Keith (minister, 1780-88), Rev. James Muir (minister, 1789-1820), and Rev. Elias Harrison (minister, 1820- 63). EXIT churchyard and TURN RIGHT onto SOUTH FAIRFAX STREET: 323 South Fairfax, Elliot House, was constructed by Charles B. Unruh as a family residence in 1842. It later served as the residence of Robert W. Bell, Jr., book seller, printer, and a member of the Church Committee from the 1860s to the 1890s. It subsequently served as the residence of Sherrard and Jean Elliot. Sherrard was a banker and an elder in the Presbyterian Church. Jean was Poet Laureate of both Alexandria and Virginia. They became members in the 1960s and donated their residence to A PRESBYTERIAN WALKING TOUR the congregation in 1978. OF EARLY ALEXANDRIA 412 South Fairfax, a flounder-style house, was the resi- dence of Thomas Porter, merchant and member, This walking tour leads you through 1½ miles of Old who participated in the Boston Tea Party in 1773 and Town Alexandria’s fascinating streetscapes (see map). It served on Alexandria’s Common Council. starts and concludes in the churchyard of the Old Pres- 428-430 South Fairfax, site of the residence of John byterian Meeting House, a Presbyterian congregation Yost, gunsmith and member during the 18th century, established in 1772. You should allow about two hours and a relative of Phyllis Kent, a member and elder in for the tour, but it can be completed in as little as an the Presbyterian Church during the 20th century. hour. Allow more time if you stop to shop, eat, or engage in additional exploration along the way. TURN LEFT onto WILKES STREET: Virtually every block of Old Town possesses associa- This one-block long stretch of Wilkes is atop the Wilkes tions with the Meeting House congregation, so the tour is Street Tunnel. It was constructed in 1851 by the selective. It includes about sixty sites, most of which Orange & Alexandria Railroad to connect lines along were businesses or residences of congregation members. the waterfront with lines that extend to the south- western portion of the state. It also includes most of Alexandria’s important features that survive from the 18th and early 19th centuries. The TURN LEFT onto SOUTH LEE STREET: names of clergy and congregation members appear in 419 South Lee, the residence of James Keith, member, boldface type. The entire tour lies within the Alexandria merchant, owner of Keith’s Wharf, mayor of Alex- Historic District, a U.S. National Historic Landmark. andria, and president of the Potomac Canal Co. Enjoy your expedition of discovery! 418 South Lee, the residence of Daniel Roberdeau, START: 321 South Fairfax Street, the churchyard of member and elder in the Presbyterian Church, who the Old Presbyterian Meeting House. On the Fairfax signed the congregation’s 1786 incorporation papers. While a resident of Philadelphia, he served as a side of the churchyard are the Meeting House (1775, general in the Revolutionary War and as a delegate to rebuilt 1837) and Elliot House (1842, restored and the Continental Congress. extended 2005). In the center are the Burial Ground 321 South Lee, a flounder-style house, the residence of (active 1760s to 1809) and the Tomb of the Unknown Charles W. Bell, member, book seller and printer. Soldier of the American Revolution (1929). More than forty members of the congregation who served in the TURN LEFT onto DUKE STREET: Revolutionary War lie in the Burial Ground or in the 202 Duke, the residence of Samuel Craig, merchant, Presbyterian Cemetery. The Presbyterian Cemetery is captain in the Revolutionary War, and member who located one mile west of the churchyard on Hamilton sold copies of Rev. Muir’s publications in his store; Lane and remains active. [See plaques at both locales.] subsequently the residence of John Gardner Ladd, On the Royal Street side are Flounder House (1787, a merchant, banker, and member of the Church restored and extended 1952) and the Education Building Committee in the early 19th century. (1957). Flounder House, originally the parsonage, was 210 Duke, the residence of John B. Murray, merchant built by Robert Brockett, Sr., a member and builder, as and member of the Church Committee in the 18th Alexandria’s first flounder-style structure. Brockett also century; and subsequently the residence of Dr. constructed the original portion of City Hall. Flounder James Craik, member, doctor, surgeon general in the House, described as a commodious house by Rev. Muir Revolutionary War, and George Washington’s in 1794, served as the residence of Rev. Isaac Stockton closest friend, who attended Washington during his final hours. 