Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-12

the ground, on the outside of the frame
oweiiing-so large, indeed, as to make the
house look Extraordinarily small in COM
parlson with them Each wide fireplace is
said to have had capacity sufficient for a
cord of wood at one time. The building
rad but one floor and an attic under the
big hip-roof, which was broken by dormer
windows to admit the light. At the front
vas wide porch, extending the whole
width Of the house. On the right side Of
the entrance Was the parlor. and its fire.
place was decorated, after the fashion of
that time in the dwellings Of the WELL to do,
with blue Dutch tiles of quaint design
There were but three other rooms OF fair
size on the first floor the largest being In
the one-story extension at the back, used
sleeping chamber by Augustine and
Mary. In that comparatively humble room
the greatest American was born, February
-, 1871. There also. besides his sister
Betty, who was born in June, 1733 his
brother Samuel first saw the light, in No.
vember, 1874.
The house stood back about a hundred
yards from the bank of Pope's creek and
about half mile southwest from the Po-
tomac In a straight line. The plantation
was a triangular-shaped track, bounded by
the Potomac and Bridges and Popes creeks
and comprised somewhat over 1000 acres of
wood and bottom land, on which were pro-
duced large crops Of tobacco for export.
The trading vessels Of that day being most
ly OF light draught, no difficulty was en-
countered In mooring close to shore and
from the fields where the weed had been
produced.
When George Washington was but little
over four years old the historic house was
accidentally destroyed by fire. The burn
ing happened on windy day In April
1875. The slaves in the yard were burning
brush and other trash" as is usual in the
spring, when suddenly some sparks were
carried from the burning heap to the dry
shingles of the home roof. In few mo-
ments the whole structure was wrapped In
flames. Augustine Washington, the father
was absent at the time, and Mary, the
mother took command in his stead Under
her direction the family furniture and val
uables were removed by the slaves to a
place of safety. and then, without wasting
time in idle lamentation, she set all hands
to assist in making up beds and preparing
supper in a cabin at the rear. which, for
tunately, had escaped burning.
The new house. pine Grove" which Au-
gustine Washington Immediately built down
in Stafford county, Va, across the river
Rappahannock from Fredericksburg, was
modelled closely on the plan of the Wake
field home. There the remainder Of the
children were born, and there Augustine
died In 1I43 and was buried in the vault
with his first wife, Jane Butler, at Bridges
creek.
Certain historians contend that the birth
place of Washington is "mooted point"
and several erudite pamphlets have been
written to prove that our first President
was born In England. But all such gratui
tous controversy and speculation can be set
at rest by reference to the genealogical
table of the family supplied by Washington
himself, while President to an English her
aldry office, in which he wrote: George.
Oldest son Of Augustine. by the second mar
rfage, was born in Westmoreland county"
This explicit record may we'll be taken as
conclusive authority on the point. While yet
a lad of seventeen, he made this entry in his
mothers Bible. which is still carefully pre-
served by her descendants: Geo. Washing
ton, son to Augustine and Mary, his wife,
was born ye 18th (old style) day of Feb
ruary, 1871, about 10 in the morning, and
was baptized the Sd Of April following, Mr..