Within the past several weeks, contractors have discovered more artifacts that will be useful in dating the Krasnow house off Pickett Road. However, the age of the house has yet to be determined.
Archeologists and historians will look at the artifacts, as well as tax records, deeds and maps to determine the house's age. They will also perform a dendrochronology test, which dates the house's wood timbers through tree ring-growth analysis. The results will be compared with other growth in the area.
These tests will hopefully determine if this house is the oldest building in the City of Fairfax. That honor currently belongs to the Ratcliffe House on Main Street, which was built in 1812.
"We still need to look at other methods to continue the analysis," said Christopher Martin, Fairfax's director of historic resources.
As contractors were dismantling the house, they uncovered a Civil War button jammed in the attic door. They also found an early 20th century jug in the yard.
"When it rains, more pieces show up," said Tom Bullock of Bull's Eye Contracting and Restoration.
Other artifacts include a musket sling hook, a Civil War penny, the end of a pewter spoon, small pieces of Native American tools and an arrowhead. When contractors were taking apart the bathroom, they also found a newspaper from the 1850s pasted onto the bathroom wall.
MARTIN SAYS that the preservation of the three properties — the Mackall house, the Krasnow house and the Krasnow barn — couldn't have been possible without a team effort. The city oversees the preservation process and the contractors hired, whether archeologists or excavators, ensure that the process runs smoothly.
Historic Fairfax Inc. also advocates for preservation to the city and developer.
The Krasnow house "should be preserved for the architecture," said Pat Pflugshaupt, Historic Fairfax Inc. president. "It could be reassembled and put to use as an historic building."
Additionally, the developer of the property helped in the preservation effort, by opting to preserve buildings like the Mackall house. Developer John Cowles proffered $50,000 for the preservation of the barn, with some of that money going toward the dismantling of the house. He also gave time for Martin and the city to examine the house more closely and dismantle it.
"He was very agreeable to the preservation effort," said Martin of Cowles.
Cowles said the decision to offer the $50,000 proffer was due to negotiations with the city and civic interest and reactions to the buildings and their historic value.
"Recognizing all of that, we agreed to make the proper contribution," said Cowles, president of the developing firm JCE, Inc., and owner and manager of the building firm Courtland Homes.
After the house is dismantled, it will remain in a trailer bed until it can be reassembled again. The land will start development in 30 days, with house construction being late this year or in early 2003. The new development, named Picketts Reserve, with have 88 single-family homes with prices starting from the low $700,000s.
Martin said that the city hopes to find a partner who can reassemble the house. The barn may go to the Blenheim grounds, Martin said, but the house still needs a home.
"The city would like to find a sponsor and location for the re-erection of the house," Martin said.