John Kenneth Aitcheson House

Here follows an excerpt from the Clio Foundation website about the Aitcheson house as written by Ashlynn Halbert:

Introduction:
John Kenneth Aitcheson was born in Alexandria, Virginia, on May 22, 1896, and died there on May 13, 1974. This is his childhood house. This home, which is close to the family firm J & H Aitcheson, was important to John's early years prior to his enlistment in the military. The Alexandria-based family firm, which focused on plumbing supplies and machine work, encouraged John's work ethic and sense of entrepreneurship. John married Virginia Dare Clarke after returning from the war and defending his nation. The pair stayed entrenched in Alexandria, a city that is closely linked to both their personal and professional life, even though they finally left. This house represents John's formative years and legacy.

Backstory and Context:
John Aitcheson was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia, where he grew up at 311 South Lee Street. He lived with his parents, Caroline Appich and John Kenneth Aitcheson, and had no siblings. John attended George Washington High School, where he actively participated in the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC), which likely inspired his later military service. After high school, he began working at J & H Aitcheson Inc., a general machine shop founded in 1885 by his relatives, John and Harry Aitcheson. Initially focused on boiler and boat repairs, the business transitioned to selling pipes, valves, and fittings to local plumbers under John’s influence.

In the fall of 1921, John married Virginia Dare Clarke. Together, they started a family, welcoming their first child, John Kenneth Aitcheson Jr., known as "Jack," three years later. Two years after Jack was born, their daughter, Nancy Dare Aitcheson, joined the family. John and Virginia’s family life centered around Alexandria, where John continued to work at J & H Aitcheson Inc. He initially served as the company’s bookkeeper, taking on responsibilities that kept the family business running smoothly and laying the foundation for what would eventually grow into a significant plumbing and heating distribution enterprise.

John’s life took a turn with the onset of World War I. He enlisted on June 12, 1917, at Washington Barracks in Washington, D.C., entering the military as a Private in the Ordnance Enlisted Reserve Corps (Ord ERC) section of the Ordnance Department, U.S. Army. He received the identification number 307826. John’s military journey began at Augusta Arsenal in Georgia, where he was stationed from August 14, 1917, to September 8, 1917. He subsequently trained at Camp Mills in Long Island, New York, until October 18, 1917. It was during his training period that he was promoted from Private to Corporal, although the exact date of his promotion is unknown.

On October 18, 1917, John departed from Hoboken, New Jersey, aboard the ship Covington, bound for Europe. He arrived at Saint-Nazaire, France, on November 1, 1917, and from there traveled to various locations in Europe. His assignments took him to places such as Nevera, Spain, and several areas in France, including Is-sur-Tille and Harrissimont. John was eventually stationed in Doulaincourt, France, from October 1917 until May 1919. He contributed to the military efforts in Europe, adapting to challenging conditions far from home and family. On May 24, 1919, John returned to the United States, disembarking in Brooklyn from the ship Radnor, which sailed from Bordeaux, France. His military service concluded with his discharge on June 3, 1919, at Camp Meade, Maryland, having attained the rank of Corporal.

After World War I, John returned to civilian life, rejoining J & H Aitcheson Inc. as its bookkeeper. His son, Jack, eventually joined the family business, significantly expanding its operations into a reputable plumbing and heating distribution company. As the company grew under Jack’s management, John saw the family legacy continue, providing services to the local community and beyond. In 1942, at the age of 45, John registered for the draft for World War II, a testament to his ongoing sense of duty to his country.