Mansion G.W. and Jefferson visited up for auction

The Bel Air Mansion sits in Dale City, and has stood the test of time since its construction in 1740. (Courtesy of Trazon)
Naedele, a former realtor, is retired and ready for a break from the time and labor it takes to maintain the 25 acres his home sits on. (Courtesy of Tranzon)
The home has been placed on the Department of Interior's National Register of Historic Places. (Courtesy of Tranzon)
The Virginia Department of Historic Resources placed an easement on the remaining 25 acres in the 1980s, which kept the current parcel of land intact. (Courtesy of Tranzon)
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DALE CITY, Va. – The Bel Air Mansion is the oldest house in Prince William County, and it’s going on the auction block on April 18.

The home’s owner Bill Naedele knows its incredible history, including visits from Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

The 18th century estate was home to George Washington’s first biographer, Mason Locke Weems. The home is where Weems penned the stories about Washington that would live on in history.

“He wrote all those stories, the cherry tree stories, throwing the silver dollar across the Rappahannock. I mean I have an incredible love for this. I hate to leave it, but time to move on,” Naedele said.

Naedele has lived in the home, which sits inconspicuously in the middle of a sub-division, for 20 years. Despite its age, the house is in mint condition, according to Jeff Stein with Tranzon Auction.

“George Washington and Martha spent the night coming back to Mount Vernon from their honeymoon here,” Stein says.

The auction will be held at 3 p.m. April 18 at the house at 14513 General Washington Drive.

WTOP’s Kathy Stewart contributed to this report. Follow WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

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