Preservation at Murray-Dick-Fawcett House

The Murray-Dick-Fawcett House is one of our community treasures and its preservation is a top priority.
Page updated on September 26, 2024 at 3:32 PM
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Preservation at Murray-Dick-Fawcett House

The Murray-Dick-Fawcett House is one of our community treasures and its preservation is a top priority. Before doing any work, a combination of archival research and field investigation was performed to understand the physical and social history of the site. Deeds, fire insurance maps, family photos and ledger entries were combined with close inspection of the materials in the field, dendrochronology and laboratory paint analysis. 

Nailing shingles on the roof

Phase I: Roof Restoration

A historically accurate replacement of both the standing seam metal and wood shingle roofing was completed as Phase I.

paint preparation -- man on ladder

Phase II: Exterior Restoration

Restoration of the exterior doors, windows and wide-board siding is complete and reused much of its original materials.

Historic Structures Report and Comprehensive Plan

The City engaged Glavé & Holmes Architecture (G&H) in 2022 to perform a Historic Structure Report (HSR) to summarize the history and evolution of the Murray-Dick-Fawcett House and document its form, materials, and condition. This would precede the creation of a Comprehensive Plan to develop the property into a destination for public visitation and heritage tourism. The HSR was funded by the Historic Alexandria Foundation.

Cover of report with photo of house

Historic Structures Report

Read the Historic Structures Report and watch the presentation. The final report was submitted in April 2024.

MDF architectural drawing with building phases

Comprehensive Plan

The Comprehensive Plan is the next step in the stewardship of the Murray-Dick-Fawcett House at 517 Prince Street.

Read the plan and view the presentation from February 2025.

Research and Documentation

These are the main sources of information on the history, archaeology, and preservation of 517 Prince Street.

  • 1936 HABS Documentation on file in the Archives and Manuscript Collection, Alexandria Library, Special Collections. See index for more information
  • Ruth Lincoln Kaye, 2000, The History of 517 Prince Street Alexandria, Virginia. Report on file with Alexandria Archaeology.
  • Steven J. Shephard, 2008, Archaeological Investigations at 517 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA by Alexandria Archaeology, 2000-2004. Report on file with Alexandria Archaeology.
  • National Register of History Places Alexandria Historic District (2017 Update Regarding the Murray-Dick-Fawcett House)
  • Vernacular Architecture Forum, 2018, Murray-Dick-Fawcett House, 517 Prince Street, 1775, 1790s, ca. 1820 in A Shared Heritage: Urban and Rural Experience on the Banks of the Potomac, A Field Guide for Alexandria, Virginia. Thirty-ninth Annual Vernacular Architecture Forum Conference.
  • Callahan, William, Edward Cook and Camille Wells, 2018, Tree-Ring Dating of the Fawcett House, Alexandria, Virginia. Report on file with the Office of Historic Alexandria.
  • Mesick Cohen Wilson Baker Architects, LLP, 2018, Investigation of the Colonnade Ceiling, Fawcett House, 517 Prince Street, Alexandria, Virginia. Report on file with the Office of Historic Alexandria.
  • John H. Sprinkle, Jr., 2019, Saving Spaces: Historic Land Conservation in the United States (Routledge: New York), pp. 179-180.
  • Sue Kovach Shuman, 2019, The Murray-Dick-Fawcett House: A Future Alexandria Museum. In The Alexandria Chronicle (Spring), pp. 1-12.

Timeline and Project Updates

2017 – The City of Alexandria acquires the property with the support of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, and then owner Joe Reeder. Reeder purchased the home in 2000 and continues to live there as a life tenant.

2017 – Intensive historical documentary research project begins.

2022-2022 – The Phase I restoration of the exterior of 517 Prince Street by Oak Grove includes the historically accurate replacement of both the standing seam metal and wood shingle roofing.

November 2020 – Exterior digital scanning of the house completed by Mesick Cohen Wilson Baker Architects, LLP.

2022-2023 – Phase II restoration of the exterior doors, windows, and wide-board siding.

February 2023 – The Office of Historic Alexandria initiates the Historic Structures Report study by Glavé & Holmes with funding from the Historic Alexandria Foundation.

2024 - Comprehensive Plan process begins.

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