Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-06-23
CHAPMAN'S, 424 and 426 KING STREET

LrrerZo, hor only son. inherited the
Woodlswn estate and resided for some
yeas in the mansion. He was married
to Esther Maria Coke. of Philadelphia,
in 1927 and died in 1917 His widow
survived him until 1885 OF the six
children of Lorenzo only one is left, J.
r c. Lewis, Of Berryville, Clarke
countv, Va. In 1916 the entire domain
of this estate having been almost en-
tirely neg ected through many years,
presented most forlorn appearance.
Only here aud there a patch of ground
was under cultivation-not q handful
of grass seed was sown, not ton of
hay cut. The fields were overgrown with
sedge, brambles, sassafras and cedars,
and al traces OF fer cling had disappear
ed. Not white man was living on an
acre OF it. Only few superannated
slaves remained in some rickety cabins,
and these were sutsisling on products
from the farm of Audley. The tax IS
sessment was thirty dollars-one cent
and a-half an acre, although the build
ings alone he'd cost more than fifty
thousand dollars forty-three years be
fore. 1t was at this period that tie
Nv Jer ey colony purchased the
property for So so per acre, and subse-
Qneutly the whole tract was divided
and sub-divded into small farms and
occupied y improving proprietors.
The mansion having main building
sixty by forty feet, with wide halls,
spacious apartments and ample wings,
united by corridors, was most substan-
tialy constructed of the best ma
terials, and doubtless the builders i'm
agineh that their structure would en-
dure for centuries, and it is only be-
cause of neglect and severe usage that
it's condition now only ninety-hve years
after the laying OF the cornerstone is SO
forlorn and dilapidated, with its leaky
roof, its loosened easements, its un-
hinged shutters and blinds, lis broken
windows, and the bricks and stones
falling away from its massive walls.
Only the irreverent and uupatriotic
,iIgrm who treads those lonely halls,
"wt ose guests have fl d, whose
lights are dead, can note the me Ian
choly change without a paDg OF grief
and regret that there are 20 reverent
ha' DIS ready to restore the wastes and
set once more In order the stately
house as it was when itg first mistress
held there her sway. No other Of all
the historic shliaes of Virginia next
TO Mount Vernon appeals go forcibly to
our kindly regard. The manor was
portion ofthe Mount Vernon estate. The
nsnsion was erected by the loving
muniGcence of the first President. Its
mistress grew up and was educated Ut
der his ntfectionate care and solicltude.
It's master was his favorite nephew,
ard Rad won honors as gallant SOL
dier of the revolution, serving on the
staff of Morgan the renowned hero OF
Quebec, Saratoga and Cowpens. The
mansion with sixty acres Is now III pos
session of a company of enterprislng
gentlemen who are waiting the exten-
81 n thee miles farther of the ectric
ia lway to their property to make con-
templated repairs and improvements.
Surely the old homeste cad ought to be
restored to it's original beauty, and
thenceforth he kept as an enduring
memento of its first mistress, the be-
loved foster daughter of George Wash
ington. No more fitting place we
think than it could he chosen by the
associations of the ''Sons and Daughters
of the Revolution" for the holding OF
their annual convocations and the keep
ing of their archives and historic relics.
That would make it desirable and at
tractive place OF pilgrimage in all com
ing wears and most effectually secure
its perpetual preservation. W. h. 3.