Model Homes

A total of 15 different home models were built by the Gosnell firm in Westgrove, as you can see noted in the yellow highlighted area in the advertisement below from the Evening Star, February 16, 1957. The models were the Andover, Baylor, Clemson, Colgate, Concord, Dover, Greenbriar, Haddon, Jefferson, Spartan, Stephens, Suffolk, Swarthmore, Tulane, Tulsa, as well as 8 custom-built homes.

The Evening Star ad, 16 February 1957, B-5

The Gosnell firm created brochures to market home sales in the various communities they built.  Fortunately, one of Westgrove’s original owners had a copy of a Westgrove sales brochure which includes drawings, floor plans and a description for 8 home models. Six additional styles that were built in Westgrove were found in a Waynewood brochure, the subdivision the Gosnell firm built after Westgrove . Three of the Waynewood models, the Dover, Haddon, and Suffolk, were built towards the end of Westgrove’s construction in 1957 on Wake Forest Drive.

Newspaper advertisements and articles provided additional information about the various home models, as well as details about four of the five models not included in the Westgrove and Waynewood brochures. There is one model – the Spartan – that is proving something of a mystery. We have not found an image for this model in any brochure or advertisement.

We would like to include more information about the eight custom-built homes and encourage current owners to look at your files for original documents and blueprints you are willing to share.

Please identify your home model by using the Westgrove Home Model Map, and click on its icon or any other and read on to learn more about each of the home models. The information available for each model is shared along its street address in Westgrove, along with pertinent advertisements.

Andover

Though the Andover was not included in the Westgrove sales brochure, it was one of the earliest models built. The information below is provided from newspaper ads, including this one from The Washington Post- Times Herald (1954-1959); Jun 26, 1955; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Washington Post pg. G2.

 Ease of entertaining and step-saving convenience are highlighted in the planning of the Andover. This long, low brick and stone framed home with its almost 70 foot front and six foot sliding doors between the dining room and huge porch, three bedrooms, plus a den, and a fully equipped kitchen between the very large dining room and porch. The centrally located kitchen between the huge porch and very large dining rooms makes for perfect indoor-outdoor living. Six of the rambler model were built, all in 1955.

Baylor

The Baylor model was not included in the Westgrove sales brochure. Nor was any information about it found in newspaper ads for Westgrove. Interestingly, two Baylor models are found in the adjacent subdivision that was originally called Marlan Park, which is located just across Fort Hunt Road. This 48-home subdivision was also built by the Gosnell firm, as was Bucknell Manor. It seems that the Marlan Park name has now been subsumed by the Bucknell Manor subdivision. You can see the reference to the Baylor model in the yellow highlighted portion of this ad for Marlan Park on November 27, 1954 in The Evening Star.

Five Baylor style homes were built from 1954-1958.

Clemson

The Clemson model is featured in the Westgrove sales brochure, as seen below. Five were built from 1956-1957.

Colgate

The Colgate was one of the first homes built in Westgrove. It was a popular model with fifteen built from 1954-1957.

The Washington Post and Times Herald (1954-1959); Jul 10, 1955; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Washington Post pg. G2.

The Colgate is a fine example of the utility, value, and beauty found in all Gosnell homes. It offers four bedrooms and is planned for indoor-outdoor living. The English basement, with fireplace, has French doors leading to the covered patio. Separation of sleeping and living quarters, plus a two-car garage, make this a home designed with you in mind.

Concord

Only one Concord model was built in Westgrove when construction was winding down in 1958. The Concord model was not included in the Westgrove sales brochure or found in any newspaper ad for Westgrove.

However, the Concord model was built in the Gosnell firm’s next subdivision project, Waynewood, which began in 1957. The Concord was added to Waynewood available home styles in June, 1958 as described in the article below.

Here is a 1958 photo of the Concord model in built in Waynewood.

Dover

Two Dover homes were built in 1957 in the First Addition section of Westgrove. This model was not included in the Westgrove brochure, but can be found in the Waynewood brochure where many homes of this model were built.

In fact, the Dover, Suffolk, and Haddon models were all built in Westgrove on Wake Forest in 1957 and were the three models featured in the Waynewood subdivision opening ad in May of 1957. It appears that the Gosnell firm introduced new models at the end of the construction for one subdivision, which would be built in a greater number in the next project.

