The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-06
HISTORIC JAMESTOWN
Preparations Being Made to Celebrate its
Settlement Nearly 300 Years Ago.
A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE SETTLEMENT.
The Organization OF the Association
for the Preservation OF Virginia
Antiquities, what II Has Accom-.
plishod and What It Expects to
Accomplished Noble Work.

The Association for the Preservation
Of Virginia Antiquities is making prepa-
rations for q fitting celebration of the
settlement of jamestown next Tuesday,
May 18th. 1t has been just 2S9 years
since Newport, with his small fleet, SAIL
ed from Blackwell. Instead of following
Gosnold's direct course across the ATTAIN
tic they sailed by the Canaries and West
Indies, entering the Capes of Virginia
on April 26, 1907. In seventeen days
they had selected jamestown as the place
OF settlement. The Council planned a
fort the settlers felled the trees, pitched
their tents, and prepared for life OF
prosperity. But discord prevailed.
While the Colony was In charge of
Captain John Smith. "Pocahontas and
her wild train" came bringing corn to the
almost starving colonists. She was af-
forwards. in 1912. prisoner for many
months on one of the ships. where John
Roffe, who afterwards married. her,
taught her to become Christian.
The first Legislative body ever elect
ed in this country Thy the people was
elected at jamestown in 1919. Here also
figured Nathaniel Bacon. the rebel,
hundred years before the Revolution,
during which a battle was fought
No section of the country is richer in
historical interest than jamestown, and
1t to keep up this interest that the Asso-
citation for the Preservation of Virginia
Antiquities was formed.
The citizens of Norfolk should feel
hearty interest in the Association as
this city was its birthplace. and here its
name was chosen in 1883. After the for
matioE of the Association in Norfolk. the
first formal meeting took place at Will
liamsburg, at which meeting Mrs. Lee,
the wife of the then Governor, was cleo
ted President. and on the 4th of January
one year later. when Mrs. Lee resigned,
being about to leave Richmond Mrs.
Joseph Bryan was elected to fill her
place, which position she has held ever
since.
1t Is hard to realize how much has
been done by this association. The old
powder magazine in Williams burg, built
In ZIG by Governor Spottswood. has been
bought and repaired. The home of Mrs.
Washington, the mother of the Father
of His Country. in Frederick sburg. has
been bought and put in good order and
is now rented out by the Association.
At various times the association has
given certaiR money to assist patriotic
enterprises, such as the rebinding of the
records of old York, &c.
Some time ago theAssociation decided
to buy the crown that was sent to
Anne, the Queen of the Pamunkeys, by
Charles the Second, King of England.
AS quite large sum was charged for
this, 1t is being paid for by paying a
certain sum yearly. buying small OBJ
1ects of this sort was not concentrated
In the beginning. and is not often done
by the Association
Since the noble gift by Mrs. Barney of
the ruins at Jamestown with twenty
TWO acres OF land. a heavier wire net
mas been put around the ruins and
graveyard there, and the entire TWEEN
tS-tWo acres enclosed by a wire fence.
Inside OF the fence A hedge has been
planted. and for more than year a
palu caretaker has had charge of the
place. Last year Congress was induced
ny the Association to give an appropria
Ton OF $4,000 10 build a breakwater tn
protect the end Of the Island where the
ruins stand from the river, which for
years mas been making powerful inroads
on thit western shore. Much more has
yet to be done 10 the property of the
ASSOCIATION nj jamestown. II Is the
happy ground of the excursion and the
picnic. and lovely place-and the plans
are 10 make /; far mo,e beautiful than
ID now Is This probably will be done
under the immediate supervision of the
Norfolk branch.
Although so much has been done un-
der the guidance of these able women
in charge OF the association much NOV
IS pressing on them ali the time Latter.
are always coming in to ,lho central
committee in Richmond asking that holm
may De given, or that this or that OH
)ect may be taken into their care and
pro'eG'ioh. Inc work goes on steadily
anouSh OFTEN II Is very hard and very
wearing on these brave and n,triotic