Spence's Point is a historic estate on the
Potomac River
The Potomac River () drains the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic United States, flowing from the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia, Potomac Highlands into Chesapeake Bay. It is long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Datas ...
near
Westmoreland, Virginia Westmoreland is an unincorporated community in Westmoreland County, in the U. S. state of Virginia.
Spence's Point was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
Notable People
Augustine Washington Sr. (1694-1743) - Father of ...
. Also known as the John R. Dos Passos Farm, it was the home of writer
John Dos Passos
John Roderigo Dos Passos (; January 14, 1896 – September 28, 1970) was an American novelist, most notable for his ''U.S.A.'' trilogy.
Born in Chicago, Dos Passos graduated from Harvard College in 1916. He traveled widely as a young man, visit ...
(1896–1970) for the last 25 years of his life. It was declared a
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...
in 1971.
[ and ]
Description and history
Spence's Point is located in rural southeastern Westmoreland County, on the north side of VA 749. Set on the south bank of the
Potomac River
The Potomac River () drains the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic United States, flowing from the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia, Potomac Highlands into Chesapeake Bay. It is long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Datas ...
down a long drive from the highway is the main house of the estate. It is a modest -story brick building with a gabled roof and single end chimney. It is three bays wide, with the main entrance in the rightmost bay. The basic architecture is a simple interpretation of the
Federal style
Federal-style architecture is the name for the classicizing architecture built in the newly founded United States between 1780 and 1830, and particularly from 1785 to 1815, which was heavily based on the works of Andrea Palladio with several in ...
. To the rear is a two-story addition, added in the 1940s by Dos Passos, with a two-story veranda overlooking the river. Further south, also overlooking the river in the village of
Sandy Neck, is the site of the childhood home of Dos Passos; the house he grew up in has been demolished and replaced, but some of the outbuildings remain in place.
The land at Spence's Point was a large parcel that the father of John Dos Passos purchased in 1885, and the Sandy Neck house is where Dos Passos spent his childhood. In 1942, after he achieved prominence as one of the most influential writers of his generation, Dos Passos purchased a portion of the original property and restored the brick farmhouse that stood there which was originally built around 1806. It was then to remain his home until his death in 1970. Although he had written some of his most important works prior to the acquisition of this property, many of his later works were written here. At the time of its designation as a landmark in 1971, it was occupied by his widow.
See also
*
List of National Historic Landmarks in Virginia
*
National Register of Historic Places listings in Westmoreland County, Virginia
References
External links
Spence's Point, Westmoreland County, one photo at Virginia DHR
{{National Register of Historic Places in Virginia
Historic American Buildings Survey in Virginia
Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia
National Historic Landmarks in Virginia
Houses in Westmoreland County, Virginia
Houses completed in 1806
National Register of Historic Places in Westmoreland County, Virginia
1806 establishments in Virginia