5 months ago
HERNDON, Va. (WUSA) Construction crews develop property just feet away from a home dating back to 1824. It's listed on the National Register of Historic houses, but that doesn't protect it from being torn down.
"You can't change the look of the property, but you can demolish it," says Dave Meiselman who lives in the home with his wife Win.
The house, called Merrybrook, is right on Centreville Road in Herndon hidden behind trees. It was the home of Laura Radcliffe, a confederate spy. She was very friendly with General JEB Stuart and with Col. John Singleton Mosby, known as "The Grey Ghost."
Some Union soldiers told Radcliffe of an impending ambush on Mosby. It was a snowy, February night and Radcliffe trudged through wet, cold weather to warn her friend. Mosby moved his men and were safe.
The Meiselmans think a home with that kind of history should be saved right where it was built.
The Meiselmans owned the property for 40 years, but sold it two years ago believing the home would be preserved. But now, the Charitable Trust that owns it is apparently not interested in saving it. And a letter from the Fairfax County Part Authority to the Meiselmans says it doesn't have the resources to preserve it and doesn't see a 'feasible use' for the home.
The home still has it's original plaster, rooms, a few windows, and heart-of-pine floor boards.
Win Meiselman says that's a tragedy, "if you have something this special, how can you replace it? Impossible."
Written by Peggy Fox9NEWS NOW & wusa9.com
