Smyrna times., 1876-03-15
For be smgna Tlmes.
Mount Vernon.


The people of Delaware were fuIly informed in
ISIS of the purpose and object of buying Mount /
Vernon Washingtons home, from the heirs who We're /
work was undertaken by Ann Pamela Cunningham
lady of South Carolina, who eoneeyedth the idea and
gave of her own means, literally TO accomplish It,
association organized throughout the country,
entitled THE Ladies' Mount Vernon Association of
the Union il was chartered by Virginia and the title
deeds for the property We're prepared by eminent |
LAWYERS of Charleston and Philadelphia.
To secure the estate, ladies appointed in all
the States TO endeavor to interest their respective peo
pie, and raise money enough to buy 200 acres OF |
the grounds around it, and in which he is buried.
For this, two hundred thousand dollars We're 10 DC
In Delaware three thousand dollars were collected
by few ladies' in SO short time that the National
IatelgeRcer of Washington, sad in editorial COM
pIimentary to them that Delaware would give more
in proportion to population than any STATE IN @ tle
Union" This is way Delaware has.) IN every t0a0n
aud village the Slate the people contributed; the time
honored Masons Washington was a Mason the Od9
Fellows officers and emp,oy&SeS & ol money te fesv snd
promptly and the press throughoutthe sate gave lle
most eeent Snd in the newspapers at the time
the money duly accounted for and the names of the
donors and amount of contribution registered in the
Archives of the Association.
An the states contributed, and Mount Vernon be-
came and is the property and sacred trust of the
pie of the United States who contributed to its pur
chase, and not of the ladies who without compehsat
ton, or idea OF reward eoeee9 @ te Ome! @ 70 Il pSS G
There has been great deal of shameful misrepre-
sentation in regard to Mount Vernon, but it has not
been considered worth contradiction The people of
Delaware however, who gave their money for il, and
especially those who saw it before it into the
hands of the ladies' invited to visit the place, and
worthily given and has been properly spent.
Whent the Association took possession, Mount Vernon
was in state of dilapidation that would have aP-
palled less courageous person than Miss Cunning
ham; there was not door or window belonging 70
Washngtons home that did not make US feel ashamed
as Americans, that such neglect could be allowed to
exist in so followed spot. -
The $4,000 were raised chiefly in small sums and
lad polla tod to
Washington Treasurer of the Association and by him
paid to John A. Westinghouse whom Mount Vernon
was bOught-in inStGlmentS according to arrange
ment and the ladies set out hopefully to look aiIer
their purchase. And what did they see? The large
pOrtieo fronting on the Potomac, was down. the eX-
iensive greenhouse built by Genl Washington him
SELF had been burned to the ground years before the
and the gardens grounds and walks, Obliterated by
time and weeds. There was no spot on the estate
the wharf having been washed away long before.
All these have been rebuilt and restored as they were
left by Washington. The Association allow no de-
parture from the original plans no modernlzng or
attempt at Improvements.
fine wharf was built Immediately by the Associa,
ton at cost of three thousand dollars; this enabled
them to employ steamboat which, by contract; had
Vernon: il ran daily in open weather from Wash
ingfon stopping at Intermediate places, and the AsS2
citation allowed 80 cts. for each passenger With
this and the sale OF canes; photographs mowers aId
OccasiOnal-very OccaslOnal-d0natlOns from NlstOrS
the place was kept until the war began The Govern
ment then found it eXpedient to take the boat and
Mount Vernon in Il kind OF blockade for three
or more, ana lie EOOullesS VI 1Itd
surer Mr. Riggs the ladies would have been Obliged
TO give up their charge, 10 keep their SuperleIten
dent and few necessary labOrers, from starvation
Mr. Riggs took our Virginia bonds gave par value
for them and encouraged as to hotd on
After the war over Congress paid us $1,000 a!
indemnication for loss to the Association in taking
the boat &c. This 5000 Immediately used II
new roohngs and such expensive repairs as had DeeL
of funds; and, by the request OF Miss cunningham
by Congress The 81 900 was sufficient also to prepare
and the mansion against fire. and to repair ant
paint the banqueting hall (which in ruins almost
and to cover its floor with Oilcloth.
The employees at Mount Vernon organized int
q fire company and are regalarly drilled by Colone
Hollingsworth, the superintendent
The Vice Regents from each State meet at Noun
Vernon annually, in June their accommodation
and assisted BY the Governor of Virginia and a com
mittee of gentlemen appointed by him, who, as al
counsel for the coming year. The Constitution c
the Association provides that if they fail TO keep the
trust properly, Mount Vernon reverts to Virginia
The sources of revenue are first and chiefly tn
boat-whieh is very profitable in open weather-an
the sales of canes, photographs and flowers az tn
council of June 1874 the janitOrs wife authorize
TO have ready, daily, for visitor by the boat tab
creams coffee, milk &c, at moderate prices.
There is an endowment fund which at preseI
amounts to about $500 The Association earnestl
hope the people will give to this fund liberally it e.
plains and recommends itself DeldaCdTe should hare
The employees at Mount Vernon are a gentlema
SUPERINTENDENT Colonel HOllingswOrth, who resid
there at salary of 81 100 year gardener janito
who is with his wife Of the old Washington stock
servants and few labOrers, necessary to raise COZ
and potatoes help the gardener to keep the grOun'
IN order. and look after three COWS, some pigs and
feW mules. The Association have not felt able
keep horse
There are seventeen rooms in the Washington ma
sion, all OF which were unfinished and deSOlai
when. through the Ladies' Association, it came in
the possession Of the people of the United States.
Few articles of furniture have been procured by son
Of the Vice Regents. and placed in the parlors; b
the halls library, three parlOrs and the bed rooI
are waiting 70 be furnished: and when the vi
Regents meet there every year, they are obliged
hire from Washington city, beds, and such things
are necessary for their use, while they attend To
business Of their charge.
Ii was determined at the council Of June. 1919. tn
Thirteen Of these room should be furnished By the Hirt
oriqinaI States and that il should be done before
opening Of the Centennial at Philadelphia, u
foreigners as well as our citizers, shall not II
the home where Washington lived and died, and /
+. buried empty and cherries.
For Delaware TO furnish, was allotted the small
bedroom on the second floor of the main budil
The state c0at-ofarns is to be placed over the do
and the room TO be called the Delaware Room
should be furnished with every necessary article
the best qsdig or the state viii not be true to her
cord. II there should be contributed more th
enough to furnish the room. the surplus viii be ado
90 the endowment fund, and duly accounted
20 the donors.
Dclawareans who feel pride in this object are
quested % enable the Vice Regent. Mrs. Margaret
comegys. OF Dover, to furnish this room before
first Of May.
DOVER. March I0tb, 1876