l,
Was Ben Dulany of Shooter's Hill.[152]

[Illustration: The front bedroom, Dulany House]

On August 5, 1779, the executor of John Alexander, William Thornton
Alexander, granted by deed to David Arrell the tract of land located at
the northwest corner of Duke and St. Asaph Streets, which held an annual
ground rent of L14 10_s._ On September 6, 1783, David Arrell of
Alexandria and Fairfax County in the Dominion of Virginia, sold this
same lot on Duke and St. Asaph Streets for L50 to Benjamin Dulany of the
same place, charged with an annual ground rent of L14 10_s._, payable on
the fifth of August forever. Very shortly thereafter the house now known
as 601 Duke Street was completed for a town residence. During some
recent repairs letters and bills for purchases made by Mrs. Dulany were
found under a partition, bearing dates from 1785 to 1796. Two of these
are quoted:[153]

Mrs. Delasia Balto. 24 Feby 1793
For Mrs. Dulaney Bo^t of George Wily
1 pair of sattin shoes 16/8 L 16. 8
1 p^c Roses 22d 1. 1. 18
----------
Rec^d payment L 1. 18. 6

Benjamin Dulany Esq. * * * GEORGE WILY
Bo^t of Bennett & Watts
1 pr Slippers 9/--3-1/2 yds Lute string @ 10/ L 2. 4.
Alex^a May 25^th 1796

Probably the best example of Georgian architecture in Alexandria, the
plan of the house is common to this town. Two-storied, dormer-windowed,
detached brick, the house faces south with a large garden to the left
taking up half a square.

A hall runs the length of the house. Two large parlors, one behind the
other, on the right, open into the hall. The dining room, in an ell at
the rear, is entered from the hall by a small flight of steps leading to
a lower level. The long, narrow, low-pitched room has an off-center
fireplace and is papered at both ends in old wallpaper of Chinese
design. When seen from the front doorway, the room presents an
unexpected and charming view. This wing was added after 1800, probably
1810. A very nice tradition exists about the building of this wing.
Robert I. Taylor bought the house from the Dulanys in 1810. He was a
vestryman of St. Paul's Church and very much interested in its
construction. Benjamin H. Latrobe was the architect for the church and
it is believed that he designed the wing connecting the kitchen with the