Building History

In October 1992, the International Association of Chiefs of Police moved into a new headquarters facility located at 515 North Washington Street in Alexandria, Virginia. The stately five-story building is over 160 years old and has a colorful history.

In 1846, a group of Alexandria merchants decided to construct a cotton mill on upper Washington Street and erected a brick factory containing two 30-horsepower steam engines to power the mill's 4,000 spindles and 120 looms. The factory employed 150 hands—mostly women who earned $12 to $17 a month. Less prosperous than expected, the mill was leased to another company of businessmen in 1852. Tragedy struck in 1854 when a 21-year-old night watchman was murdered; several months later, a minor fire broke out after a gas lamp came into contact with a bundle of cotton. Somewhat daunted, the new directors decided to sell the enterprise.

The next owner ran a successful business until May 1861, when Alexandria was seized by the Union Army. The building was used as a hospital and logistical supply center for the next four years. The Mount Vernon Cotton Factory, converted into a prison for captured Confederate soldiers, housed as many as 1,400 prisoners at one time. The prison was converted into a barracks for convalescents and Union stragglers in 1865, and closed soon afterward.

Between 1902 and 1916, the building served as a bottling house for the Portner Brewing Company. One of the largest of its kind on the East Coast, the brewery closed in 1916 during Prohibition.

In 1918, the old bottling works was sold to the Express Spark Plug Factory, which operated until 1928.

In 1935, the building was remodeled; large columns to the facade were added, converting it into the Bell Haven Apartment House.

The building was purchased by a group of patent attorneys in 1981 and converted into offices.

The International Association of Chiefs of Police purchased the five-story building in July 1992.

One of the more colorful stories has centered around a 6-foot mannequin occupying the cupola. One explanation is that after the night watchman was murdered, local police tried to lure the felon back to the scene of the crime with the look-alike mannequin. This attempt failed, and the murderer was never found. However, the Silent Watchman has survived intact until this very day and has been guarding the building ever since.