served as the family homestead, of this 400 acre dairy farm, for over 50 years. The builder, Henry Manchester, was a long time local resident. His remuneration came in the form of dinner plus two dollars a day. One of the first telephones in the area was installed here in 1918 and electricity was added around 1935. The family consisted of William, his wife Minnie Howdershell Clark and their children, Wilbur, Lillian and Madeline.

In 1953, Wilbur Burnley Clark (son of William) retired from farming and sold all his land except the house and 6.1 acres. Here he established W.B. Clark and Sons Inc. which sold top soil, sawdust, gravel, wood mulch, fertilizer, firewood, and railroad ties. His sons Larry and Wayne ran the business, in an office next to the kitchen and employed over 20 people.

Progress was not to favor the Clark family. In 1972 Fairfax County went in search of a building site for the Mason District Government Center and the Clark property became a prime contender. Unfortunately, Wilbur Clark had no desire to sell. By this time four Clark generations had lived on the homestead, built decades of memories and a thriving business. The issue was resolved when another site was deemed more appropriate, but that was not the end of Wilbur’s problems. The Fairfax County Park Authority was in need of 8.1 acres in Mason District to meet the 8.5 acres of community parkland for every 1,000 people goal. A long fight ensued, and the Clarks were ultimately forced to sell the house and remaining land to the Park Authority in 1986. The house was moved down the road in 1990 (originally located at 6337 Columbia Pike); townhouses built around it; and, a saddened Mr. Clark died two years later at age 92.

The house features a spacious six bay wrap around veranda, center hall entrance, prominent dormer windows and even a crow's nest with views of the Washington Monument. The four square architecture, common in farmhouses of that era, featured four public rooms on the first floor with bed chambers upstairs. The Park Authority has added air conditioning, carpeting, and a spacious modern kitchen in order to rent the home for private and corporate events.

In the Museum Collection of the Fairfax County Park Authority, the wedding invitation of William and Minnie Clarke can be viewed.

William and Minnie were married on July 2, 1902, at Minnie’s parents’ home in a ceremony officiated by Pastor A.W. Graves of the Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church. This marriage certificate marks the beginning of their life together. The body of the text reads:

“THIS CERTIFIES THAT W.L. Clark of Fairfax Co., Virginia and M.M. Howdershell of Fairfax Co., Virginia WERE BY ME UNITED IN MARRIAGE According to the Ordinance of God and the Laws of the State of Virginia at Residence of the Bride on the 2nd day of July, 1902.”

Marriage certificates, unlike applications and licenses, offer documentary evidence that a couple actually married. While civil records are held by county clerks, this type of decorative copy was often saved to commemorate the event and passed down to future generations as a family keepsake.

This certificate is adorned with many scriptures relating to marriage, and at the bottom of the certificate there is an image of a couple being pulled in a boat by a cluster of swans. Swan imagery in relation to love and marriage was highly popular at the turn of the century. Because of the lore that swans mate for life, their image became synonymous with ideas of fidelity and purity in marriage.


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Here follows an excerpt from the Fairfax County Park Authority website:

The Clark House is the surviving architectural remnant of a large dairy farm that operated for more than 50 years in Annandale. Built in 1902 by William Clark, the house is available for private, corporate and community rental. The maximum capacity is 65 people.

The Clark House was built in 1902 by William Lee Clark and served as the family homestead, of this 400 acre dairy farm, for over 50 years. The builder, Henry Manchester, was a long time local resident. His remuneration came in the form of dinner plus two dollars a day. One of the first telephones in the area was installed here in 1918 and electricity was added around 1935. The family consisted of William, his wife Minnie Howdershell Clark and their children, Wilbur, Lillian and Madeline.

In 1953, Wilbur Burnley Clark (son of William) retired from farming and sold all his land except the house and 6.1 acres. Here he established W.B. Clark and Sons Inc. which sold top soil, sawdust, gravel, wood mulch, fertilizer, firewood, and railroad ties. His sons Larry and Wayne ran the business, in an office next to the kitchen and employed over 20 people.

Progress was not to favor the Clark family. In 1972 Fairfax County went in search of a building site for the Mason District Government Center and the Clark property became a prime contender. Unfortunately, Wilbur Clark had no desire to sell. By this time four Clark generations had lived on the homestead, built decades of memories and a thriving business. The issue was resolved when another site was deemed more appropriate, but that was not the end of Wilbur’s problems. The Fairfax County Park Authority was in need of 8.1 acres in Mason District to meet the 8.5 acres of community parkland for every 1,000 people goal. A long fight ensued, and the Clarks were ultimately forced to sell the house and remaining land to the Park Authority in 1986. The house was moved down the road in 1990 (originally located at 6337 Columbia Pike); townhouses built around it; and, a saddened Mr. Clark died two years later at age 92.

The house features a spacious six bay wrap around veranda, center hall entrance, prominent dormer windows and even a crow's nest with views of the Washington Monument. The four square architecture, common in farmhouses of that era, featured four public rooms on the first floor with bed chambers upstairs. The Park Authority has added air conditioning, carpeting, and a spacious modern kitchen in order to rent the home for private and corporate events.