Staring at this quaint farmhouse, can you believe the Ball-Sellers House is Arlington County’s oldest structure? Let’s step back in time and uncover its story. The Ball-Sellers House is more than just an old building. It is a window into the lives of ordinary people in the 1700s.
In the mid-18th century, John Ball built a one-room log cabin here. He was a yeoman farmer seeking a simple life for his family. Imagine John Ball felling trees. Picture him hewing logs to create his home. He notched the logs carefully and filled the cracks with mud. This mud daubing kept out the harsh weather.
John Ball obtained a 166-acre land grant in 1742. Lord Fairfax granted him this land along Four Mile Run. John lived in the cabin with his wife Elizabeth and their five daughters. Their life was simple. An inventory of John’s estate shows they lived in a sparsely furnished dwelling. They farmed wheat and corn. They also kept sheep cows pigs and bees. John Ball also ran a mill on Four Mile Run. Part of his millstones are on display today.
After John Ball died in 1766, William Carlin purchased the house. William Carlin was an Alexandria tailor. Interestingly he included George Washington among his clients. Three generations of the Carlin family owned the property for over 100 years. The third generation Andrew and Anne ran a dairy farm. They also added the two-story addition in 1885. The Carlins also owned Carlin Springs. It was a popular spot with a restaurant health springs and picnic grounds.
In 1887 the Carlins sold the property. The land was then subdivided into Glencarlyn. It is the oldest subdivision in Arlington. The Ball-Sellers House has served many purposes. It was a school a summer cottage and a home. Marian Rhinehart Sellers the last owner donated the house in 1975. She gave it to the Arlington Historical Society to preserve it.
The National Park Service listed the Ball-Sellers House on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The Arlington County Board designated it a local historic district in 1978. The Arlington Historical Society owns and operates the Ball-Sellers House today. You can visit on Saturdays from April through October. Knowledgeable docents offer free guided tours. They share stories of its construction owners and place in history. The house has no electricity or air conditioning.
Look closely at the original logs. Notice the mud daubing and wide plank floors. The oak clapboard roof is very rare. It is one of only a few preserved in the nation. Stand here and appreciate the simple life of John Ball and his family. Consider William Carlin tailoring clothes for George Washington. Envision the Carlin family enjoying their springs. The Ball-Sellers House connects us to the past. It reminds us of the ordinary people who shaped Arlington County.
Marian Sellers ensured its preservation for future generations. The Ball-Sellers House stands as a testament to their lives and legacies.