f the town as surveyed in
1749. The 100 block is still paved with cobblestones "big as beer kegs"
purportedly laid by Hessian prisoners during the Revolution.

The brick houses which sprang up in early days set the standard for the
town. Many of these houses were erected prior to the Revolution and
immediately after the signing of the peace in 1783. All original lots
had been built upon by 1765 but there remained between these first
houses empty spaces. There was a constant effort to have all vacant
spaces of the lots built upon, so as to present an unbroken front. By
1790 the 100 and 200 blocks of Prince Street stood, very much as they
stand today, the visible expression of the Scottish and English towns
that our ancestors had left behind them.

These houses were nearly all built by Captain John Harper, and when not
built by him, built on his land at a stipulated ground rent. The north
side of the 100 block was part of lot No. 56 and until after 1771 no
houses stood there. The ground rose here in a high bank above the
Potomac, and the original lot contained less ground than a quarter of an
acre. Bought by the Honorable William Fairfax at the first auction in
1749, in 1766 he was released from building thereon, as it was stated
the improvement on his lot No. 57 was adequate for the two lots and
"such was the true intent and meaning of the Trustees."[137]

The Honorable William Fairfax deeded this property to his son, Colonel
George William Fairfax, who sold it on November 25, 1771, to Robert
Adam. Adam in turn sold to John Hough of Loudoun County on December 11
and 12, 1771; and Hough, after disposing of several parts of the Fairfax
lots, sold in June 1772, the remaining parts of lots Nos. 56, 57 and 58,
fronting on Prince Street, to Captain John Harper of Philadelphia.

This is our first introduction to John Harper in the records of
Alexandria. Apparently he must have made this purchase through someone
else, for nearly a year later Washington received the following letter:

Philadelphia, May 5th 1773

Esteemed Friend
Colonel Washington

From the little acquaintance I had with thee formerly, I take the
liberty of recommending the bearer Cap^t John Harper who is in
partnership with William Hartshorne--John Harper comes down in order
to see the country, if he likes, they propose to come down and settle
with you; they are Men that have a verry pretty Interest--W^m