“From the Archives” Father Rankin and the House at 314 Duke Street
The Father Rankin House at 314 Duke Street, next door to Saint Mary’s rectory, has a long and interesting history, and is as old as the parish itself. Alexandria city records show it was there in the 1790s when William Busby built 314 and 316 Duke Street, apparently as rental properties.
In 1805, 314 was sold to Samuel Adams, an importer from London. In 1802, John Horner acquired 316 Duke Street and added a one-story house at 318 (corner house at Duke and Royal Streets). Horner sold both buildings to John Constantin Generis, a Frenchman who for many years conducted a dancing school in 318 and lived with his family in 316. Generis sold his properties to the First Presbyterian Church in 1833 and moved to New Orleans.
Saint Mary parish acquired 314 in 1937. During remodeling of the rectory at 310 Duke Street, Father Thomas A. Rankin, Saint Mary’s pastor, wanted to cut a window in the brick wall of the dark, windowless dining room. Father Rankin thought a window, which would west and the yard of 316, would lighten up the room. He needed permission from the city to make that change. But the tenant of 316 objected, saying she liked to sunbathe in her yard and did not want the people next door watching her! When her lease expired, the owner of 314, Chester Pierce, sold the house to Father Rankin for a token ten dollars. The pastor used his own money to buy the property and gave it to the parish. He then added the dining room window.
The house was rental property for many years. As the parish grew, more office and meeting space was needed. By the 1990s, the downstairs was used for offices with the upstairs serving as bedroom space for visiting priests and, more recently, as quarters for in-residence priests. Father Edward Hathaway, current rector and pastor, completely renovated the old house, which had become quite decrepit. He added a beautiful new, state-of-the-art kitchen, and closed up a steep, narrow back stairway. He also created the lovely outdoor courtyard now used for many parish events. When 314 was remodeled, Father Hathaway named it the Father Rankin House, honoring the beloved former pastor. Previously, parishioners had called it “the white house,” because it was painted white, or the Sam Adams house, named for its early 19th century owner.
Like many old houses, some believe the Father Rankin House has a ghost! A few claim to have heard or even seen it. The mother and sister of one of our parish priests, visiting from out of town, were so frightened that they packed up during the night and moved to a nearby hotel. Since we know very little about most of the occupants of the house, nobody knows who this “ghost” might be. But Sam Adams didn’t live very long after moving into the house!
– Kitty Guy, Parish Historian
Throughout 2020, the Basilica of Saint Mary will present “From the Archives.” It is a weekly feature online and in our bulletin spotlighting the history of the parish. All of our “From the Archives” features are located here.