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| Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop - History Alexandria Virginia |
| Oct 07,2008 |
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History Alexandria Virginia
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop. 105-107 South Fairfax Street. Edward Stabler (1769-1831) was operating an apothecary shop in Alexandria by 1792, and he was at this site by 1796. George Washington’s doctors, Dr. James Craik (1730-1814) and Dr. Elisha Cullen Dick (1762-1825), purchased their medicines here. Similarly, Lund Washington (1737-1796), manager of Mount Vernon during the Revolutionary War, purchased medicine here, as did succeeding occupants of Mount Vernon. In 1802, a note was sent from Mount Vernon to Mr. Stabler that “Mrs. Washington desires Mr. Stabler will send by the bearer, a quart bottle of his best Castor Oil, and the bill for it.” This was Martha Washington’s last recorded order. An apothecary shop was operated continuously at this site for 141 years, and Martha Washington’s descendants, including Nelly Custis Lewis (1779-1851) and George Washington Parke Custis (1781-1857), were good customers. Custis, a gifted amateur artist, purchased his artist supplies here.
The building at 107 South Fairfax Street was built between 1774 and 1785 by Philip Dawe, a coppersmith who walked in George Washington’s funeral procession. Dawe rented it to Porter and Ingraham from 1787 to 1795. It was in front of this building in March 1788 that George Washington’s slave, Billy Lee (d.1828), while taking mail to the Alexandria post office, broke his knee for the second time. Washington’s valet, Lee had accompanied him through all eight years of the Revolutionary War. Lee had broken his other knee in April 1785 while he was helping Washington survey his Four Mile Run tract. He became a cripple for the rest of his life and could no longer work as Washington’s valet. Eventually, he became a shoe maker at Mount Vernon for the other slaves. In his will, George Washington gave Lee his freedom but allowed him, if he preferred, to remain at Mount Vernon. In either case, he was to have an annuity of $30 for the rest of his life. He elected to stay at Mount Vernon, and he is buried in the slave burial ground there. Billy Lee was the only slave freed outright in George Washington’s will.
According to tradition, Lieutenant J.E.B. Stuart found Colonel Robert E. Lee shopping here on October 17, 1859, and delivered orders for Lee to suppress the insurrection of John Brown at Harper’s Ferry.
Today, the apothecary shop is open to the public for fascinating tours. Admission charge.
(Adapted from Robert Madison’s Walking with Washington, available in Alexandria museum gift shops.)
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