Around 1897, John W. Varney and his family moved to the east end of Custis Avenue from Hamilton, VA. His middle son, Walter Urbach Varney, initially taught school, but he was admitted as a lawyer in Arlington County in 1898. Walter quickly established himself as a leader in the community, serving in roles such as election clerk in 1901. In 1903, he married Martha Gray, the daughter of one of the original owners in Del Ray (see the June 2026 issue of Greet Del Ray).

 

Walter was a successful lawyer, representing or participating in numerous businesses and associations. He purchased the house at 310 East Bellefonte Avenue before the Town of Potomac was incorporated. He had political aspirations too. Walter was an active member of the Democratic National Committee. He was suggested as a candidate for state senator in 1903 and ultimately ran for the office of Commonwealth Attorney in Arlington County that year. He lost.

 

In early 1907, Walter went on record as opposing any encroachment of Alexandria City into the county. As part of this campaign, he helped organize the Citizens’ Improvement Association of Jefferson District, which ultimately succeeded in incorporating the Town of Potomac. The interim town government included Walter as the treasurer. As the town’s government matured, Walter became the town’s attorney, representing it in various legal actions. Throughout his tenure with the Town of Potomac, Walter remained staunchly opposed to annexation by the City of Alexandria. As discussion of annexation grew in the late 1920s, Walter repeatedly went on the record opposing it, speaking to newspapers and at public forums. Few fought annexation harder than Walter U. Varney.      

 

The City of Alexandria prevailed in court, and the Town of Potomac, along with neighboring parts of Arlington County, were annexed into Alexandria at 12:01am on 1 January 1930. Legend has it that a mysterious fire in the Town Hall started at midnight, destroying the records of the Town. The source of the fire was never discovered. By the time of annexation, Walter had moved to Clarendon and refused to have anything to do with the City of Alexandria