Eye Spy - May 2018

EYE SPY INTELLIGENCE MAGAZINE 115 2018 25

both were given a tour of Langley. On

Thanksgiving Day, Fitzwater delivered a joint of

ham to Margaret and at Christmas she

received a roasted turkey from the DDA!

Margaret passed away aged 92 on 7 Novem-

ber 1986, by which time her neighbours - the

CIA - had been operating over 25 years out of

Langley. Fulfilling the legal agreement, CIA

acquired the proper ty and over the next few

years, there were debates and proposals on

what should be done with the house and

estate.

CIA Security Protective Officers (SPOs) slowly

took over the main house and brought with

them their K-9 unit. The house, over 60 years

old, was not in good condition. For the next 15

years, the SPOs and their dogs occupied the

building, using it to house and maintain their

motor bikes, converting the rooms into

makeshift maintenance areas and erecting

workbenches. Eventually the SPOs built

outdoor dog kennels near the Calvert Estate,

which are still in use today.

The residence was now considered old and

dangerous and a decision was made to tear it

down. However, many of the employees loved

the property and the then head of facilities

management decided to have the house

professionally evaluated. It was found that it

was not only structurally sound, but its

outstanding design, workmanship, and

materials made it eligible for listing in the

National Register of Historic Places.

In 2003, the Calvert Estate underwent a

complete renovation and rooms converted to

a state-of-the-art conference centre. To

preserve the original house and to pay

homage to its occupants, the renovation team

designed a discreet tribute just outside of the

dining room. If someone didn’t point it out,

you would never think to look up at the ceiling.

But if you did, you would see a 3x3 foot-wide

square cut-out in the ceiling, covered by a

thick piece of glass. When you position

yourself correctly, you can look up through the

glass and see the original wood frame of the

Calvert Estate, still intact, just as it stood in

1926.

CIA-backed Contras

Overhead view of CIA headquarters Langley, Virginia, showing extensive grounds.

Inset: D/CIA William Casey held an honourary lunch for one of the residents of the ‘big house’

‘Ranson’ - one of today’s

operational CIA dogs

The CIA has built

a museum on the

upper floor of

Staircase leading to upper levels the house