THE HISTORY OF R. L. KANE, INC.
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R. L. Kane, Incorporated is one of Northern Virginia’s oldest real estate firms and was the oldest Virginia appraisal firm until the appraisal business operations were ceased in 2018. While incorporated in 1931, its history begins with the formation of N. T. Snyder & Company, a real estate and insurance company organized by a Southern Railroad Technician named Nelson Taylor Snyder, Jr. in 1919.
At this time, Robert Louis Kane of Bealeton, VA was working for the Southern Railroad in their transportation department, spending many hours on the train reading books about real estate. In 1919, After leaving the Southern Railroad, Kane worked with the prestigious Alexandria brokerage firms of A. H. Agnew and Fred C. Goodnow as a sales agent, later becoming the manager of the Washington office of F. C. Goodnow Company, Realtors. Leaving Goodnow, Robert Kane and Nelson Snyder formed Snyder & Kane, Realtors on October 6th, 1922.
Snyder & Kane, Realtors began operations in Alexandria, commanding great success and expanding with the addition of Gardner Lloyd Boothe, II to form the Snyder-Kane-Boothe Corporation on February 20th, 1925.
The Snyder-Kane-Boothe Corporation began developing notable projects in Alexandria, such as Belle Haven, Glendale Temple Park, and Rosemont Park. (Mr. Boothe and Mr. Kane served on the Belle Haven Country Club's first Board of Directors along with Carroll Pierce, Julian Burke, and Dr. Samuel Moore). The Northern Virginia Investment Corporation was formed August 7, 1923, by Robert L. Kane, Charles Henry Smith, and Nelson T. Snyder Jr. This company financed many of the Snyder-Kane-Boothe Corporation's projects to take advantage of the decade's remarkable growth in "one of the most desirable residential sections of the country" (Virginia: Rebirth of the Old Dominion, Philip Alexander Bruce, 1929).
Snyder-Kane-Boothe rose to become the largest builder in the area, employing many familiar Alexandria real estate legends such as W. Selden Washington, James Morton Duncan, Jr. (uncle of current broker, Leon A. Duncan) and Eppa Davenport Kane (brother of Robert Kane and 1939 NVAR President). However, as asset prices rose, Snyder-Kane-Boothe began selling homes on installment plans to turn housing inventory. As the Great Depression began, many buyers that became debtors to the installment payments simply walked away from their obligations. With no other recourse, Snyder-Kane-Boothe Corp. turned all of its prized Belle Haven, Rosemont, and Alexandria real estate assets over to Citizens National Bank to avoid bankruptcy. Mr. Snyder, Mr. Boothe, and Mr. Kane all parted ways shortly after.
In August 1931, Mr. Robert Kane with his sister, Helen Kane Humphrey, began the firm of R. L. Kane, Incorporated while their brother Eppa partnered with W. Selden Washington and formed Washington & Kane, Incorporated in the old Snyder-Kane-Boothe branch office at 1615 King Street. After 15 years with the Southern Railway, Mrs. Helen Kane Tolbert (née Humphrey), began her real estate career in the lean depression years. Mrs. Humphrey , co-broker and secretary of the firm, ably assisted her brother in the successful operation of the company throughout her 35 years. Her keen desire for helping people with their real estate needs brought her much success and satisfaction in the field. Partnering as R. L. Kane, Incorporated, Robert L. Kane and Helen K. Humphrey built custom homes in Braddock Heights, Jefferson Park, Mansion Drive, and Plymouth Haven.
For many years, R. L. Kane, Inc. operated on the corner of King and Washington Streets (106 S Washington St) over the old Whelan Drug Store. In 1952, the firm purchased their present home at 311 South Washington Street.
Mr. Kane was active in many church, civic and professional organizations, including the American Society of Appraisers, the National Association of Real Estate Boards, and the Northern Virginia Board of Realtors. Mr. Kane had been NVAR President on three occasions (1928, 1937, and 1944) and for one term was president of the Virginia Real Estate Association in 1939.
During his time as president of R. L. Kane, Inc. Mr. Kane devoted the majority of his time to real estate appraising, including serving as Chief Appraiser for all the land acquired for the Pentagon Building and access road, the George Washington Memorial Parkway from Mt. Vernon to the CIA site, the proposed Burke Airport site, and the Dulles Airport and its access roads. He further appraised the lands acquired for the Occoquan Dam by the Alexandria Water Company as well as being employed by numerous banks, lending institutions and individuals. His expert court testimony was highly regarded throughout the area by his constituents.
R. L. Kane, Inc. organized another business unit in 1950, the Alexandria Insurance Corporation. Jack Wheatley joined the firm in 1952 and was actively interested in the field of property management and sales and later became Treasurer.
In 1956, Scott C. Humphrey joined the firm full time and began specializing in appraisals of all types. As was Mr. Kane, Mr. Humphrey became an expert in court testimony and was highly regarded throughout the area as a real estate appraiser. Mr. Humphrey purchased the firm from Mr. Robert L. Kane in 1971 and became president in 1975 at Mr. Kane’s death. Scott Humphrey is a lifelong Alexandrian and will tell you in 91 years, he has lived in five different Alexandria homes, not more than 2 miles from one another.
Humphrey served as President of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce in 1971, President of the DC Chapter of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) in 1968, Councilman on Alexandria City Council and Director for the Alexandria Economic Development Board in 1991, as Chairman of the Alexandria Industrial Development Authority from 1991 through 2011, and many terms on the Alexandria Board of Equalization. He was a charter member of the National Association of Review Appraisers in 1975 and a founding member and former Chairman of Board of Directors of the Bank of Alexandria from 1982 to 1995. Scott Humphrey also served as a former Board Member of F&M Bank (1998-2002), First Commonwealth Savings and Loan (1967-1982), Alexandria Sanitation Authority, Alexandria Hospital Board of Directors, St Agnes School Board of Governors, and the Alexandria Mental Health Association. Mr. Humphrey also spent many years involved with the Alexandria Rotary Foundation and as Member and Trustee of First Baptist Church of Alexandria as well as Board Member of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and Trustee of the International Mission Board (originally Foreign Mission Board of SBC). Mr. Humphrey received his Undergraduate Degree of B.S. in Commerce in 1954 from Grove City College and studied Real Estate, Insurance and Appraisal at American University from 1956-1958 after serving in the United States Army from 1954-1956.
In 1979, Leon A. Duncan, son of 1941 NVAR President Ebner R. Duncan, joined the company and has been providing real estate appraisal services throughout Northern Virginia region. From 1987 through 1999, Sarah Humphrey Douglas, daughter of Scott Humphrey, further grew the sales and property management operations of the firm.
In 2022, Scott B. Douglas, grandson of Scott Humphrey and great-grandnephew of Robert L. Kane, joined the firm as an associate. Today, the firm continues to serve the Old Town Alexandria community. R. L. Kane, Inc. is celebrating its official 93rd birthday this year.