Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-01-05
WestlnoreIand County.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette


lase is tho courthouse town of this
c5unty. Few have such record for past
grandeur, none have produced greater or
better men. Geo. Washington, James Mon
and distinguished citizens were proud to
claim Westmoreland as their birth place.
Only 8 small portion of the foundation of the
house in which Washington was born and q
wrecked chimney remain. Congress made
an appropriation some years ago OF twenty
Thousand dollars to build O monument to
mark the birth place of that illustrious cit.
zen, still no move has been mace in that
direction, except to purchase small tract
of land, which was staked off. These great
men were horn only a few miles apart. The
grand Old mansion in which General Lee
was born still stands in good state Of pre-
servation. l enjoyed social chat with DR..
r Fl. Stuart, the present owner and occu-
pans Of ''Stratford," in the very roem
in which the great Confederate chieftain
first saw the light on the 10Th OF January,
1907 His early childhood days were spent
there but when he was about four years old
his family removed to Alexandria, where he
grew up to manhood, and received part of
his education at old Birthstone Castle" +"
(Halowell schooD, and his religious training
at the knee of his devoted mother and at
old Christ Church.
At Oak Grove saw the church of which
Bishop Payne was the acting rector in his
latter days His beautiful residence, "Ca.
vola," is only three miles distant and in
which he died some years ago from disease
contracted when in discharge of his duties
as missionary bishop in Africa. His body
now rests at the Theological Seminary, hav-
iug been thrice removed.
At The Hague" I had the pleasure of
meeting Rev. Mr.. Castleman, formerly of
Alexandra and now the rector of Yeocom
leo church, one of The old colonial ediGces
bull; in l706 He has three churches with
in his district, and is highly esteemed by
people Of all denominations. Els exalted
.iely and persistent energy are having q
good effect in developing Christianity. He
is building beautiful church at Montross,
| but work has now been suspended on &C.
count OF want of funds. He will not run in
debt, and only $500 is needed to complete
the church.
had the pleasure Of meeting your old
citizen, Mr. John Furlong, who was so we'll
known as the efficient book keeper at the
Citizans' Bank. He is now a resident OF
good things around him.
Coonial Beach, that popular summer re-
sort, is within this county. 1t is now slumb-
erng quietly after the delights of the past
season. 1t is to be hoped that your enter
prisiug fellow-citizep, Mr.. M. Bossart, will
make big success out of this mammouth
establishment
The Confederate monument here is prob
ably the handsomest in the Northern Neck,
and has ensraven upon IFS marble tablets
the names of 147 soldiers of Westmoreland,
who fell in defence Of Virginia and in the
cause of constitutional liberty"
| find that the merchants all through this
section deal literally in Alexandria, and TO
their advantage, they say. Several of your
business houses have salesmen travelling
regularly through here. Ibid not hear the
name of your old reliable queensware
house mentioned. It seems little strange
that the enterprising house of E: Miller
g. Son, with an established reputation all
over the State for selling goods a5 low as
any northern house, does not cover this ter
ritory for goods eau be shipped from Alex
nndria at less freight charges than from Bal
timore. With the very low freights you
have there is no reason why every line OF
goods could not be sold from Alexandria in
the Northern Neck of Virginia. G. W. G.