Greenbriar

The Greenbriar model was featured in the Westgrove sales brochure and proved a popular model with fifteen homes built in this style. Please note the spelling of this model. Various Fairfax County home data base model descriptions spell it this way and ‘Greenbrier.’

As you can see in this newspaper article from 1955, the Greenbriar was the model featured in the discussion about the new Gosnell community at Westgrove.

The Greenbriar was the first home advertised for sale in The Evening Standard on February 19, 1955. Based on the date of this ad, it appears this is the Greenbriar built at 1207 Tulane Dr.

And here is the Greenbriar featured in The Washington-Post-Times Herald ad in July 21, 1956.

Haddon

Six Haddon models were built in the First Addition section of Westgrove in 1957. This model was not included in the Westgrove brochure. Like the Dover and Suffolk models, the Haddon model can be found in the Waynewood brochure, where many of this home model were built.

As you can see in this early ad for Waynewood properties in September 1957, the Haddon was one of three models advertised in the new subdivision. In addition to the description found in the brochure, describes ‘a huge master bedroom with connecting full bath and adjacent half bath. No morning traffic problems here.’

Jefferson

The Jefferson model was featured in the Westgrove sales brochure as seen below. However, it does not appear to be featured in any newspaper ads. Four Jefferson models were built from 1955-1956.

Spartan

The Spartan model was not included in the Westgrove sales brochure. Nor was any information about it found in newspaper ads. In fact, no information about this model has been found yet. We hope the owners of the three Spartan model homes have something in their files!

Stephens

The Stephens model was featured in the Westgrove sales brochure, seen below. Fifteen were built from 1955-157.

The Stephens model was featured in many newspaper ads, including this one in The Washington Post- Times Herald on March 4, 1956, which links the relationship of the land to George Washington and Mount Vernon.

Suffolk

Five Suffolk homes were built in the First Addition section of Westgrove in 1957. This model was not included in the Westgrove brochure. Like the Dover and Haddon models, the Suffolk can be found in the Waynewood brochure, where many of this style home were built.

The Suffolk model was the Gosnell firm’s Home of 1957 in Waynewood, as you can read in the article below:

The Suffolk model was not featured in newspaper ads for Westgrove, but can be seen in several newspaper ads for Waynewood, like the one below in The Washington Post-Times Herald, July 20, 1957.

Swarthmore

The Swarthmore model was the most popular style built in Westgrove, with the first one constructed in 1954 and ultimately 29 homes completed in this style. It was included in the Westgrove sales brochure. The Gosnell firm began building this model in adjacent Marlan Park (on the other side of Fort Hunt Road) in 1954 and continued to build many homes of this style in Waynewood.

The Swarthmore was featured in one of the first newspaper ads for Westgrove, this one appearing in The Washington Post-Times Herald, April 24, 1955 noting the newly opened Swarthmore model home furnished by Wellington House.

The Swarthmore model won first place for excellence of an individual house in the 2nd annual Architectural Awards Competition of the Norther Virginia Builder’s association, as seen in this photograph from The Evening Star on January 25, 1958, B-1.

Tulane

The Tulane model was one of the first styles built in Westgrove in 1954. Though it was not featured in the sales brochure, it does appear in numerous newspaper ads, including one of the earliest ads for Westgrove in The Washington Post-Times Herald April 3, 1955, G-3 below. Six were built in Westgrove.

It appears that the Fairfax County building inspector’s office issued a permit for the construction of a $16,500 home at then 406 Tulane Drive, (changed to 1203 Tulane Drive in 1965) as reported in The Evening Star on August 07, 1954, Page B-9, which is a Tulane model.

Tulsa

Eight Tulsa model homes were built in Westgrove from 1955-1957 and it was featured in the Westgrove brochure.

The Tulsa style was added as a new model in 1955 and is featured in this ad found in The Washington Post-Times Herald (1954-1959); Sep 22, 1956; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Washington Post pg. 46 .

The Tulsa model won the best individual home in the Northern Virginia Builders Associate 1956 Home Award competition and Westgrove won the best subdivision, as noted in The Evening Star article below on January 5, 1957, B1 and B3.

Here is an ad in The Washington Post-Times Herald June 15, 1957 noting the last weekend to view the completely furnished Tulsa model.

Custom Homes

This is the first ad for Westgrove found in The Evening Star on October 3, 1954. Fourteen lots with installed utilities were offered for sale priced at