100-block of Prince, called Captain’s Row, is one of 212 Duke, the residence of John Dunlap, wholesale Alexandria’s remaining cobblestone streets. Resi- merchant, who served in the Revolutionary War, and dences on the north side of the street were construct- was a member who signed the congregation’s 1786 ed by John Harper, member, merchant, ship’s incorporation papers. captain, who served in the Revolutionary War, and RETRACE STEPS on DUKE STREET and TURN was a member of Alexandria’s initial Common Coun- LEFT onto SOUTH LEE STREET: cil. Harper also erected several residences on the 221 South Lee, residence of Dennis Ramsay, member, north side of the 200-block of Prince Street. colonel in the Revolutionary War, mayor of Alexan- Warehouse at the end of the block, on the northwest dria, member of Alexandria’s Common Council, and corner of Prince and Union (Christmas Attic store), justice of the Hustings Court. was originally the site of a warehouse built by John 219 South Lee, residence of David Arell, member, Harper in 1785. The current structure provides a captain of Alexandria’s Independent Blues in the classic example of early 19th century commercial Revolutionary War, mayor of Alexandria, and jus- architecture complete with advertisements painted on its walls. It was erected in 1827. tice of the Hustings Court. 209 South Lee, the residence of Laurence Hill, cooper TURN LEFT onto SOUTH UNION STREET: (barrel maker), who served on Alexandria’s Com- Wales Alley, mid-block to left and right, is named for mon Council and was a member of the Church Com- Andrew Wales, tavern keeper, brewer, and member mittee in the early 19th century. who signed the congregation’s 1786 incorporation TURN LEFT onto PRINCE STREET: papers. Taking a few steps down any of Alexan- Northwest corner of Lee and Prince, the Athenaeum, dria’s surviving alleys, which once teemed with built in 1851 as the Bank of the Old Dominion. It is residences and business operations and are often lined now home of the Northern Virginia Fine Arts with cobblestones and stone walking paths, will Association. Lewis McKenzie, who served on the provide you with intriguing prospects on eras long bank’s board of directors, was a member of the gone. Ramsay and Swift alleys (sites still to come) Church Committee for fifty years in the 19th century. are also named for congregation members. He was a businessman, who also served as mayor of Waterfront and the Potomac River are to the right. To Alexandria and as a member of the U.S. House of see the river, wend your way behind the Torpedo Representatives [Athenaeum is open to visitors] Factory, home of artist studios, galleries and archae- 207 Prince, adjacent to the Athenaeum, the residence of ology exhibits. Views along the waterfront extend Robert Adam, merchant, miller, member of the north to the United States Capitol in the District of Committee of Safety during the American Revo- Columbia and south to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. lution, and a member who signed the congregation’s The complex of facilities that once lined the water- 1786 incorporation papers. In the nineteenth century, front served as the heart of the local economy for it served as the residence of Lewis McKenzie. more than a century and included businesses to 209 and 211 Prince, residences of Dr. Elisha Cullen process and store imported and exported goods and to support the shipping industry. Dick at different times. He was a member, who early in life trained for the Presbyterian ministry with the TURN LEFT onto KING STREET, away from the Rev. Isaac Stockton Keith before turning to river to view two blocks lined with commercial estab- medicine. He cared for George Washington with Dr. lishments and residences that date from the 18th and James Craik during Washington’s final days. 19th centuries – more than a dozen congregation 213 Prince, residence of John C. Vowell, merchant, members owned properties here. member of the Church Committee during the first 117 King Street, was the business establishment of half of the 19th century and elder in the Presbyterian Anthony C. Cazenove, and one of the many comer- Church. cial structures owned by members near the water- 317 and 319 Prince, former (1855) and current (1917) front. He was an exporter-importer, consular agent firehouses of the Relief Fire Engine Company (now for several countries, and elder in the Presbyterian Alexandria Fire Station #201). From the company’s Church for more than three decades. founding in 1794 to the mid-1830s, its engines were On Lee Street, in the second block north of King was the housed on the north side of the Meeting House Jamieson Steam Bakery, operated by Andrew churchyard. Many members served as volunteers in Jamieson (now residences). Established in 1785, the this historic company. [Friendship Fire Company, bakery was famous for its Jamieson Crackers and at 107 South Alfred Street, is open as a museum] operated into the 20th century. Rev. Muir regularly RETRACE STEPS on PRINCE STREET and sent these crackers to relatives in Bermuda.