The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-28
MONROE'S OLD HOME.
OAK MIL, THE VIRGINIA ESTATE
OF THE FfFTh PRESIDENT.
IL IL Now n Stock Fafm-The Fnirfsxss ana
Their Horses-HousehoidS aiuapies
Once the Presidents.

rers chiefly on his beautiful estate IN
Loudoun county. Virginia. named Oak
Hll. from a cluster OF high oaks, tower
in2 above all other trees on us Wccuta
lawn. The picturesque OLD virginia cot,
tage with its dormer windows and
chimney on the outside, in which the
family lived for many years, was finally
superseded I'm the early part of Mr.. Mon
roe's presidency by the stately old man
si)l shown
oak Hlu is situated half way between
the Potomac and the Blue Ridge. ana &C
cupies a commanding position on an emil
/ nence overlooking a well-farmcd, rolling
country, and its beautiful lawn, with us
velvety blue grass turf. Is noted the
country over. 1t is said that President
Monroe himself planted a tree in this
beautiful lawn, TO represent each OF
the States of the Union, the same having
been presented 10 him for that purpose
by representatives Of all the states IN
/ Congress during his administration.
The general plan OF the house is that OF
the executive mansion in Washington anu
judging from President MOnroes letters
il was the outcome of many years OF
careful deliberation. 1t seems typical, in
a sense of the character OF its protector
an unpretentious and noble construction.
while at the same time a striking example
of the tendency of taste In the early
years of the republic. TO the severely
classical in domestic architecture. 1t is
built Of brick. and is ninety feet long by
fifty wide and TN zee stories high includ-
ing basement. The front door Is approach
ed through a small porch that 50 frequent
ly during the war vas the position OF
vantage for the redOhbtabe MOsby, who
directed a great many OF his celebrated
raids from this point. The hall is OF good
size. and directly opposite the front door
TO the right is the door of the dining-roOm,
and to the left the drawing-rOom. These
two rooms open upon the southern porti-
co. fifty feet long, with seven massive
dorc columns nine feet in circumference
and thirty feet high.
One OF the treasures OF the Monroe resi-
dence left at Oak Hill is the circular din
ing table, made from the cross section Of
an enormous tree from South America-a
table that would easily seat twelve per-
sons. In the drawing room can be seen
n great many household valuables left by
President Monroe which were permitted
to remain unframed by the Union SOL
diers. who so frequently occupied it dur
ing the war. There is large mahogany
backgammon table, presented to Mr. Mon
roe during his presidency by the. Ameri-
can minister of Paris. The playing pieces,
sawed from elephants tusks are about
six inches i'm circumference. and a heavy
marble slab surrounds the table Beneath
this marble slab. within the playing
board, was Mrs. Fairfax's favorite place
during the war of concealing her jewelry
while the house was being searched. Sew
eral times in the dead of night the &C.
cupants Of Oak Hill were awakened by
furious knocking on the front door and
the pounding Of guns and sabres against
the doors and windows; marks then made
on one of the outer doors may stiil be
seen. Admission would be hastily granted
to the soldiers, and the soldiers would
proceed 10 help themselves TO food. Many
a soldier, while the house was being
searched. has rested himself upon the
marble top Of this quaint old table, never
dreaming of the wealth beneath II, or
that IL was other than a common pier
table.
Standing on the front porch Of Oak
hin one can easily see for twenty miles
around. TO the northeast are the Gu
toctin mountains; TO the left IS SUGAR
Loaf mountain, reaching nearly thirteen
hundred feet above the waters Of the
Potomac The famous Blue Ridge forms
the western horizon. while to the south
the mountains Of Bull Run hide from view
the river and the battlefield that bears
that name
one of the notable occurrences connect
ed with Oak Hill was the reception ana
entertainment of General Lafayette, who
came to the United States in 1924. at the
invitation Of President Monroe. After he
returned from his celebrated tour through
the country. the hospitality Of Oak Hill
was extended 20 him. and he was escort
ed thither from Leesburg. by court or
honor, consisting Of the youth ana chiVal-
nv Of old Virginia. He was charmed with
the beauty Of the place, and left many
mementoes of his visit. The mantels OF
both the dining and drawing rooms We're
gifts from General Lafayette TO President
Monroe One can well understand the
sentiments and feelings with which the
great general became an inmate OF the
home Of the MOnroes and recall now
many wears before Mrs Monroe had
effected the release Of Madame de l.aiay-
cite when the latter was confined IN the
prison OF La Force hourly expecting 70 De
executed.
Mr.. Monroe retired from the presidents
office i'm lsgj. and during the six years tiiat
remained Of his life devoted his time De
tween his home at Oak Hill and the resi-
dence OF his daughter. Mrs. Samuel j.
Gouvefneur. wife Of the man OF that name
who was New York's postmaster Tor nine
years. and whose marriage was perform
ed at the White House in Washington
Mrs. Monroe died at Oak Hin, September
%, 1880, and was buried IN the lawn near
the house. Her grave and that Of her
daughter are carefully ard sacredly Kept
by the present owner Of said properly
AS is well known, President Monroe ~ Il /
on July 4, 1851, at the house of his faueht- /
err In New York and Oak Hin passed into /
the possession of Mr.. Gouyerneur, who, /
in 1852, sold the property TO Colonel John /
Walter Fairfax. father Of the present /
owner Henry Fairfax. The Fairfax fam /
lily identified with this historic house is |
not related to the Lord Fairfax family /
Of the fame and story, not at least in I
this country. and the ancestor of this /
line OF the FairfaXes. Thomas Fairfax, |
came TO America from England 1901. lie /
settled in Calvert county, Maryland, ana /
his descendants remained in that province /
for three generations. IS will be observed !
by the dates Thomas Fairfax had been !
In this country a quarter OF a century |
before Lord Fairfax was born !
and seveniy-eight years before the |
latter emgrated 10 Virginia. The births /
6nd deaths in this family are all carefully |
recorded I'm the old Durham Parish church /
in Charles county Maryland. Colonel /
John Walter Fairfax, born IN ls2> at /
Prospect HILL Dumfries. Inherited a hand /
some fortune from his father. and prior /
TO the war lived quiet life OF a country 1
gentleman. When the question Of seces- !
sion arose he was one Of the opposition, |
and took the part of the union candidates |
10 the Virginia convention, but when Viz |
ginia seeded he entered the army, and |
was one Of the staff Of General James |
Longstreet until the end OF the war. Col |
cncl Fairfax vas noted throughout the |
war Is the Fighting Aid" and was
three times promoted for gallGntry. lie /