Built 1806; 1942 VLR # 096-0022 Designated VLR February 20, 1973 Area 7.284 km² Added to NRHP 11 November 1971 | NRHP Reference # 71000991 Designated NHL November 11, 1971 Opened 1942 Architectural style Georgian architecture | |
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Location On Sandy Point Neck, off VA 749, Westmoreland, Virginia Similar Ellen Glasgow House, Willa Cather Birthplace, Jerdone Castle, Willow Shade, Elk Hill | ||
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Spence's Point is a historic estate on the Potomac River near Westmoreland, Virginia. Also known as theJohn R. Dos Passos Farm, it was the home of writer John Dos Passos (1896-1970) for the last 25 years of his life. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1971.
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233 spence s point lexington sc 29072
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 down a long drive from the highway is the main house of the 1,800-acre (730 ha) estate. It is a modest 2-1/2 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. 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. After he achieved prominence as one of the most influential writers of his generation, Dos Passos in 1942 purchased a portion of the original property, and restored the c. 1806 brick farmhouse that stood there. 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.