The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-07-24
MOUNT VERNON.


Mount Vernon, the American Mecca
50 familiar to us all, is that beautiful spot
Of earth which Washington chose at an
early day as his home, aud which became,
after his eyentful public career, the place
Of his death and burial 1t is situated in
the county of Fairfax, Virginia, and fronts
on the beautiful Potomac river at con
spicuous point about seven miles below
Alexandra, and about fifteen from the
city Of Washington. In the year 1870
John Washington, the great grandfather
Of General Washington, aud Nicholas
Spencer patented an estate Of 5000 acres
from Lord Culpepper. The Mount Vernon
estate comprised the half which was as
signed on division to John Washington,
who bequeathed II to his son Lawrence,
who bequeathed it to his son Augustine,
who bequeathed it in April, 1743, TO his
son Lawrence, who was the half brother
of George Washington, and who had nam
ed it Mount Vernon in honor of High
Admiral Vernon of the British Navy,
under whom he had served in the cam
paigns in the West Indies in 1741-42.
After the death of Lawrence Wishing
ton, which occurred July 26, 1852, the
estate descended to his halfbrother, George
Washington, by whom it was willed, upon
his death, to his nephew, Bushrod Wash
ington, son of John Augustine Washing
ton, upon whose death it descended to his
son, John Augustine Washington, Who
the great-grand-nephew of General Wash
ington--was killed near Cheat Mountain,
September 10, 1861, while aid-de-camp,
with the rank Of Colonel, to the Confeder-
ate General Robert Edmund Lee, of Ar
lington.
In 1855, DIrs. Ann PAMELA Cunning
ham and other ladies' conceived the plan
of forming an association, the object Of
which should be the purchase Of Mount
Vernon, Of that portion including the
dwelling, tomb, and present steamboat
landing. In the spring Of 1855 the matter
was brought before the Legislature Of
Virginia, then in session, and on the 18th
of March, 1856, the association was incor-
porated under the name of the "Mount
Vernon Ladies Association of the Union. u
An amendment to the act Of Incorporation
was passed by the Virginia Legislature on
the 10th Of March, 1858. On the 9th Of
April, 1858, Mrs. Ann PAMELA Cunning
ham, Southern Matron, Regent, on behalf
Of the association, entered into an agree
ment with John A. Washington for the
purchase of two hundred acres of land
and the surroundings, for the SUN Of two
hundred thousand dollars. The association
effected an arrangement shortly prior to
the breaking out of the late war, by which
they were enabled to discharge the entire
amount of their indebtedness and to cancel
all their bonds. They now hold and cul-
tivate these two hundred acres Of Mount
Vernon land. The original tract contained
about four thousand acres. The tract be-
longing to the association includes the
mansion as well Us the tomb Of George
Washington, together with the garden,
grounds, and wharf or steamboat landing,
which has since been constructed a short
distance below the tomb.
The mansion at Mount Vernon was oc-
cupied by Washington both before and
after the war for Independence. 1t over
looks the waters of the Potomac and the
shores Of Maryland beyond. 1t has an
elevation Of at least two hundred feet above
the surface Of the river, which at this point
is about two miles wide. From its situa-
tion it commands an extensive and mag
ni6cent view of the meanderings of this
lovely river and the adjacent shores. The
mansion is built of wood, cut so as to re-
semble stone, and is two stories In height.
The central portion was built by Lawrence
Washington, and the wings we're added
by General Washington. Standing upon
an eliptical plain, it is somewhat remarka-
BILE for its great simplicity and the excel
lence Of its general arrangements. 1t
presents fine appearance from whatever
position it may be viewed. On the eastern
or river front is piazza extending the
entire length of the building, which is
ninety-six feet. This spacious portico is
fifteen feet in width; in height it reaches
to the caves; its pilasters are square; it has
q light and graceful balustrade on its top,
and its ground floor is paved with fiat
stone. "Here," says recent writer, Hthe
hero used to walk, and here doubtless, as his
eye glanced over the beautiful river spread
ing out like bay at the foot of the hill,
his mind was often filed with reflections
upon the alternate gloom and grandeur of
his country's early history, and with glow
ing conceptions Of the glorious future
which awaited her." Built Of the best
materials and with the most durable frame
work, this edifce has withstood the raya-
ges of time remarkably we'll All its fronts
are cut in imitation of freestone. The
roof slopes east and west, and has three
dormer windows looking eastward and two
westward. On the first and second stories,
in the east facade, or river front, are four
teen windows. An octagonal cupola sur
mounts the centre Of the roof answering
the purpose Of an observatory. On the
ground floor are six rooms, most of which
are wainscoted, and have large worked
cornices and shafts, in keeping with the
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