1762 Virginia Farmhouse Relocated to Mount Vernon Estate

A historic 1762 Virginia farmhouse, originally named the Mitchell House in Sussex County, has been relocated and reconstructed on a 2.18-acre property at 4509 Carlby Lane in Alexandria, Virginia. The five-bedroom home, now known as Carlby, measures 2,992 square feet and was recently listed for $3,799,000, with its listing now marked as "contingent." This significant architectural move occurred in 1946 when Carl W. Porter, then Fairfax County's director of public works and a retired Navy captain, purchased the house. Porter meticulously dismantled the structure, labeling each piece before transporting it to waterfront land that was historically part of George Washington's Mount Vernon estate. He and his wife, Beatrice, subsequently renamed the house Carlby. Andrea Courduvelis and Diane G. Murphy of TTR Sotheby's International Realty are representing the property. Courduvelis explained that Porter "took it apart piece by piece, labeled each piece and put it back together on the property it sits on today." The property has remained within the Porter family for three generations. The house, built in 1762, now overlooks the Potomac River. The listing identifies Carlby as the boyhood home of General Winfield Scott, a prominent military figure who served in the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, and the Civil War. This historical attribution is supported by a 1976 study conducted by historian Barbara Spann for the Fairfax County History Commission. Courduvelis highlighted architectural features such as the wide solid-wood staircase, where Scott is said to have inscribed his name. The home's floor plan adheres to the architectural conventions of its period, emphasizing symmetry and a front-to-back construction. Courduvelis noted that the entrance facing away from the river, now considered the rear, was originally the primary point of access, reflecting historical patterns of arrival by water or horseback. From the current front entrance, a direct line of sight extends through the house to the Potomac River. The relocation and reconstruction project represents a substantial effort to preserve and recontextualize a piece of early American architectural history, situating it in proximity to a landmark estate associated with the nation's founding.