Home of Charles Lee (Historical Marker)

Here follows the inscription written on this roadside historical marker:

[Top plaque]
Home of Charles Lee, First Collector of Customs, Alexandria, 1789 - 1793
Designated an Historic Customhouse
Vernon D. Acree, U.S. Commissioner of Customs, 1976

[Bottom Plaque]
George Washington entertained by the City of Alexandria, 1763
First chartered bank of Virginia, 1793
Opening of Frankie Welch of Virginia, 1963

Additional plaque on building:
Historic Alexandria Foundation Reg. No. 53S305 Early Buildings Survey


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Here follows an excerpt from the "Jaybird's Jottings" blog as written by Jay Roberts:

Old Town Alexandria Historical Plaques:
Duvall House
305 Cameron

Situated in the middle of a row of some of Old Town’s classier boutique stores, 305 Cameron holds several chapters of history.

Nancy and William Duvall built the house around 1750. Upon his return from the Revolutionary War, Washington was feted here at Duvall’s Tavern on December 31, 1783.

From 1788 to 1791, Charles Lee, then Collector of the Port, resided here. Lee, described by Smith and Miller (A Seaport Saga) as a “brilliant scholar,” served as the city’s first collector of customs from 1789 to 1793. He was the brother of Henry Lee III, better known as “Light Horse Harry,” and uncle to Robert E. Lee.

From 1793 to 1807, this building served as the banking house of the Bank of Alexandria, where Washington held accounts.

The second plaque is rather lackluster, a shoddy effort if you ask me, and puzzling given the fact these are meant to honor outstanding citizens.

I will say it was fun to learn about Frankie Welch. Her dress shop was an Alexandria institution. As noted in an article in the Washington Post (Feb 22, 1990), Alexandria and Washington were stunned to hear of Welch’s retirement after 25 years. Her clientele was Washington elite, and included Betty Ford. Welch’s most notable item was scarves, worn by the likes of Lady Bird Johnson.

The house is now a private residence.