Happinest
About
Date: 1933
Historic Designation:
Current Use of Property: Private Home
Happinest, located at 4120 41st Street N., is a Tudor Revival dwelling constructed in 1933. Happinest was the home of Fannie Foy and David K. Ballard who hired Valla Engineering, Ltd. to construct the house. The architect of Happinest is unknown. Mrs. Ballard later expanded the home by building a rear addition around 1960. Fannie Foy Ballard lived in the home for over forty-five years until she sold the house in 1980.
Happinest is a well-preserved example of Tudor Revival architecture and contributes to the architectural heritage of Arlington County. Built during the Great Depression, Happinest exhibits some of the building techniques that were promoted with the Tudor Revival style during the 1920s and 1930s such as the use of mixed materials. Rather than construct the house entirely of brick, a more expensive material, Happinest’s upper floors were made of frame construction clad in wood siding. This is a unique feature since most Tudor Revival houses with frame upper stories utilized designs with exposed timbers and stucco in between. Additionally, Happinest is an extant example of a building style that was popular in large part because of its versatility. Typically, Tudor Revivals had an asymmetrical design which allowed for construction on unique terrains and the expansion of the home in the future with additions. The style also lent itself to rural areas because of its use of natural materials with muted colors which allowed the building to blend in with its natural setting. The house uniquely reflects these architectural characteristics and demonstrates one of the ways this style was utilized in Arlington County. Happinest is the earliest extant home built along 41st Street N. and conveys the early-20th century development history of the area around Chain Bridge in Arlington.
Architectural Details:
Happinest is a Tudor Revival dwelling that is split into two different sections, a northern section and a southern section, and is connected by a hyphen at the center. The oldest portion of the house, constructed in 1933, is the northern section. The hyphen and southern section were added later around 1960. The 1933-portion of the house is three-stories in height and features a cross-gable roof clad in architectural asphalt shingles. The structural system on the lower level is brick with stone interspersed throughout; the coursing of the brick is irregular. The upper level is a frame structural system clad in wood shingle siding with a staggered design. A large exterior end chimney made of brick and stone is located on the east elevation. Another smaller exterior end brick chimney is located on the south elevation. The hyphen and rear addition, which were constructed around 1960, are two-stories and two-and-a-half stories in height (respectively). Both feature structural systems comprised entirely of brick and stone. Dormers are located on the roofs of both sections. The typical window for Happinest is a metal French casement window. Historically, the main entrance was located on the north elevation, but the main entrance was relocated to the hyphen with its construction around 1960. The typical door for Happinest is a variation of a wood door with a window.
The lot on which Happinest is located has varying levels of topography. The house is built into a steep hill facing north towards 41st Street N. Two ca. 1933 sheds are located on the property. Several large trees dot the landscape as do a variety of plantings and vegetation. Happinest has a number of outdoor seating areas. A ca. 2020 patio is located along the north elevation of the house. Another ca. 2020 patio is situated to the west of the house. Near this patio is an open area outlined with a wood split rail fence with a series of gravel pathways. At the southwest corner of this area is a fountain feature with a pool. A ca. 1960 patio is located along the east elevation of the house which provides access to the ca. 1980 deck located along the south (rear) elevation of Happinest. A series of wood walkways and stairs provide access from the deck to the western yard of the property.
Significant People:
Gilbert Vanderwerken (1810 – 1894): The property on which Happinest was constructed in 1933 was part of Gilbert Vanderwerken’s massive land holdings in Arlington County. Mr. Vanderwerken owned and operated an omnibus and stagecoach business in Washington, D.C. and resided in Georgetown. His summer home, Falls Grove, was in Arlington County. In total, he owned over 1,000 acres of property, most of it located in northern Arlington.
Emma (1848 – 1899) and Thomas Jewell (1851 – 1928), Florence Jewell (1864 – 1947): Emma Jewell (née Vanderwerken) came to own the property on which Happinest was eventually constructed after it was left to her by her father, Gilbert. The property was not developed until after Emma’s death under her husband, Thomas, and his second wife, Florence’s, ownership. They built a bungalow which was located to the south of where Happinest was constructed in 1933.
Lena (1893 – 1956) and J. Grafton Poore (1893 – 1952): The Poores purchased the bungalow and land on which Happinest was eventually built from the Jewells in 1922. Lena’s family, the Lentz, were direct neighbors. The Poores lived in the bungalow at 4015 N. Randolph Street and in 1929, sold the portion of the land on which Happinest was eventually built.
Fannie Foy (1901 – 1987) and David K. Ballard (1894 – 1946): It was under the ownership of the Ballards that Happinest was constructed in 1933. They contracted Valla Engineering, Ltd. for the construction. Fannie Foy Ballard, who was known for her beautiful singing voice and used to sing opera to her guests from a balcony located inside the main living room of Happinest, later expanded the house with a hyphen and rear addition around 1960. The Ballards called the house “Happinest.”
More Information:
Location: 4120 41st Street N.
Photo Gallery:
Location
4120 41st Street N., Arlington, VA 22207 View Map
38.92817661968738, -77.12019507318671
4120 41st Street N. ,
Arlington, VA 22207
4120 41st Street N. ,
Arlington, VA 22207
Happinest