Taylor Run in Alexandria, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
A Chinquapin House
Alexandria Heritage Trail
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 31, 2020
Built in 1941 for World War II workers at the Torpedo Factory on the Potomac River in Alexandria, the Chinquapin Village War Housing Project was designed with a series of courts radiating from the circular road present today. Four to six duplexes were arranged around each court for a total of 150 duplexes. The small, frame buildings became known as Chinquapin Houses. Each family had a semi-detached house with living room, kitchen, bath and one, two or three bedrooms. Brice Warthen grew up in the village where "You had very good neighbors because everybody, everybody worked in the same place... It was a very friendly place to live."
The remains of one of the of the houses in Chinquapin Village can still be seen near here. Mildred Massa, World War II resident, described the houses as "very plain,just temporary; they were built, but not sturdy." A central feature of the interiors was a heater. Jerry Sare remembered, "The heaters of the houses were right in the middle of the floor between the bathroom, bedroom, and living room. There was a register in the floor, and you could see the fire. They were always breaking down. The houses were very cool, very drafty..."
Erected by City of Alexandria, Virginia.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Virginia, The City of Alexandria series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1941.
Location. 38° 49.317′ N, 77° 4.901′ W. Marker has been reported damaged. Marker is in Alexandria, Virginia. It is in Taylor Run. Marker is on Chinquapin Drive, 0.2 miles south of King Street (Virginia Route 7), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3127 King St, Alexandria VA 22302, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. Fun in the Forest (within shouting distance of this marker); Mills and Molassas (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Life of a Creek (about 600 feet away); Chinquapin Trek (about 700 feet away); Original Federal Boundary Stone, District of Columbia, Southwest 3 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Listen for Chipmunks (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Native American Village (approx. 0.3 miles away); This Flag Flies (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alexandria.
More about this marker.
[Captions:]
Brice
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 31, 2020
Brice Warthen
The houses were designed in an open circle with a central playground. Brice Warthen remembered a neighborhood without fences, "We all had the same yard."
Sanborn Map Company, New York, 1941
This original Chinquapin House was purchased for $1 and moved to Culpepper, Virginia, before the village was dismantled in the 1960s.
Photograph by DAve Chisman,
Friends of Alexandria Archaeology
Credits. This page was last revised on January 29, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 31, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 545 times since then and 65 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 31, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.