Spence's Point is a historic estate on the

Potomac River The Potomac River () is in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and flows from the Potomac Highlands in West Virginia to Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. It is long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography D ...

near Westmoreland, Virginia. 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), ''U.S.A.'' trilogy. Born in Chicago, Dos Passos graduated from Harvard College in 1916. He traveled widely as a ...

(1896–1970) for the last 25 years of his life. It was declared a

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a National Register of Historic Places property types, building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the Federal government of the United States, United States government f ...

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

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 classical architecture built in the United States following the American Revolution between 1780 and 1830, and particularly from 1785 to 1815, which was influenced heavily by the works of And ...

. 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.

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 Homes of American writers

Description and history

See also

References

External links