Old Potting House, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia

1994 Charles E. Peterson Prize, Entry

Significance: The Old Potting House was built in 1880 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. This historic structure was at one time adjoined to a cemetery greenhouse which was demolished, for it occupied the north historic Lee vegetable garden. It is a two-story brick building that sits approximately 200 feet north of the Lee Mansion. It measures 22 feet by 32 feet and has a slate hip roof, an ornamented ridgeline, small gable vents on each side, and brick pilasters creating 2 bays on the short side and 3 bays on the long. Many fell during the Civil War - brothers, husbands, sons. Those wishing to pay their respects did so, often with flowers which, in turn, were obtained by the nearby potting - and greenhouses. These structures were significant not only for their provisions but because they were symptomatic of a period of mourning and reflections. Thus, unwittingly, these structures served as a medium to cope not only with the loss of a life, but perhaps with the loss of a way of life.

Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N156

Survey number: HABS VA-1342

Building/structure dates: 1880 Initial Construction

potting sheds brick buildings war civil war funeral rites and ceremonies botany arlington house cemetery arlington national cemetery arlington county virginia arlington national cemetery photographs free images ron batterson california polytechnic state university historic american buildings survey kate kasparek judy ramos us army corps of engineers photo american civil war civil war ornament pilasters old house architectural diagrams library of congress california historical photos

1933 - 1970

Library of Congress

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