The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-09
MOUNT VERNON ASSOCIATION.
Indiana Unrepresented in the Work
of Preserving Washington's Home.

| The association of Mount Vernon regents
has heretofore held the annual congress the
latter part of May or early part of June,
but last year the weather was warm dur
ing the session that it was decided to
change the time of meeting to May g. The
New York vice regent, assisted by the
Mount Vernon Association of New York.
has during the past year, had the house
servants quarters restored, and the coun-
Gil held its sessions there. The quarters
stand where part of the greenhouses stood.
Mr. Richard Washington. who is over
eighty years of age is a frequent visitor
to Mount Vernon, and he identified the
place of the greenhouse extension the
site formerly occupied by the house serv-
ants quarters. In removing the greenhouse
the old foundation was discovered, and
thus the original plan could be, and was,
carefully followed in constructing the new
building.
This association was organized in 1854,
with Miss Ann Pamela Cunningham as re-
gent. 1t was most fitting that Miss Cum
ningham should be honored, as the So
ciety is the child of her inspiration. In the
summer of 1854 Miss Cunningham, being an
invalid, came from her home, in South ar
DINA. on a trip North for her health. Sail
ing down the Potomac one DAY as the boat
neared Mount Vernon the bell was TONED eo,.
Miss Cunningham inquired the reason Tor
tolling the bell and was informed IL was
done in respect to the memory OF Washing,
visiting this place, which she doubtless
thought to find carefully preserved from
the ravages of time, was shocked at the
spectacle presented by neglect and dlsuSe.
The roof leaked and in many of the rooms
the paper was falling from the walls; the
| pillars of the front porch We're rottlng
away, and even the tomb showed neglect:
| Miss Cunningham left Mount Vernon fllled
| with an inspiration, and in short time,
,a1.fn0 bnr T0la sent a n
| invitation to the patriotic women OF amer
| lea to assist her in saving from destruc-
| ton and preserving for future generations
| the home of our first President.
The daughters of America, and the sons,
| responded nobly and in less than hVe years
| the sum of 5000 coo was raised, ana the two
| hundred acres which included the sites or
| the buildings, the deer park, and some farm
| land were purchased from the Washington
| heirs. Then came the civil war and i'm
| proVements were at a standstill. wee re-
| gents were appointed from several OF the
| States and they aided Miss Cunningham in
| her work. After the war repairs and res
| toration were made as rapidly, as possible
and a large collection of Washington relics
| has gradually found its way WITHIN , Inc
| walls which originally sheltered them me
| tomb was restored ana IS now What IL
| should always have been, the Mecca OF eV-
| ery patriotic American heart Miss Cum
| ningham held the position of regent from
| 1854 until her death in 1874. There have been
| three regents-Miss Cunningham, from 1854
| to 1874: Mrs. Berghman, from 1874 to 1891.
and the present regent ~, Mrs. vor justin van
| have visited Mount Vernon many times
| and always find it delightful, but my last
| visit was especially satisfactory. The board
of regents was in session, and 1t happened
| to be Governors day, or the day upon
which the regent and vice regents give a
| reception and banquet to the Governor OF
| Virginia and the advisory board. This
| year Governors day came on the
| 18th of May. Governor and Mrs. OFarrell.
| accompanied by a gay party of ladies' and
| gentlemen, made the trip from Washing
| ton city down the Potomac on board the
guests and sightseers filled the steamers
/ decks and salon, enjoyed the music of the
| orchestra. the balmy air and obtained
glimpses of the historic. places on either side
| of the river. Early in the morning the
regents had a tree planting, in which the
oldest members of the council alone took
| York; Mrs Lucy II. Pickins, of South Car
DINA Mrs. Martha Mitchell, Of Wiscon-
Carolina; Mrs. Hudson, of Connecticut, and
| Mrs Washington. of West Virginia, each
planted an oak tree on the brow of the
| hill. 1t is intended to have tree planting
| each year that the senior members Of the
council may perpetuate their memories IN
When the boat arrived at the wharf it
| was met by the superintendent and his as
| sistant, who escorted the guests TO the
| rated with potted and cut flowers and
| plants, and the regents were all In ele-
CANT reception gowns After RECEIVING tne
| Governor and other guests the regents, as
is their custom accompanied the advisory
board through the mansion, greenhouses
! and over the grounds. According 10 their
| charter if the regents fail to care for the
| Washington estate satisfactorily TO the Gov
| ernor of Virginia and the advisory board
| the property will revert 10 the State Of
| Virginia So ii is part of their duty to
| make this annual inspection. They also in
| speCted a number of valuable relics which
| have been added to the collection this past
| wear Among these is a magnificent carpet
| which was ordered by Louis XVI as a
nresent To President Washington during his
trsf administration The Constitution for
| bids our Presidents accepting presents from
foreign powers, so the carpet was sold and
Judge Jasper Tates. OF Lancaster Pa, be-
! came the owner of It. 1t remained in the
| Rates family until recently, when his great
Great granddaughter, Mrs Thomas Whelan
81 Philadelphia, through Mrs Herrison
vice regent OF Pennsylvania, presented II
10 Mount Vernon. and il has been placed
rpon the floor OF the banquet hall. A hand
| some card table, which was a part OF the
| furnishings during Washington's lifetime
| was returned through the generosity of Mrs
| Ellen Goldsborough, great-g reat-grand-
daughter OF Martha Washington and vice
regent for the State of Maryland. some
| fine pieces of lace worn by Martha Wash
ington were donated by the Conrad family
| Of New Orleans When the inspection was
over the ladies and their guests repaired &c
the library and south porch, where an ele'
giant luncheon was served A young col