Swann-Daingerfield House (Historical Marker)

Here follows the inscription written on this roadside historical marker:

Swann-Daingerfield House
1802

A private residence listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior. Registered as a Virginia Historic Landmark by the Virginia Board of Historic Resources.

Thomas Swann House, 1802-1833. United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, 1821-1823. Thomas Swann, Jr. (born in this house, 1809), lawyer, president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, 19th mayor of Baltimore 1856, 33rd governor of Maryland, 1866, U.S. Representative for Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District.

Henry Daingerfield House, 1833-1899. Successful entrepreneur, landowner and property holder. Director of Marine Insurance Company, board member Bank of the Potomac, councilman for the 3rd Ward of Alexandria, founder of Springfield, Virginia. Owner of Daingerfield Island, close friend of Robert E. Lee.

St. Mary’s Academy, 1899-1943. Private Catholic preparatory school for young ladies and girls. Run by Sisters of the Holy Cross. Associated with St. Mary’s Church, the oldest Catholic parish in Virginia, founded in 1795.

Carter Hall, 1943-1976, (Alexandria Hospital School of Nursing). Renamed school “Carter Hall” in honor of Fanny Carter, Director of Nursing (1916-1930). Trained nurses for World War II in U.S. Nurse Cadet Program. First nursing school in Virginia to accept male nursing students, 1958.

712 Prince Street. 1802 house restored in 1976 by Mr. & Mrs. Hugh E. Witt to original single family residence.


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An older historical marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. It read:

Built in 1802 by Thomas Swann
Purchased in 1832 by Henry Daingerfield and enlarged.
St. Mary's Academy 1889 - 1943
Restored in 1978 by Mr. and Mrs. Hugh E. Witt


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Also see . . .
Swann-Dangerfield House Website. Excerpt:
In 1832, Henry Daingerfield, the founder of Springfield, Virginia, a thriving community south of Alexandria, purchased the house and it was where he resided until his death in 1866. Henry Daingerfield, a successful entrepreneur, was a close friend of Robert E. Lee whom he often entertained in the House. An Alexandria City list for 1855 reveals that “Henry Daingerfield was the highest assessed property holder in the community and the owner of stores, warehouses, wharves, a flourishing farm, and a large private residence.”

The Thomas Swann Period 1802-1833
WHO WAS THOMAS SWANN?
There were two: The elder Thomas Swann was United States District Attorney for the District of Columbia from 1821-1823. Interestingly enough, Swann came before Francis Scott Key. The search of the Gazette also revealed that Thomas the father dabbled in real estate. Further searching revealed an ad in the paper from 1810. Swann was looking for Dandridge, his “negro slave.”

The son: Thomas Swann (Jr.)
Thomas Swann (February 3, 1809 – July 24, 1883) was an American politician. Initially a Know-Nothing, and later a Democrat, he served as mayor of Baltimore (1856–1860), as the 33rd Governor of Maryland (1866–1869), and as U.S. Representative from Maryland’s 3rd congressional district and then 4th congressional district (1869–1879).

Thomas Swann took the oath of office on January 11 1865, however he did not actually assume the governors office until January 10th 1866.

Around 1802, Thomas Swann, a prominent Alexandria attorney who also served as the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, built a two-story house at the southeast corner of Prince and South Columbus streets. The brick home was built in the Federal style popular at that time.

Henry Daingerfield Period 1833-1898
Who Was Henry Daingerfield?
Henry Daingerfield was born into the prominent family of Bathurst and Eliza (Kay) Daingerfield in Alexandria, VA. He became a successful entrepreneur and business owner, starting as early as age 17 in the import/export business with his brothers John and Edward.

Henry married three times and fathered seven children.

With Susan J. B. Sewall (1803-1837), whom he married on October 21, 1823, there were four children:

Susan Sewall Daingerfield (c. 1828-1886), married John S. Barbour
Ellen C. Daingerfield (c. 1831-1912)
Mary Bathurst Daingerfield, died in infancy
Robert Daingerfield, died in infancy

The second marriage in November 1838 to Rosalie Taylor (1811-1841) was childless.
The third marriage (December 9, 1847) to Eliza Ridgley Johnson (1825-1897) bore three children:

Henry Daingerfield, Jr. (1850-1894), married Virginia Peyton Key (1853-1926)
Reverdy Daingerfield (1852-1896), married Effie Nicholson (1852-?)
Lorenzo Lewis Daingerfield, died in childhood

