Eastern View Carr Family Photograph

Access and use

Location of collection:
Thomas Balch Library
Thomas Balch Library
208 West Market Street
Leesburg, Virginia 20176
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Alexandra S. Gressitt
Phone: (703) 737-7195
Fax: (703) 737-7195

Summary

Extent:
1 oversized photograph
Creator:
Blossom & Bloom, Leesburg, VA
Abstract:
The collection consists of one silver nitrate print with two attached notations that identify most of the persons in the photograph. The picture presents a portrait of the family, servants, and pets of John Calhoun Carr.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of one silver nitrate print with two attached notations that identify most of the persons in the photograph. The picture presents a portrait of the family, servants, and pets of John Calhoun Carr. From left to right, the individuals are Jerry Davis, John Calhoun Carr, Thomas Gott Carr, Dr. Thomas Norris Carr, a woman who records suggest is Ada Bonds, Elizabeth Eugenia Carr, and Dora Gott Carr. The family is seated outside their home, at times called Eastern View and East View Farm. Filed with oversized visual collections.

Biographical / historical:

The Carr family traces their family history to John Carr (1684-1794) who, born in Scotland, moved first with his family to Ireland before settling in Pennsylvania and finally Loudoun County (then Fairfax). John Calhoun Carr (1849-1915) was the great-grandson of John Carr, and he married his second wife Dora Gott (1860-1929) in 1883. Dora, the daughter of Dr. Thomas Norris Gott of Poolesville, MD (1818-1903), gave the estate the name Eastern View soon after 1890, though the structure is now known as East View Farm.

Eastern View's beginnings may have been as early as 1750 and constructed by the original John Carr when he moved to Loudoun County. Alternatively, the house could have been built by John's son Thomas (1733-1796) around 1780. Thomas Carr's son, also named Thomas (1771-1828), inherited the home in 1796, to which he added the two-story addition on the right side of the house. Ownership passed to Thomas Jr.'s daughter Martha (1814-1893) who married her first cousin Josephus Carr (1813-187), and then to their son John Calhoun Carr, who moved to Eastern View after his first marriage in 1883. Records state that Eastern View is located three miles west of Leesburg.

John Calhoun Carr and Dora Gott Carr had first Thomas Gott Carr (1892-1952) and then Elizabeth Eugenia Carr (1894-1996). John worked as a farmer, an occupation which Thomas inherited, while Eugenia worked as a typist before marrying. Thomas would also go on to serve in both World War I and World War II. In 1895, Jerry Davis (fl. 1877-1897) and Ada Bonds (b. 1883) were in the family's employ. The Carrs owned a horse named Bill and a dog named Hicks.

Acquisition information:
Blossom Bloom, Leesburg, VA
Physical description:
.