The Swindell House sits on the land where Paul Anderson, a liberated slave, ran a successful boat yard from 1830 to 1841. Frank and Jesse Bowers bought the property and built this Queen Anne Victorian house in 1869. Dr. Lewis H. Swindell, Jr., purchased the house in 1923 and lived there until 1969.

Dr. Swindell owned and ran Fowle Memorial Hospitals from 1919 until 1958, which was located on the corner of Fifth and Market Streets, where the current fire station stands. He also served as mayor of Washington. Known as a cherished community member, he delivered countless babies, including his two granddaughters, one of whom is my sister-in-law.

Among his many interests was baseball, and as such, he organized the “Washington Surgeons” team. He also had an extensive collection of tobacco cards (baseball cards acquired from cigarette packages).

The house retains many original elements, including wide plank pine floors, wainscoting, and intricate millwork.