Bush Hill

Caption: Rear facade of Bush Hill

Original Source: Historic American Buildings Survey

Location: Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress), HABS VA,30-BUSHI,1-1

URL: http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/va/va0400/va0440/photos/161303pr.jpg

Description

by Katherine Raney

Bush Hill was constructed in Alexandria by a prominent landowner, Josiah Watson, in 1785. The main house was two and a half stories tall with a wing, and laid in Flemish bond. It had 16 large rooms, complete with the original wood and brickwork. Bush Hill was also supported by its own candlemakers, shoemakers and supplied its own ice from the estate’s pond. A 1858 ad appearing in the Alexandria Gazette describes the Bush Hill estate as also containing “a frame granery, log corn house, cow and sheep shelters, overseers houses, negro quarters, dairy, blacksmith shop, ice house, and smoke house.”

World War II Role

The home was prominent in several wars, appearing on Civil War maps as a Union stronghold. During World War II, the home accommodated Ernst Hanfstaengl. Hanfstaengl was one of Adolf Hitler’s aides, known for his piano-playing skills but also his ability to identify Hitler’s voice, or that of an imposter. Franklin Roosevelt reportedly wanted to keep Hanfstaengl close to Washington as to use any intelligence he could offer about Hitler.

Bush Hill was destroyed by arsonists in 1977, its wartime role mostly forgotten. Several homes around the metropolitan area housed foreign dignitaries during the war but Bush Hill was the resident of a defector, and an important one at that. However, once World War II ended, Hanfstaengl’s importance to the administration decreased dramatically and thus, Bush Hill’s bout with national prominence ended. The war was a temporary endeavor and thus many buildings and sites received temporary importance, only to be lost when victory was declared or shortly thereafter.

Sources

Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress. 1933.