New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-17
BIRTHPLACE OF WASHINGTON.
STEPS TO MARK A HISTORIC SPOT BEGUN
WAKEFIELD WHERE THE FIRST PRESIDENT
WAS BORN. TO BE RESCUED FROM
LONG NEGLECT.
(nY ryIyaRAru TO TIE TRrBuSR.I


Washington. Nov l6-Prictical steps have at
last been taken toward marking and preserving the
birthplace OF Washington Colonel John NJ. Wilson.
OF the Engineer Corps OF the Army, who has been
put in charge OF the work authorized by Congress.
has recently made a contract with l. H. Hathaway
& Co.. OF Philadelphia for the construction OF
wharf OF csst-iron screw piles with a timber
deck near the mouth OF Bridge Creek Virginia. as
A means OF approach from the Potomac River TO
the old and long elected place at Wakefield
where Washington was born. The total amount
available for constructing means Of access is
So 20. and the contract for the wharf is for $3.50
Work upon the pier is to begin May l. and the
whole structure Is 10 be completed ready for use
ty August /. The pier will be 1850 feet long by
Is feet wide with head iox6o feet
Wakefield. the birthplace OF Washington. and
h place where his boyhood also Vas spent Is IN
sIx,y-iye niles beIow Washington city and three
miles below the summer resort known as Colonial
Of being tho birthplace OF President Monroe and
General r p Lee Wakefield Is large plantation
mil. and running back some distance between
pope's Creek and Bridge Creek The spot where
the bank Of P1pes Creek and some distance
up from the p3tomac; No.aing remains sna so,s ot
Of four rooms the lower floor and several In the
attic. except the bricks which formed the founda-
ton OF the house. TIP to a few years ago a lone
chimney stood marking this historic spot. but now
nothing remains saye cluster Of ire res a lev
purchased by the Government from John +.
Wilson formerly Of Mary and VINO has been living
the r..c" Tor the last forty years. IL" married
Miss Bette Washington. whose grandfather was
william Augustine Washington, the half nephew
o: General Washington
washnstons father. grandfather and great.
grandfather lived al, or parts Of their lives at
Bridge Creek. now Wakefield. and mere all buried
In the family vault. This vault Is only Il short dis
lance from the birthplace. but nothing remains OF
IL except "A group OF trees ana few marble slabs
with inscriptions almost i!egibi' To rescue this
historic spot from neglect Congress on June ~.
1872 appropriated $500 fer monument 20 mark IN"
spot where Washington was born. In the sprins
ol 1850 Nh EVarts. then secretary OF state visited
the place. and May 4 following wrote i letter
10 Samuel J. Randall Speaker u the House OF
Representatives.. suggesting that tho place where
Washington born should be preserved ana
marked with suitable monument lle estimated
that such "A structure would cost SOVo. ana the
original appropriation subsequently Increased
TO that amount. After the purchas" price or the
property was paid. the amount for completing the
project Of Congress. including the construction OF
a suitable wharf and approaches. was reduced TO
s2.7ls The contract just made Tor inc IanI,ns
wharf leaves only about $1,000 for thc compete
execution OF the will OF Congress in the erection
of a monument. This * not 4 large sum, out IL
NAV be depended upon that colonel Wilson VIII
mako tho best possible uso of the funds AZ MS as
nosal in the design and construction OF the needed
monument