Old Annandale farmhouse is for sale, but owners won’t sell to a developer
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| There are many 100-year-old boxwoods around the house. |
If you’d like to live in the country but don’t want to give up the
convenience of being close to the city, Boxhill Farm is the place for you. It’s
a restored farmhouse on seven acres of land in Annandale just outside the
beltway, and it’s for sale for $1.195 million.
convenience of being close to the city, Boxhill Farm is the place for you. It’s
a restored farmhouse on seven acres of land in Annandale just outside the
beltway, and it’s for sale for $1.195 million.
“We don’t want to sell to a developer. We’re looking for the next
steward of the property,” says Nell Miller, who owns the house with her
husband, Ron.
steward of the property,” says Nell Miller, who owns the house with her
husband, Ron.
The house has four bedrooms, two and half bathrooms, living room,
family room, sun room facing Wakefield Park, two fireplaces, large-walk-in
closets next to the master bedroom, and a butler’s pantry. Outside, there’s a
tennis court, large shed, and a pond. The house, totally hidden from the
street, is down a path from a cul de sac at the end of Queen Elizabeth Road.
family room, sun room facing Wakefield Park, two fireplaces, large-walk-in
closets next to the master bedroom, and a butler’s pantry. Outside, there’s a
tennis court, large shed, and a pond. The house, totally hidden from the
street, is down a path from a cul de sac at the end of Queen Elizabeth Road.
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| The back of the house. |
Boxhill Farm was built in 1896 by Frederick Segessenman, an immigrant
from Switzerland who was a professional florist and landscaper.
Ron describes Boxhill Farm as a great example of a “blue collar
farmhouse.” When it was built, it was a two-story house with just four rooms
and no indoor bathroom or kitchen. The
original part of the house still has the original wood floors and wainscoting. There’s
an 1890 Seth Thomas clock on the mantelpiece in the family room that the
Millers think might have belonged to the original owners.
farmhouse.” When it was built, it was a two-story house with just four rooms
and no indoor bathroom or kitchen. The
original part of the house still has the original wood floors and wainscoting. There’s
an 1890 Seth Thomas clock on the mantelpiece in the family room that the
Millers think might have belonged to the original owners.
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| The Millers in the kitchen. |
After the Segessenmans sold the
property in 1947, the house had just three owners before the Millers purchased
it in 1999. One of the former owners ran a business there, Boxhill Farm
Antiques. The Millers bought the property from Dr. Russell Seneca, the chief
surgeon of Fairfax Hospital, who expanded and renovated the house.
property in 1947, the house had just three owners before the Millers purchased
it in 1999. One of the former owners ran a business there, Boxhill Farm
Antiques. The Millers bought the property from Dr. Russell Seneca, the chief
surgeon of Fairfax Hospital, who expanded and renovated the house.
The Millers had lived in the Wakefield Chapel neighborhood for 25 years
when they discovered Boxhill Farm. “I had always wanted an old farmhouse. When
we came across this house, we fell in love with it,” Nell says.
when they discovered Boxhill Farm. “I had always wanted an old farmhouse. When
we came across this house, we fell in love with it,” Nell says.
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| The pond in the backyard. |
“Living here is like living in a combination park, arboretum, nature
preserve, historic home, and haven in the midst of the hustle and bustle of
Northern Virginia,” says Nell. “It really is a sanctuary,” adds Ron. “When you come home from work and
turn into the gate, it’s like turning off the rest of the world.”
preserve, historic home, and haven in the midst of the hustle and bustle of
Northern Virginia,” says Nell. “It really is a sanctuary,” adds Ron. “When you come home from work and
turn into the gate, it’s like turning off the rest of the world.”
The bedroom has a view of the backyard lawn with the tree-lined Accotink
Creek at the edge of the property. Ron says he counted as many as 230 geese at the pond at one time
and has seen otter in the creek, along with red foxes, turtles, herons, egrets,
woodchucks, and, of course, plenty of deer.
Creek at the edge of the property. Ron says he counted as many as 230 geese at the pond at one time
and has seen otter in the creek, along with red foxes, turtles, herons, egrets,
woodchucks, and, of course, plenty of deer.
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| The sunroom. |
According to Ron, there are some
boxwoods and non-native trees—Norwegian spruce, black walnut, white pine, and
pagoda trees—that are at least 100 years old, which he thinks
might have been planted by Segessenman. About half of the land is a flood plain, so it can’t be developed
under current law. At one point, the Park Authority was considering purchasing
it, but couldn’t afford it, he says.
boxwoods and non-native trees—Norwegian spruce, black walnut, white pine, and
pagoda trees—that are at least 100 years old, which he thinks
might have been planted by Segessenman. About half of the land is a flood plain, so it can’t be developed
under current law. At one point, the Park Authority was considering purchasing
it, but couldn’t afford it, he says.
