George Washington Party Home!

George Washington Party Home!

George Washington Party Home!

Must SeeTop 10 Florida Condos For Sale

. . . . And you can be sure it was a pretty sedate party, by our terms! But he did go to clubs. In the late 1700’s, a club was when a group met at a local tavern, had their spirits or fruit punch, then "clubbed" the total cost and split it between them equally. This house of which we write was said to be a tavern in Alexandria where he stopped on his way back to Mt. Vernon. Washington kept careful accounts of his spending and recorded his "clubs" in a ledger even as a very young man. He entered the name of the place, what he drank and the number of friends with whom he shared the "club." Life in Virginia at the time was very social. The distance between plantations was far, so whole families would come and stay a week or more. In return, the host family followed them back home and stayed at their guest’s home yet another week. Many times travelers would stop at the plantations and stay as guests. In his journals, Washington complained at the dinner table it seemed every night there was another stranger.

Locals have always said that this home was originally Spring Gardens Tavern. It would have been a tavern in his line of travel back and forth from Washington City (now D.C.) to Mt. Vernon. Built in 1780, it was also said that he spent his last 4th of July here, watching parades of the militia and enjoying the company of his friends. Today, it is a beautiful home in the historic Old Town of Alexandria where you can feel the past even while driving down the streets. A lovingly restored 4,296sf, it has 4 bedrooms, 5 baths, a new guest and family room connected by an enclosed, elevated walkway. Though original elements are evident such as in the exposed beams in the kitchen and part of the original brick wall, the house has been brought up-to-date to current expectations. Gardens are elegant and the property is just over a half acre, which is a rare asset in Old Town. There is a pool as well as a small pond with walkways through the lawn from which to enjoy the plantings.

We doubt George ever slept here, but it’s much more fun to think that he was awake to enjoy good company in this charming old tavern. Priced at $4.2m.

Source: www.realtor.com