Owners, part 1

Lord Fairfax of Cameron

We have learned from our research into the age of the house that we are complete slouches, and have big shoes to fill. In the first 20 years of its existence, LJH was occupied by some of the city’s most prominent citizens and leaders. While we have traced the land ownership all the way back to Lord Fairfax, it was Cyrus Osborn who first had a use for the land as part of his property and orchard. Osborn sold his farm after the Civil War to Isaac Crossman, after whom Christ Crossman United Methodist Church at Lee and Columbia is named, who subsequently subdivided it.

Wells Forbes, a local farmer and city leader, appears to have constructed the house circa 1873 after buying a 6-acre parcel of Cyrus and Seth Osborn’s farm from Crossman, although on city maps the name of Landin Aldrich is listed as the resident (but not the owner). Mr. Forbes served for 3 years on the Falls Church City Council from 1875-1877, and 1878-1879. He passed away at the age of 68 in the year 1880, that year selling the property as part of what was known as the “Graham Purchase” to William P. Graham and his wife Bettie.

Forbes' grave at Oakwood

Mr. Graham and his wife lived in Larner-Jones house for 8 years, and William was also one of the city’s most involved leaders. In addition to serving as Mayor of the city of Falls Church while he resided in Larner-Jones House, he was a trustee of the Falls Church Cemetery (now Oakwood Cemetery), the incorporator of the Falls Church and Potomac Railway Company, and a vestryman and superintendent of the Sunday school at Columbia Baptist Church (across the street from us).

During their ownership of the property, in 1882, the Grahams subdivided the 6-acre lot and built another house at what is likely now 319 North Maple Avenue, itself a historic Falls Church property. The Grahams sold the lot containing Larner-Jones House to E.F. Crocker and his wife Rosetta in 1887.

While only living briefly in Larner-Jones House for a year, E.F. Crocker also put his stamp on the community. From serving on the City Council in 1876, to acting as Town Clerk, Town Sergeant, and finally city justice, Mr. Crocker was heavily involved in the city’s affairs. He began his first of two multi-year tenures as Postmaster just around the time he was preparing to sell the property to Samuel S. Luttrell. Mr. Luttrell and his wife were long-time city residents, and Samuel went on to be the Mayor of Falls Church from 1916-1918.