Aging mansion in Old Town Manassas seemed doomed until caring neighbor stepped in

A lot of residents in the City of Manassas are glad to see that the historic Prescott House has been saved from being torn down and will be remodeled.

None more so, however, that Michelle Ealy who has lived next door to the neglected house and grounds for the past 12 years.

“I’ve seen the grand old house go from bad to worse through the years. I’m really, really excited to see that its charm will be restored,” she said.

She added: ‘It will be great to have some new neighbors when the renovation is complete.”

Ealy can thank Hugh Ickrath, a neighbor two doors down from the house, for saving the stately dwelling at 9300 Prescott Ave that had been scheduled for demolition.

Ickrath and two other investors had managed to buy the decaying eyesore at the last hour for $118,750 at a short sale before a demolition crew was to arrive.

“The100-year-old plus house in its prime was a beautiful, Queen Anne-style with striking grounds. It’s history blends in well with the rest of the community. I just couldn’t let it be destroyed,” he said.

Ickrath said when he got word from the bank that he had purchased the property “I was so happy I couldn’t control myself.”

Renovation work on the structure is in full swing with Ickrath estimating the cost to be $200,000. He is not sure when the project will be completed and the house once again ready for occupancy.

“We are concentrating on the 30 days from the settlement date of June 8 set by the city to correct the unsafe conditions of the front porch and 45 days from the date to repair the exterior of the house before we start working on the interior,” he said.

Buying the house was not a money making proposition for Ickrath. It’s a labor of the heart to save it. He was working behind the scenes since December 2012 to coordinate efforts to save the house.

“I am happy that this City of Manassas home will be restored to its former glory, ” said former City Manager John A. Budesky. “The City worked with the previous owners for more than15 years trying to bring the home up to code compliance, to no avail. I believe that through Mr. Ickrath’s efforts, the home could be a welcoming presence at the entrance to the Old Town area.”

The major improvement to the exterior will fixing the porch, putting in new windows and installing new siding—expected to be a light green.

“Surprisingly, the interior was not as bad as nearly everyone expected. The walls and floors were sound ... with some repair work needed on the ceilings,” he said, as well new plumbing and electrical work.

The house has nine rooms and two baths. “The major part of the interior will be new bathrooms and converting the four upstairs bedrooms into three—one being the master bedroom,” Ickrath said.

Ickrath, 49, said this is first time taking on such a large renovation project but added “I have a lot of neighbors and friends who will help me out.”

“This City, with its beautiful home and historic Old Town, will truly benefit if Prescott House is restored to its 1900’s beauty,” said Mayor Harry J. “Hal” Parrish III. “The City was not pleased to be put in the position of having to remove the house due to blight and safety concerns. I applaud Mr. Ickrath’s efforts.”

The house was built in 1905 by L. B. Williams who was a railway postal clerk. Prescott Ave. was first populated by Southern Railway employees.

The house has high ceilings, symmetrically-molded door and window trim with corner block and oak floors. The two-flight stair rises to the left of the central hallway.

About 1920, a small, one-story, frame-built guest house was constructed behind the main house. There was also a pole-built stable and carriage house behind the house.

Williams sold the property in about 1959 to Jessie D. May. The last owner was the late Dorothy Feagane who had not lived in the house for several years and it continued to deteriorate, much to the dismay of the city and nearby residents.

The house has as it most distinguishing architectural feature, a one-story columned porch across the front, the north side and part of the south side.

It has long been a mainstay of a local historic district along Prescott Ave.

Ickrath, who is a real estate title examiner for a firm in Warrenton, said he enjoys spending time at his cabin in the Northern Neck.

He said spending the months he did to buy and save the structure was well worth the effort. “Like everyone else I’m thrilled the house was saved and will soon become a welcome part of the our community.”