Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-05-23

Historic ASSOCIATIONS of Alexandra.

Historic Associations of Alexandria.
The writer In the preceding articles OF this
course has eudeavored to show the STEADY
and healthy growth Of our city from very
small beginning, her present modern I'M
provements and destined place among the
cities Of the unioo, and has given pa ent IL
lustrstion of the effects Of Sudden booms.
He has depleted the city's relapse from an
unnatural impetus impaired to her by war
times, her revival and steady growth to the
proportions she now presents to-day. This
being the seventh and probably the last oil
the series, 1t is thought proper to treat OF the
historic associations which cluster In and
around old Belle Haven, ard to eDdeavor 10
show to the world tbst while the city etfers
the best inducements to all who desire TO re-
side 10 healthy, centrslly-locsted place,
upon the banks Of nj =stic river. there are
.sociations connected With Alexandra
which render 1t intensely interesting to
every student Of The country's history and
make many spots within her limits and en-
vironments eacred.
situated as Alexandra Is on the road be-
tween Washington city and Mount Vernon
within less than an hours drive of the lat
ter pIace-it was the city of the Father OF mis-
Country Her postofioe, market house,
churches, Masonic lodge and stores were
patronizsd by him, aud when occasion re-
uuired, history Tells us, he helped man hef
fire engines. In bis last illness On Alexan-
d.ia physician Or. Diek) watched the figh
Of the vital spark, and an Alexandria oabi-
net maker constructed the coffin Into which
his remains we're placed. Here several OF
his manumitted slaves passed the evening OF
their lives in peace and conteDtment, and
old men and women nov moving among us
have listened to their "reminiscences OF
Mouot Vernon and George and Martha
Washington.
Alexandra has ever been regarded as
historical city, thronged with blessed mem
cries which are too little appreciated By
most of us who have been reared hereabouls.
Our people, from an every day familiarity
With old Christ Church, the Braddock
House, the City Hotel, Msrshall House and
other spots pregnant with history and intet-
esting trsditioDe, pass them as unconcerne0-
ly ss the Egyptian drives bis camel around
the Sphinx or the Pyramid OF Cheops. To
people from distance, nc waver, each OF the
places named tells a thrilling tale, and 1t is
no unconi mon thing to observe The stranger
standing reveren,ly surveying tine houae 10
watch General Braddook perfected his plans
for what proved to him disastrous battle,
with the same interest with which an Amer
loan sntiqnsry gsZ's for the fret time upon
the Tower of London.
The traveller from other portions of the
country, after satisting himself With the life
and hustle of the capital IT,, can pay H.
ing visit to Alexandra, sesk Christ Courch,
tina shrine at @hich toe Father of his C0un-
try offered mp his dsvotions to Deity. and
there his mind eau wander back to colonial
days, whea the plsin and uuoste II atious
Colonel Weshn gtoD, his mind pregnant
with thought, walked to and fro in the same
spot while oonoeiping q great nation. ALI
shis ia az ahsolb bling I the stranger as visit
to Westminster Abbey would be to u.
QnitliDg tbs sacred edifoe, the visitor can
ssed the Inscriptions upon the tombs where
1.-The rude iorefstbers OF the hamlet Sleep"
ADD then proceed 10 Washington Lodge
room where he will Immediately become ss
much engrossed 90 before while survey ng
he chair the illustrious chieftsin Used while
presiding OYER the workings Of the craft.
Here, The visitor, II no be of oontempis-
tive nature, can willis away an hour 10 max
irg minute inspections OF the portraits of
Washington, Lafayette and theie Masonic
Conpeers, t'geiher y leh The interesting col
lection OF relics in The shape OF Wasbington's
clock, apron, gloves, .wels and numerous
other articles interesting to the craft and to
the antiquarian. Should the stranger be a
member OF the fraternity, he can attend q
NEE ing of this historic lodge, and on his
return home can have it to say that he has
sst In the lodge In which Warrington at one
time welded the gevel.
10 the fame square upon which the Ma
sonic Temple Ia situated Is the Market court
TO which Washington Was regular visitor
before. during and after the con f!ct which
terminated in our freedom and tle breaking
OF the yoke Of George the Third. In thls
enclosure the politics OF colonial days were
discussed IL was here that Washington had
his memorable fight With Pay ne looming out
second best, by the way and where men,
fred with patriotic zeal, armed ard drilled
for struggle they saw to he inevitable.
Upon the opposite corner stands the old
City Hotel, which has witnessed ell the ops
and downs Of Alexandra, and where WASH
ingon at ons time established his head
quarters.
To say nothing of the noumerabe spots
rendered historic by The second conflict for |
Independence (in 1879, when the British |
feet passed up the Potomac and red coats |
saarmed our streets, many places hereabouts |
have been made interesting By the four
years. civil War, chief among which is the |
Marshall House. Thirty years save one day |
have elapsed tioGe the unfortunate Colonel
Ellsworth, Just passed into manhood, at the
head OF the New York Fire Zouayts, landed
ia Alexandria, and whose dead body, pierced
ihrouph vith bullets and huckshot an hour
later, was silently borne on the muskets OF
his comrades towards the steamer from
which he had 50 recently, full OF life and
,otr,otio zeai 6jsemherka6 The fata nj hjs
rash but qual!y JEALOUS ard brave destroy