Imagine orchards stretching as far as the eye could see. This was once the scene where Dominion Hills Historic District now stands.
Welcome to Dominion Hills Historic District. It’s a special place in Arlington County Virginia. Dominion Hills wasn’t always the peaceful residential area it is today. Its history stretches back to precolonial times. English explorers met Algonquian tribes here in the 1600s. Some say Powhatan Confederacy members gathered at Powhatan Springs. This spring is now part of the Dominion Hills Area Recreation Association.
Fast forward to the Civil War. Union troops occupied Arlington. Upton’s Hill became a key location. Its height offered views for miles. Confederate soldiers built fortifications there in 1861. Union troops later used it as an observation point. They relayed messages using signal flags.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, orchards thrived here. Much of the land was used for grazing cows. The Reeves dairy farm was nearby. The Four Mile Run underpass at Wilson was built for these cows. It allowed them to move between pastures. The Washington and Old Dominion Railroad also passed through. It followed Four Mile Run.
World War II brought changes. Developers bought and divided the land. Mace Properties built the first parts of Dominion Hills. This happened between 1945 and 1955. Merwin A. “John” Mace named the subdivision Dominion Hills. The Dominion Hills Civic Association formed in 1950. By 1951, the community had 420 homes. Mace Properties provided land for recreation. This land became Dominion Hills Park. It was also known as Mace Park.
Dominion Hills is known for its Colonial Revival style homes. These two-story dwellings were built between 1945 and 1948. The neighborhood was designed for working and middle-income residents.
Two development companies worked together. They used repetition in style and materials. This created a cohesive suburban feel. Dominion Hills stands out in Arlington County. It displays a singular architectural style.
The land where Dominion Hills now sits has a rich past. Nicholas Febrey owned the property in the mid-1800s. He acquired it from Rebecca Upton. Her family estate at Uptons Hill was a Civil War fortification. Febrey’s land was fertile farmland. His son John built a house there around 1855.
Alvin Lothrop bought the estate in 1898. He was a founder of Woodward and Lothrop department store. Lothrop renovated the house and used the property as a farm and summer home. The Lothrop family kept the property until about 1950. Developer Randolph D. Rouse then bought it. He used 50 acres to develop more of Dominion Hills.
Interestingly, Warren Beatty and Shirley MacLaine lived here. They resided with their family on North Liberty Street in the 1950s. They both became famous actors.
Dominion Hills has seen considerable change. The construction of I-66 and the Metrorail Orange Line enhanced its location. This led to a rise in property values. The neighborhood has experienced a resurgence of community spirit.
Though the Febrey-Lothrop-Rouse House is gone it reminds us. Dominion Hills blends history community and architectural charm. Dominion Hills is a testament to Arlington’s evolving story.