Josiah Watson, a wealthy merchant and postmaster of Alexandria, established his 272-acre plantation, “Bush Hill”, in 1791. Richard Marshall Scott purchased the plantation in 1791; his family stayed here for 200 years. Scott was an attorney, bank president and planter who married three times, due to the death of his first two wives. In 1833, with Scott’s death, his son Richard and Virginia Gunnell moved here and produced wheat, oats, rye, and corn on the plantation. Richard died at age 27 of tuberculosis. Virginia, a northern sympathizer, and two sons shared the house with Union officers during the Civil War while a Massachusetts regiment camped on the land.

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Bush Hill

Retired and apart from the

world’s busy hum,

This rural and

lovely retreat,

By the genius of talent and

taste, has become

To the stranger and

curious, a treat.

’Tis a model, deserving of

copy from all

Who wish’to improve

their estates;

’Tis a spot, where the

spring & the summer

and fall,

Man’s bosom

delighted elates.

Should I search far & wide,

there is not a place

My soul

would prefer to

‘BUSH-HILL’

For Natural charms, and

for many a grace

Conferr’d

by industry and skill.

—Phenix Gazette, November 26, 1825

Marker is on Eisenhower Avenue 0.8 miles east of Metro Road, on the right when traveling east.

Courtesy hmdb.org

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