Summarizing Daingerfield’s business achievements, Harold Hurst states: “The city tax list for 1855 discloses that Henry Daingerfield was the highest assessed property holder in the community and the owner of stores, warehouses, wharves, a large private residence, a flourishing farm, and personal property whose total value exceeded $130,000.”1

Henry’s connections and success earned him positions on several company boards of directors. Two especially fitted his apparent interests in transportation and land investment. He was a member of the commission that planned the 7-mile canal between Alexandria, VA and Georgetown, D.C. The canal passed adjacent to property he owned, which still bears his name, Daingerfield Island on the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport.

Appointment to the Board of Directors of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad in May 1849 almost certainly motivated Daingerfield’s interest in purchasing the two Ravensworth parcels he acquired. Both parcels lay in the path of the railroad right of way. Jack Hiller, in his historical essay, “Henry Daingerfield and the Origin of Springfield.” states:

“The pattern of his land acquisitions suggests that Daingerfield was betting land values would increase in direct proportion to the proximity of the tracks. In fact, the majority of landowners permitted tracks to cross their property without charge in the hope that their land values would increase.”

Much of the information in this brief summary was developed from Hiller’s essay. In it he credits Daingerfield as the early founder of the Springfield community, which grew up in one of the two Ravensworth parcels he bought (Parcel 1.2.1) and named “Springfield Farm.” Springfield Station was one of the original stops on the new railroad.

ARCHITECTURAL CHANGES TO THE BUILDING
In 1833, Henry Daingerfield purchased the property for $6,250. A successful importer and shipping merchant, Daingerfield was likely responsible for some of the remodeling that took place over the next 50 years. A third floor and a grand ballroom were added to the original structure, as were a mansard roof and Italianate elements typical of the Victorian period.

St. Mary’s Academy Period 1898-1943
Who Were The Sisters of The Holy Cross?
The Sisters of the Holy Cross arrived in Alexandria just after the Civil War. The first house, on North Fairfax Street, had been a hospital for Union soldiers. At Grant’s request, many of the sisters had served as nurses for both Union and Confederate soldiers and sailors during the war.

St. Mary’s Academy began on Prince Street and by 1870 there were 6 teaching sisters, 4 boarders and 86 elementary and high school students. Its reputation spread and its enrollment grew. In 1913 Mother Vincentia, Eleanor Fannon, was appointed principal of her alma mater. Her success was evidenced by the fact that she cancelled the debt, improved the plant, affiliated with Catholic University, won Virginia accreditation and increased enrollment.

When the Xaverian Brothers’ school closed, St. Mary’s became coed for 5 years. During WWII the government needed the Prince St. property for a nurses’ training center and St. Mary’s moved to Mt. Ida on Russell Road, the former estate of state Senator Floyd King. While the school was being built, the Baptist church across the street invited us to use their building for classes. The land on which the white house and school stood had extended to the Potomac River. It was part of a land grant the king of England had given Captain Joseph Alexander, the city’s founder. Bishop Peter Ireton officiated at its dedication.

In 1964 Bishop Ireton was opened, staffed by Salesian priests. The two schools collaborated when the girls participated in Gar Whaley’s excellent band and wind ensemble and the boys came to St. Mary’s to join Sister Rose Anthony’s choral group. Both schools have a tradition of excellence and have won many awards.

When Connie Southard and Steve Maczynski coached the Organization of American States competition, St. Mary’s won the best delegation every year. Parents were amazed at what they knew about remote places like St. Lucie’s and other South American countries. We were elated with them when they came running up the hill after a competition singing “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina.” They developed an interest in these countries similar to the enthusiasm Ireton students now have for Haiti.

In spite of its proud traditions, with the sisters going into more diversified ministries, and because the building was inadequate for current trends in education and athletics, we closed our doors reluctantly. Once the decision was made, however, everyone at Ireton and St. Mary’s threw themselves into the so-called “merger” with enthusiasm. When we went over to Ireton for joint meetings immediately after school, we weren’t surprised to find that the girls had already beat us over. Father Metzger, Marguerite Scafati and Sr. Anne Mae Golden skillfully facilitated the transition, and we could not have been welcomed with more genuine warmth and enthusiasm by the Ireton community.