Ron calls the Boxhill Farm“a wonderful surviving example of
life in 19th century Fairfax County,” and has done a lot of research to see if it could be
designated a historic site. He found it would have to have been the residence of a
person of “historic quality,” have been the site of a historic event, or have a
“highly unusual character.”
life in 19th century Fairfax County,” and has done a lot of research to see if it could be
designated a historic site. He found it would have to have been the residence of a
person of “historic quality,” have been the site of a historic event, or have a
“highly unusual character.”
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| The master bedroom overlooks the park. |
He thinks Segessenman should qualify as “a person of historic
significance,” so there’s a possibility the house could qualify as a historic
site at some point. Segessenman did the landscaping for Ravensworth Mansion, which was located at what is now Ravensworth Shopping
Center, as well as nearby Oak Hill, the oldest house in Annandale, and the
historic house at Green Springs.
significance,” so there’s a possibility the house could qualify as a historic
site at some point. Segessenman did the landscaping for Ravensworth Mansion, which was located at what is now Ravensworth Shopping
Center, as well as nearby Oak Hill, the oldest house in Annandale, and the
historic house at Green Springs.
There’s also a legend that “Braddock’s gold” could be buried somewhere
on the property, although a search with a metal detector didn’t lead to any
lost treasure.
on the property, although a search with a metal detector didn’t lead to any
lost treasure.
According to the legend, English General Edward Braddock was leading
his troops through Virginia in 1775 on the way to attack the French at Fort Duquesne
(what is now Pittsburgh). They were carrying lots of artillery and gold to buy
supplies, but it was rough going on the muddy roads, so he decided to bury two
cannons filled with gold coins and collect them later. He died in the battle,
and the location of the gold was lost.
his troops through Virginia in 1775 on the way to attack the French at Fort Duquesne
(what is now Pittsburgh). They were carrying lots of artillery and gold to buy
supplies, but it was rough going on the muddy roads, so he decided to bury two
cannons filled with gold coins and collect them later. He died in the battle,
and the location of the gold was lost.
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| The dining room and stairway are part of the original house. |
The Millers paid $875,000 for the house and spent about $500,000 in
improvements and maintenance. Among other things, they redid the kitchen,
finished the basement, and put in a new HVAC system.
improvements and maintenance. Among other things, they redid the kitchen,
finished the basement, and put in a new HVAC system.
They’re selling Boxhill Farm because they’ve both retired—Nell was a
special education teacher at Woodson High School and Ron is the co-owner of
Twin Construction Co.—and are moving to their other home in the Shenandoah
Valley where they are developing a winery.
special education teacher at Woodson High School and Ron is the co-owner of
Twin Construction Co.—and are moving to their other home in the Shenandoah
Valley where they are developing a winery.
To prospective buyers, Nell says, “you’re not just buying a house;
you’re buying a lifestyle.” If they can’t sell it, the Millers say they will
hold onto it. “We won’t sell it to anyone who wants to subdivide,” Ron says.
“We took it on. We feel it’s important to be stewards,” adds Nell.
you’re buying a lifestyle.” If they can’t sell it, the Millers say they will
hold onto it. “We won’t sell it to anyone who wants to subdivide,” Ron says.
“We took it on. We feel it’s important to be stewards,” adds Nell.
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| Boxhill Farm is like a country retreat in the midst of suburbia. |
Thank you, Millers, for your attitude of stewardship. I hope you find the right buyer, one who cares as much as you do about taking care of the land and house.
If I had the money I would love to live here. I would never leave my house. How beautiful!!!
Just gorgeous! Thanks for posting this article so others can learn about such a treasure.
Oh my! I would love living there. How lucky the buyer would be. That's a great treasure indeed.
walked through the house today.
beautiful lot, very nicely landscaped. the house itself is very charming with lots of old-farmhouse elements. the modernized kitchen is very nice, as is the living room and sunroom, but the bedrooms are very small, and the 'finished basement' is just a storage area. the open view to the back of the lot is quite stunning, but about 2/3s of the land itself is in a flood plain and can't be built on (so the current owner's reluctance to sell to developers is probably moot.)
Was there a Besley Farm in this area back in 1960s? Been trying to find it.