The 184-year sojourn of the Carlby estate in its original rural Sussex County, Virginia home is officially over. The 1762 farmhouse, which sat untouched on its original foundation until 1946, has been dismantled, reassembled on a Potomac Riverfront in Alexandria, and is now up for grabs at $3.799 million. It's a rare piece of American architectural history, and the sale marks the end of an 80-year family dynasty.
Carl W. Porter, a retired Navy captain and former Fairfax County public works director, didn't just buy the Mitchell House. He saved it.
In 1946, Porter orchestrated a meticulous relocation, taking the structure apart piece by piece. Workers labeled every timber before trucking the materials north to a 2.18-acre waterfront plot that was once part of George Washington's Mount Vernon estate. Porter and his wife Beatrice then rebuilt the home, naming it "Carlby" in honor of the patriarch. The house has remained in the Porter family ever since, passing through three generations without a single transaction.
The interior is a time capsule. Wide-plank pine floors, 12-foot ceilings, and original wood paneling painted in period colors define the space. A 1976 study by historian Barbara Spann for the Fairfax County History Commission even identified Carlby as the boyhood home of General Winfield Scott, a military figure who served in the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, and the Civil War. The only major deviation from the 1762 design is the kitchen, renovated by the second generation of Porters in the 1990s.
TTR Sotheby’s International Realty agents Andrea Courduvelis and Diane G. Murphy listed the property. Courduvelis told Realtor.com that the house was designed for water access, with the original primary entrance at the rear. "From today's front door, you can see straight through the house to the Potomac River," she said. The property includes 151 feet of riverfront, a private pier, and a historic smokehouse. The sale is currently contingent, meaning a buyer has stepped forward. This marks the first time the historic home has changed hands since its dramatic 1946 move.
The next step is the closing of the escrow. The buyer will take possession of the 2,992-square-foot estate, ending the Porter family's stewardship of the Mitchell House. The property will now become part of the broader Alexandria real estate market, carrying with it the weight of nearly 260 years of history.