The Georgian Cottage
[711 Prince Street. Owner: Mrs. Andrew Pickens.]
Alexandria was never a large town. The thrifty merchants of this
Scottish trading center built well, and their dwellings abound in
architectural interest, but really great houses are rare. On the 700
block of Prince Street, behind a picket fence, guarded by a tall
magnolia and several gnarled box trees stands what is called in England
a "Georgian cottage," which in Alexandria is an important house.
On November 2, 1797, William Thornton Alexander and Lucy, his wife, sold
to James Patron, of Fairfax County, half an acre of land situated in
Fairfax County in the state of Virginia, adjacent to the town of
Alexandria and bounded as follows:
Vizt: On the South by Prince Street, on the West by Columbus Street.
Beginning at the corner formed by the intersection of the East side
of Columbus Street and with the North side of Prince Street and
running Eastwardly with Prince Street 123 feet 5 inches, thence
Northerly and parallel with Columbus Street one hundred and seventy
six feet seven inches, thence Westerly and parallel with Prince
Street 123 feet 5 inches thence Southerly with Columbus Street to the
point of beginning.[179]
This was subject forever to a ground rent of L30 in good and lawful
money of Virginia. On this lot James Patton erected a type of house well
known locally as a "flounder," because of its narrow width. Such a
building was usually set back from the street, anticipating fuller
architectural development when the flounder became the ell of the larger
house. Patton's home, though diminutive, was comfortable and it had
convenient gardens and pleasant surroundings. Here he lived until
overtaken by that ogre of all Alexandria shipping merchants--compound
interest.
He became indebted to the firm of Marsteller & Young to the amount of
ten thousand dollars and sundry notes discounted for his use at the Bank
of Alexandria to the amount of nine thousand dollars. To afford full
indemnity, he sold in November 1809, to Robert I. Taylor, twenty-five
shares of Potomac Bank stock, six shares of Little River Turnpike stock,
ten shares of Great Hunting Creek bridge stock, a house and lot on
Fairfax Street, and two squares of ground under the charter of
Alexandria, adjoining Spring Gardens, bought of Jesse Sims, and the brig
_John_ of Alexandria. Also relinquished to Taylor in the settlement of
his debts was the half-acre on Prince and Columbus Streets "with the
buildings and improvements thereupon erected."[180]
A year later William Fowle with "the consent and concurrance of all
parties," purchased the said lot of ground and improvements from James
Patton at the price of $6,550.
William Fowle had come to Alexandria in 1800 from Boston to enter, as a
partner, the important shipping firm which became Lawrason & Fowle. He
married Miss Esther Taylor, daughter of George Taylor of Broomalaw and
they are purported to have had eighteen children, eight of whom they
reared to maturity. Fowle's father-in-law is remembered as the last
gentleman in Alexandria to hold to the fashion of knee breeches and silk
stockings. As he lived well into the nineteenth century, his figure clad
in "short clothes" and leaning upon a high cane (similar to those
associated with the Court of Louis XVI) was a familiar sight upon the
streets of Alexandria long after such a costume had become a curiosity.
Taylor entertained no idea of giving up the habits of his ancestors, nor
of complying with any such folderol as high choker collars and
pantaloons so tightly strapped under a gentleman's gaiters that someone
had to invent a machine for jumping into them.
The Fowles were agreeable hosts and the Georgian cottage was the scene
of many gay gatherings and fine dinners. The family took part in all the
festivities of the town--balls at Gadsby's, the theatre; trips to
Boston, doubtless in their own ships, were frequent. William Fowle was
senior warden at Christ Church for many years.
[Illustration: Elegance and grace, harmony and beauty in brick and wood
and iron. Regency at its best in Alexandria]
Thirty-six years after Fowle moved to Alexandria the following notice
appeared in one of the papers. It is interesting to observe that the
firm was now "William Fowle & Co."
The splendid ship Alexandria, about 500 tons burthen, built under the
superintendence of Captain William Morrell, for William Fowle & Co.,
and others, and to be commanded by Capt. Charles W. Turner was
launched in beautiful style on Thursday.
[Illustration: The stair sweeps up, circular wall, window and door in
hall]
William Fowle was a man of taste as well as means. He improved his
garden by acquiring adjoining property and extending his grounds as far
east as Washington Street and as far north as King, adding several new
outbuildings. Nor did he stop with horticulture. He took up architecture
and deftly transformed his home to the ample size and satisfactory
design all admire. The earlier flounder house became one of the fine
houses of Alexandria--and one of the loveliest. By the addition of a
wing to the left of the present doorway, a beautiful Palladian window,
and new entrance porch set in a gabled bay, Fowle changed the front
facade into the latest mode. The house has an individuality and appeal
unlike anything else in town.
The outstanding architectural interest is in this entrance. Inside as
well as out the design and wood carving are chaste and elegant. Four
slender columns support a shallow balcony whose grace and lightness is
produced in a great measure by the fragile spindles carrying the weight
of the projection. The delicate inclosure of wrought iron is Regency at
its best in this medium. It is said he imported the plans for this
arresting doorway from New England. The interior focal point is again
the doorway, for here the beauty in design and wood carving equal the
elegance of the exterior. An added interest is the circular wall, window
and door in the entrance hall.
The drawing room mantel is of gray marble, early Empire in design, a
style which dominates the lower floor. The walls support the original
old whale-oil lamps, complete with engraved shades and prisms.
Interesting family portraits and fine furniture have occupied the same
places for over a century and a quarter. The Sheraton sideboard is
exceptional.
In the garden court, box bushes cluster close to the doorway, perfuming
the air after a summer's shower. Enormous pink poppies, phlox, and roses
grow in riotous abandon, while old-fashioned periwinkle covers the roots
of ancient trees.
It is a satisfactory thought that Fowle's descendants still inhabit his
house, using many of his possessions, for this is one of the few old
residences in Alexandria still in the family. Five generations have
called it home. Two wings, or dependencies, of this house have been
demolished and the garden reduced by time and the inroads of "progress."
What is still a large city garden, no longer touches Washington and King
Streets.
[Illustration]