The local chapter of the Questers, an international preservation group, has joined the effort to maintain Arlington’s oldest dwelling.
The organization earlier this year learned about the Ball-Sellers House, owned and operated by the Arlington Historical Society, and decided the property deserved its support. As a result, the Questers’ (https://www.questers1944.org/about.html) Patowmack Seekers chapter presented the historical society with a check for $2,000 to help fix the roof.
“Over the past few years, the outer roof of the Ball-Sellers House has lost a few of its cedar shakes due to storm damage,” society officials said. “The outer roof protects the original roof of the house, one of only a handful [from the era] remaining in the U.S.”
Built by John and Elizabeth Ball around 1750, the Ball-Sellers House is the oldest building in Arlington County and was donated to the society in 1975 by Marian Sellers, its last owner, to be used for educational purposes. The historical society has preserved it and operates it as a free museum.
Located at 5620 3rd St. South, the Ball-Sellers House open on Saturdays from 1-4 p.m., April through October, for free guided tours.
The non-profit Arlington Historical Society receives no funding from any level of government. It relies on donations such as this one to preserve its two museums and conduct its mission to build a stronger community by sharing a better understanding of the community’s diverse history, officials said.
For information, see the Website at www.arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org.
