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To the editor:
Some citizens have ask the Historical Society to comment on the Inn’s proposed expansion.
The corner of Main and Calvert Street is historically the center of the town of Washington in the early 19th century. Here stand three of the town’s original seven log cabins that remain from those times.
From the census of 1850 we learn that Dr. Adolphus W. Read lived in one of those homes (now Mrs. Mattie Ball Fletcher’s home) and had his office across the street where the Health Department is now. In 1850 William R. Almond and his wife Ann Porter, lived across the street in what is known as the Almond House. Mrs. Almond was of the family for whom Porter street is named. The third log cabin is the home now owned by Mrs. Pamela Lynn.
Mrs. Fletcher’s home was the site of the town jail, before we became a county, because for minor felons and debtors it was too far to send them to the county seat in Culpeper 24 miles away. All of these homes have been “pebble-dashed” or siding covered, but the original logs. .. they’re in there.
Even earlier on lot 6 (the present site of the Health Department) was the site of an ancient building which was used as a courthouse, and village center when Rappahannock became a county, until a new building could be built. This building was torn down in 1904, although the Historical Society has pictures of it.
Lewis Oden, a wheelwright, had his blacksmith shop next to the Almond House and the site of one of the five original town wells is between the Almond House and the Sisk House, now owned by the Inn. The well’s location is covered by a still visible cement cap.
The Historical Society is not against expansion, but we do plead more moderation and less destruction of these historic sites. We often get visitors in the society’s building, many of them guests of the Inn. They always ask, “How have you managed to keep this town so 19th century” Many of them express delight in the ability to walk the quiet streets and look in our small shops.
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