Alexandria Living Magazine
A 'busybody' mirror on a home in Old Town. The device lets residents see who is at their front door from the second story window.
Characterized by its historic flavor, the city of Alexandria, most notably Old Town, proves to be celebrated for its hidden gems.
Alexandria remains renowned for its rich Colonial roots as it is home to attractions frequented by America’s founding fathers, such as Christ Church and Gadsby’s Tavern.
On a beautiful night it is hard to miss the crowds engaging in the local ghost and Civil War tours; however other historic elements are more obscurely embedded — quite literally — into the city’s structure.
Distracted by the beauty of the preserved and manicured historic Old Town homes, even local Alexandrians may neglect to spot the so-called “gossip” or “busybody” mirrors that still adorn their windows.
An early form of "neighborhood watch" or closed-circuit surveillance, these mirrors were first introduced to coastal towns in Sweden and Finland in the 18th century. Researchers claim that the introduction of these spying devices occurred amid an increase in urban populations and feelings of insecurity caused by subsequent transnational mobility.
Across the Atlantic though, these mirrors are attributed to American inventor Benjamin Franklin. The “busybody” device is traditionally a collection of three mirrors hung from a window by a horizontally placed metal rod so that a person within the home can view who is at the door stoop without being seen (or even leaving the second floor!). Franklin, serving as an ambassador to France at the time, supposedly created the busybody mirror after observing one in the red light district of Paris.
Though it seems like a trivial antiquity as our contemporary world has since experienced a technological takeover, the architectural pieces that remain on some Old Town homes (especially those bearing Historic Alexandria Foundation plaques) appear in functional condition.
However, in addition to being visually concealed, its history as it pertains to Alexandria proves ambiguous. In rummaging through construction plans, city layouts and previous articles of the local history library, the useful invention remains unmentioned.
There are no records of residents requesting them to be taken down, and the mirrors remain a common entity around town. That being said, they must be doing their job. I suppose another round of applause to Franklin is in order.
While it seems some ditch the mirrors for monetary gain on eBay, Old Town homeowners continue their usage. Because many of the faces of these historic townhomes were constructed in 1915, it is important — as one homeowner expressed — that these elements, including the old boot scrapers, be appreciated.
One recent real estate listing even advertises the presence of the mirror; therefore it is clear that though there are more high-tech options, this historic gadget has yet to go out of style.
