Two weathered stone columns stand sentinel. They are all that remains of Bay-Eva Castle. A grand mansion it once was. Built in 1938 by Dr J Bay Jacobs and his wife Eva. It stood proudly overlooking the Potomac River near Rosslyn.
Bay-Eva Castle was more than just a home. It was a testament to the couple’s success. Dr Jacobs a prominent obstetrician. Eva Jacobs a respected community member and author. The castle reflected their wealth and prestige. Imagine a 9200 square foot stone mansion. It boasted an indoor fish pond a 35-foot turret and a wrought-iron spiral staircase. The floors were made of oak boards shaped like bow ties. Century-old European antiques filled its rooms. White marble benches and bronze busts added to its elegance.
The Jacobs lived in their opulent castle for four decades. They became increasingly reclusive as they aged. Their son attributed this to a fear of burglary. After Eva’s death in 1979 and Dr Jacobs’ death in 1988 the castle changed hands. It was deeded to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The college later sold it to a developer.
Then something unexpected happened. Bay-Eva Castle became a rental property. A group of recent college graduates moved in. They paid a mere $1000 a month for the entire castle. They transformed it into the ultimate party house. They saw it as a magical place filled with character quirkiness and intrigue.
But the old castle was falling apart. The developer went bankrupt. The property was foreclosed on. The party was over. The tenants moved out. In November 1994 Bay-Eva Castle was demolished. A gruesome discovery was made during the demolition. The remains of a fetus were found in the castle’s coal chute. It was likely one of the stillborn babies Dr Jacobs preserved for teaching purposes. No charges were filed.
Today only those two columns remain. They are a haunting reminder of Bay-Eva Castle. A reminder of a grand mansion its wealthy owners its party-filled years and its tragic end. They whisper stories of opulence reclusiveness and a macabre secret. The legacy of Bay-Eva Castle lives on in the whispers of the wind among these two stone columns.