Acquiring the Land
The Westgrove subdivision land was previously owned by Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania (see Early History, Bucknell University). As early as 1912, Bucknell University began purchasing land south of Hunting Creek in Fairfax County such that by 21 December 1929, the University owed 21,031 acres. After World War II, Bucknell University decided to sell the land, creating the Bucknell Syndicate, Inc. Part of the land they sold would later become the Westgrove subdivision.
The Westgrove community sits on approximately 62 acres, adjacent to the George Washington Parkway on its eastern border; Fairfax County’s Westgrove Dog Park and the U.S. Park Service’s Dyke Marsh to the north; the Villamay subdivision to the south, and Marlan Forest subdivision and Fort Hunt Road to the west. Two parcels of land were purchased from the Bucknell Syndicate to form the Westgrove community.
Westgrove’s Land
On 1 March 1949, Clarence W. Gosnell, Inc. placed an option with the Bucknell Syndicate for 55.958 acres called Section Three, Bucknell Manor for the sum of $92,504.30. The final sale took place on 3 February 1949 (Fairfax County Deed Book 1044, page 335). The property was surveyed, with utility easements, and rights-of-way; and a plat created and approved by Fairfax County on 25 August 1952.
Westgrove’s 1st Addition
The purchase and approval of the portion of the subdivision called Westgrove 1 st Addition started earlier, was complex, and took longer to gain the necessary approvals – almost 10 years! The Bucknell Syndicate sold 7.349 acres to the Monroe Development Corporation and Clarence W. Gosnell, Inc. on 20 August 1947. This land includes homes on Wake Forest Drive, previoously named Stephens Drive, and homes on the northern ends of Clemson Drive, Baylor Drive, and Andover Drive, as seen to the right.
Extensive negotiations were required between Bucknell Syndicate, the buyers, the U.S. Government representing Dyke Marsh, which abutted part of the land; representatives for a land tract from the adjacent Jameson Cotting’s farm; and Fairfax County, owner of the sewer treatment land next to the property. On 28 May 1954 the deed of subdivision and dedication was signed creating the Subdivision of Westgrove and detailing the conditions and restrictions construed as covenants that are in place today (Fairfax County Deed Book 1180, page 518). Easements took years to resolve, including a culvert for storm water runoff at 1302 Wake Forest Drive tied into the pumping station that remains at the sewer treatment plant, and specifications for the property abutting Dyke March, all of which was not approved until 16 August 1957, resulting in the Westgrove we know today.
Westgrove Subdivision
There is a lot more detail about the easements and negotiations that underpin the creation of the Westgrove Subdivision. For more information about researching Fairfax County Land Records and Deeds, contact the Land Records Division at 703-691-7320 (press 3, then 4). The Records Research Room is open to the public from 8 until 4:30, Monday through Friday. Records are not accessible on-line.
