211 North Patrick Street is a 2-story, brick house with a rich history that highlights several important historical figures in Alexandria. The building was completed on June 30th, 1886 for Frederick Paff. Frederick Paff was born in 1837 and immigrated to the United States from Elm Hesse Castle, Germany at the age of 14. After living in Baltimore for 2 years, he moved to the City of Alexandria to eventually start the Paff Shoe Factory. A charitable man, Paff served as a member of the Board of Health for several terms, served as a deacon at Second Presbyterian Church and was a member of the Andrew Jackson Lodge of Masons. According to the Washington Post article on March 11, 1886 “Mr. Frederick Paff yesterday commenced the erection of a brick residence on Patrick Street between Cameron and Queen Streets.” During the building of this house, Mr. Paff and his wife resided at 215 North Patrick Street. Frederick Paff died on April 7, 1903 and his son, Frederick J. Paff Jr. went on to reside at 211 N Patrick Street. Frederick Paff Jr. was mayor of Alexandria from 1905 to 1912. For many years, he was involved in the Paff Shoe Factory and eventually became President. Paff, Jr. died in 1933. 

In 1943, the Paff Estate at 211 North Patrick Street was purchased by Dr. James Carpenter, MD. Dr. Carpenter was the first African American doctor to gain rights to practice medicine as a solo practitioner at Alexandria Hospital. Dr. Carpenter was a member of the Alexandria Medical Society & National Medical Association and was a clinical instructor of pediatrics at Howard University. He was a member of the Shilo Baptist Church. Dr. Carpenter used the first floor of 211 N Patrick Street as a private doctors office, with private exam rooms on the first floor and nurses’ residences on the second floor. Dr. Carpenter had hopes to build a larger clinic and had the homes 215 and 217 North Patrick Street demolished in the 1960’s. Unfortunately, he was unable to pursue this vision for those sites. 211 North Patrick stayed in the Carpenter family until 2009, when it was purchased by the current owners.