True Life Tuesday: Scattergood-Thorne Conference Center

This is the story of how two women lived among the campus of America's most secretive agency.

The Scattergood-Thorne Conference Center is the oldest building on the CIA campus in Langely, VA. The 4 story, 5000 square feet Georgian revival house was built in 1926. 

In 1933 the house and several surrounding acres were purchased by Margaret Scattergood and Florence Thorne. The women met in 1926 when Margaret moved to the area to work at the American Federation of Labor. The women loved to sit on the porch and listen to the pond located on the property.

In 1948 the Federal Highway Association bought 742 acres surrounding the Calvert Estate to build a research facility. The women did sell their property with the stipulation that they could live in the house until their deaths. The property was bought by the CIA in the 1950 to build their head quarters.

Florence passed away in 1973 at the age of 95. Margaret did stay in the home alone. CIA Director was concerned about her safety and would have security officers check up on her. Many agent also befriended her over the years and would look out for her. In the 1980s Margaret opened her home to the Sandinistas from Nicaragua while the CIA was authorized to support the Contras. Many times the Sandinistas would go the head quarters only to be told to go to the Calvert Estate. Margaret only visited the head quarters once in 1984 when she was the guest of honor at a lunch that was held by the director. 

Margaret had a stroke and passed away on November 7, 1986 at the age of 92. There were many different uses of the house over the years including housing the K-9 unit. The home underwent a total renovation in 2003 and was turned into a state of the art conference center. No rooms were added and the foundation was untouched. However, the beloved porch was enclosed.