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John Douglass Brown House (Historical Marker)

GPS Coordinates: 38.8038324, -77.0457166
Closest Address: 517 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314

John Douglass Brown House (Historical Marker)

Here follows the inscription written on this roadside historical marker:

John Douglass Brown House
Farm house in Fairfax County, Virginia, located upon part of a seven hundred acre land patent granted to Margaret Brent in 1654. Owned and occupied by descendants of John Douglass Brown and Mary Goulding Gretter since 1816.

Erected 1976 by John Alexander Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.


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John Douglass Brown House:
"Built around 1775 by Patrick Murray, who acquired the quarter block on which it stands on December 20, 1774, this house is typical of most of the better homes built in Alexandria during George Washington's day. The framed house was advertised by Murray in 1792 as having four rooms and three fireplaces on the first floor, two rooms on the second floor, and a kitchen annex. Purchased by John Douglas Brown in 1816 and owned by one family thereafter, it is perhaps the least altered of the surviving early buildings." -- Extraordinary Alexandria G. Washington Tour.


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Here follows an excerpt from the "Jaybird's Jottings" blog in 2010 as written by Jay Roberts:

Old Town Alexandria Commemorative Plaques
John Douglas Brown Farm House
517 Prince

Prince is one of my favorite streets in Old Town. In addition to its beauty and yellow-brick and cobblestone foot, it stands as a survivor. Phase Two and Three of the Gadsby Urban Renewal Program would have leveled the four half blocks on the north side of Prince Street from Washington Street to Fairfax.

Magnificent in its oldness and visually arresting, this home (built in 1775 by Patrick Murray) on the corner with S. St. Asaph, survives as a living museum. The Alexandria website indicates “it is perhaps the least altered of the surviving early buildings.”

ABOUT ME

Award-winning local historian and tour guide in Franconia and the greater Alexandria area of Virginia.

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ADDRESS

Nathaniel Lee

c/o Franconia Museum

6121 Franconia Road

Alexandria, VA 22310

franconiahistory@gmail.com

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