Across McWhorter Place from the cache used to be the home of James "Mac" McWhorter. A developer in the 30s, he bought 14 acres of land between Ravensworth Road and Heritage Drive. McWhorter built his own home and then 18 smaller homes for his worker- many of which still stand. Decidedly decrepit- but still standing. Go to the end of the street and check 'em out.
As well as providing for his workers, he build a well and septic field for them but the well ran dry. In order to provide a sustained source of water, McWhorter built two large water storage tanks of 5000 gallons each across Columbia Pike from the Annandale Methodist Church. From that hill he ran pipes throughout Annandale. Residents of the Rose Hill neighborhood complained about the low pressure in the water and collectively decided one day to open all the taps and empty the storage tank in protest. In response, McWhorter ran a fire hose over two miles from Lake Barcroft pumping water into the storage tank. When the day ended, the protest was over and had accomplished nothing. In retribution, McWhorter got the last laugh: he billed the customers for all of the water used! Eventually, McWhorter sold his water company to the Fairfax County Water Authority in 1958.
In the 70s, the McWhorter home was used as the Annandale police station- a place where you could see real live "criminals" brought in handcuffed and where a kid would be given an ice cream while tearfully reporting a stolen bike.