In 1912 Enos Utterback, a prominent Centreville merchant, purchased 100 acres of land (which would be known as Royal Oaks) along with the house.[1] Five years later, he sold off 90 acres, retaining an unimproved lot of 10 acres where he would build his 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]

At the close of the war, on Armistice Day (now known as Veterans Day), Americans celebrated with large parties and parades; but this national observation of the war’s end caused a resurgence in the spread of a deadly strain of influenza. The influenza pandemic of 1918/19 killed more Americans than died in the war, and infected one out of every four Americans. The health department restricted activities that might spread the infection, including prohibiting sales in stores.[4] Perhaps Enos Utterback’s work as a merchant increased the likelihood of exposure to the virus. He died of influenza in December 1918, two months after marrying Miss Edith May Nichol.[5]

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

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.

The two-story, three-bay, vernacular side-passage-plan dwelling is of frame construction clad in German-lap siding. It features a pedimented central-front gable, gable-end returns, two interior-end brick chimneys, and a rear two-story ell with and interior-end flue.