The Alexandria Hospital School of Nursing [Alexandria Hospital] 1943-1975
The Alexandria Hospital School of Nursing began on November 1, 1894, when Marjorie Adamson established a small training school at the Alexandria Hospital. It was the fourth school of nursing to be established in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The original two-year program began with two “pupil nurses,” who received their diplomas on December 1, 1896. As a graduate of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in Scotland, Marjorie Adamson was both a physician and a nurse, and her professional background inspired her to establish a school that would promote excellence. The Board of Lady Managers was the governing board of the Hospital and the School and Marjorie Adamson proposed to the Board that the School offer general training for nurses using a curriculum that was the same as that used in the leading training schools in the South.

The Alexandria Hospital School of Nursing quickly established a reputation for excellence, and the course of study included lectures from physicians, and clinical experience in community nursing in the homes of Alexandria residents. In 1911 under the leadership of Naomi Simmons, the School increased the length of training to three years, became affiliated with the Episcopal Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital in Washington D.C., and required graduates to take the State Board examination to obtain licensure. The curriculum covered such subjects as anatomy, symptomatology, EENT, dietetics, materia medica, physiology, hygiene, surgical technique and emergency, obstetrics, gynecology, children’s diseases, anesthetics, urinalysis, bacteriology, massage, and practical nursing.

When an entering student successfully completed the two-month probationary period, she was given a cap to signify acceptance as a student nurse. Upon graduation, the cap was decorated with a black band. In 1916, Fannie Carter, a graduate of George Washington University, became the Superintendent of Nursing and Director of the School, a position she held for 21 years. During her tenure, admission requirements were raised, classes were held for four hours a day, a full-time instructor was hired, and History of Nursing was added to the curriculum. In 1928, an arrangement was made with the University of Virginia Hospital for an affiliation in pediatrics. The School closed from 1933 to 1936 due to financial difficulties incurred as a result of the Depression.

In 1943, Alexandria Hospital received approval to provide training for Cadet Nurses to help during World War II. The program continued until 1945. In 1944 the affiliation in Pediatric Nursing was switched to Children’s Hospital in Washington D.C. and an affiliation in Psychiatric Nursing was established with St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. In 1956 the Medical Nursing Library was established and in 1958 the School received full accreditation from the National League for Nursing. Also in 1958 married students were allowed at the School, and it became the first school in the State of Virginia to admit male nursing students.

Throughout the 1960’s the number of faculty increased, and in 1968, the School of Nursing became a separate department in the Alexandria Hospital organization. In 1974, the entire hospital moved from Duke Street to Seminary Road, student dormitories closed, and the School became a commuter facility.

(After the school closed, 17 boxes of material were sent to the University of Virginia. There’s a guide to the AHSN Collection, including a history of the school, on the Virginia Heritage website.)

The Swann-Daingerfield House was sold to a private developer in 1976 who converted it to a private residence


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2. National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form (PDF). Excerpt:
The Swann-Daingerfield House is a rare example of high-style Second Empire architecture in Alexandria, a city known primarily for its Colonial, Georgian, and Federal architecture, and is therefore locally significant under Criterion C in the area of Architecture. Originally built in 1800 for Thomas Swann, a U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia (1821-1833), the Swann- Daingerfield House next was occupied by three generations of the Daingerfield family, notable Alexandrians who renovated the Federal-style house to include some Greek Revival interior finishes, before commissioning the ca. 1880 remodeling of the exterior to reflect the Second Empire style.

From 1899 until 1941, the property served as the locus of St. Mary’s Academy, a private Catholic secondary school for girls founded in Alexandria by the Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1869. The Sisters were responsible for expanding the house with two large Second Empire-style annexes in 1899 and 1906. Its role as an educational facility continued for three decades from 1943, when the Alexandria Hospital School of Nursing purchased the property and converted it into a dormitory for nurses-in-training.

Given its decades-long history and evolution in service of two notable educational institutions, the Swann-Daingerfield House is also locally significant under Criterion A in the area of Education. The house’s preserved and restored Federal and Greek Revival-style interiors and its Second Empire exterior tell a complex narrative of Alexandria’s built evolution over the span of two centuries. The period of significance, beginning in 1800, the original date of construction, and ending in 1973, when the property ceased operation as a nursing school, encompasses the evolving role of the house within Old Town Alexandria throughout the 19th century and the first three-quarters of the 20th century.