In 1912 Enos Utterback, a prominent Centreville merchant, purchased a house and 100 acres of land known as Royal Oaks.[1] Five years later, he sold off 90 acres, retaining an unimproved lot of 10 acres where he would build his new home.[2] Utterback was building his house during the time of the Great War (WWI). He was a supporter of the war, purchasing the maximum in War Savings Stamps.[3]

 

Enos Utterback was a merchant in Centreville. He owned a large store on Braddock Road that he inherited from his uncle, B. C. Utterback.[4] The store was previously owned by his father, W. H. Utterback.[5] In 1900, at age 30, Enos Utterback was listed on the census records as a clerk in his uncle’s store.[6] When his uncle died in 1908, Enos Utterback was bequeathed the store.

 

Beginning in the fall of 1918, a deadly strain of influenza, which was termed Spanish Influenza, swept the country from the east coast to the west coast.  The influenza pandemic of 1918/19 killed more Americans than died in the war, and infected about one out of every four Americans.[7] The death rate was particularly high for people between the ages of 20 and 40 years old. Infants and seniors over 60 years old also had higher death rates.[8] Some localities banned public gatherings and closed theatres and schools. In Fairfax County, both the County Fair and “Colored” Fair were cancelled in October 1918 to control the spread of the influenza. A deciding factor in cancelling the fair was that it was likely that school children would not be permitted to participate, which was a key feature at the fair.[9] Schools and churches were closed in October 1918. They were scheduled to reopen in November, since health officials felt the worst was over.[10]

 

In Fairfax County, the flu was worse near Alexandria and Washington, D.C. where there were significantly more deaths. It was recommended that County residents stay away from Alexandria and Washington, D. C., since many County residents contracted the flu in those localities.[11] Local newspaper accounts indicate that the flu was worse in October 1918 and again in late December 1918 – early January 1919.[12]

 

It was during the first wave, when the schools and churches were closed, that Enos Utterback married Miss Ethel May Nichol. The ceremony took place at the parsonage, rather than the Methodist church.[13] Enos Utterback was in the process of building a home for himself and his bride when he died of influenza in December 1918 at the age of 49 years old.[14] He and Ethel May had only been married two months. Enos Utterback’s occupation as a merchant may have increased the likelihood of exposure to the influenza virus.

 

Construction of the house, described as being suitable for a doctor or merchant, was not complete when Utterback died. Harvey Cross, the Deputy Sheriff, stated the following about the house.[15]

 

I don’t know just the extent of the completeness of the house…I understand there is a right smart work to be done, and it would cost about I expect $700 or $800 to complete it.[16]

 

Utterback’s widow must have had the home completed. In September 1919, she advertised the house for rent.

 

FOR RENT – A Five Room Modern House with two halls; well at porch, and several acres. MRS. ETHEL M. UTTERBACK, Centreville, Va.[17]

 

Washington Star reporter “The Rambler” may have been describing the Utterback house when he wrote about the contrasts between the run-down village of Centreville he encountered in the early 1900s with the Centreville of 1921; which was roused from slumber by auto traffic, tourists, and telephones.

 

Old houses have fallen down, and have burned and blown down, and new houses, with fresh-painted sides and porches and gables, have been set up.[18]