A Most Unique Abandoned Home In Northern Virginia

February 3, 2020

#352

Gentle reader,

My wife had spotted this house, which appears to be a long rambler, one day.

She pointed it out to me the next time we were in the area. Seen here through the truck's windshield.
We have an old Ranger which sits 99% of the time. But is there if we need it and is equipped with snow tires.
I "exercise" it once a week and decided to check out the house.
I came home very excited by what I saw and we set out together to check it out.

When we stopped, what we found was a very unique home that sadly was abandoned, still furnished.

County records indicate it was built in 1953 and has three bedrooms and one bath, 1,353 square feet.

Clearly, they have not been updated. As far as we can determine, the original house was added on to, perhaps twice. Guesstimates by yours truly on the two story portion is far more than thirteen hundred feet.

Someone has removed, stolen perhaps, all the gutters and down pipes. As much as new ones cost, well, I understand.

We think the original house was the left portion. As you may see. Check out that roof over a lower entrance.

My wife looking into the added on, rear-loading garage.

What's inside. I would LOVE to have a garage!

This can best be described as a "great room". The front door opens into it, no ceiling to speak of, but peaked inside. Just look at all those windows! The door on the extreme right leads into the garage.

The original house is shown here. The "first step is a doozy" kitchen door one should not walk out. Kids have been in the house and while not destroying things have been busy.

I did not count them, but have never seen a house with so many entrances!

I am still not sure whether the portion of the house to the right is part of the original structure or not.

This entrance is part of the original structure. Crazy roof does keep one dry. No drain at the bottom, so it must have been effective.

Someone also took all of the door knobs except on the front door. I feel strongly that even though abandoned, it is still not my house to enter.

Walking around the left end reveals a unique and overbuilt structure added on to the original house.

Steps from the front yard and back down to the entrance.
Below shows some robust wood to support fiberglass roofing. 

Oil tank for heat. There are a couple of wells and the septic tank is buried beneath concrete below the entrance behind where I stood to make this shot.

I have never seen an outside A/C unit with ductwork attached to it. Open attic window invites bats.

Original house seems to have ended where the chimney is. One can see the difference in the bricks right behind that tree.
The county records show a very small square footage. It also stated there were five acres, the asking price then was over five hundred thousand.

The new grand entrance and covered porch. Still has a Santa decoration hanging from it.

Again, wall to wall window, and the only remaining door knob. There is a mattress and other furniture someone has dragged onto the porch.

Looking to the right from the columned porch. Still not sure if my theory of the portion past those windows was added on, or it's just me.

Looking to the left at what is the garage. 

Looking into the great room. See the brick wall to the right with a window? Originally an outside wall. Peeled back carpet reveals plywood. 
A website I found when it was for sale years ago, shows hardwood floors in the original part of the house.

The far left end which is the wall of the garage. There are markings on the ground showing the buried electric line to the garage, which has had the meter removed recently and a new tag attached. 

But wait, there's more. 

Behind the house is a car guy's dream, a separate, heated, three car garage.
The second house is currently for rent or sale. We think it may be on the same land.  

Not sure why there are different doors. Perhaps the garage was also added on to.

Inside the first garage. All painted with drywall ceiling and lighting.

Through the doorway seen in the photo above is the separate two car unit. Not finished at all.

The furnace, not sure what fired it. But an electric one would not need exhaust.

The good and perhaps bad news, is that the property, all 39+ acres [not five(!)] sold LAST January for $2,195,000, yes that is two million.
One year later, last month, it sold again, this time for $3,795,000! Quite a tidy profit.

What we fear is a developer bought the land and the house(s) and other structures will be razed so that they can build many houses on land that has been forested for countless millennia. Sigh, I hate developers.

Thank you SO much for taking the time to read my humble blog. It is our kind words and comments that keep me writing.

Scott
February 3, 2020
#352