The times., 1901-05-16
DUBBED A SHARP Serene.
Historical Experts Deny That wash
ington Built Hardwood.

ington Built Hardwood.
A number of distinguished gentlemen
in Washington, including Senators, Rep
resentatives, army and navy Off
GERS, and others have within the
past few days received invitations
to become vice presidents of an as
sociation formed for the purchase and
preservation of an alleged manor house
said to have been built and occupied by
George Washington. Genuine surprise has
been caused by the receipt of these invi-
tations as there is high authority for the
statement that Hardwood, so far as
George Washington's connection with it
is concerned. is a castle in the air The
invitation is in the form of the following
letter:
washington Manor Association fqr the
Purchase and Preservation OF historic
HARDWOOD
"Ofice of the Secretary, Edwin Fairfax
Naulty 112 South Fourth Street,
philadelphia. Pa, MAJ II, l9Ol.
Esteemed Sir-A number OF gentlemen
of Pennsylvania and the Nirginlas nave
banded together and formed the Washing
ton Manor Association for the Purchase
and Preservation of Hardwood, the ancient
manor house built by General Washington
in 1926, near CharlestOWn, IN What IS
now Jefferson County, West Virginia, hut
what was then Berkeley County, Virginia.
An option on the estate has been obtained
from Mr. John Augustine Washington IT'S
present owner, and charter for the or
ganization has been applied far. II Is our
purpose TO raise the necessary money Tor
the purchase of the historic old place py
pOIuar subscription and to preserve rare
wood forever for the American people, as
is Mount Vernon.
1t is our intention to have our wee
presidential board composed OF at least
twenty of the most representative men IN
la 1ifaG states chosen from every rep
resentatiYe calling, and we should IKE
to add your name TO the board. among
those who have already accepted are
General Miles Admiral Dewey, PRESIDENT
Eliot, of Harvard; Gen. Joseph wheeler,
Or. Marcus Benjamin, OF the SnilhSOil-
ian Institution. and Gen. Joseph BTech-
inridge Inspector General L. >. 4. In
vitaUOns have also Deen sent 70 Chlei
Justice Fuller United States Supreme
Court; President Hadley, Of Yale; EiShop
Potter. Bishop Coleman, OF Delaware ?
Senators Lodge of Massachusetts, DanieI
OF Virginia scott OF West Virginia. Pen
rose OF Pennsylvania, Depew OF New
York, Doliver of Iowa, Fairbanks Of indi-
ana, Hon. Seth Low, Hon. w g Whit
nsy, and others.
Permit me to recall to your memory
some of the historical associations oI
Harewood. 1t was built In 1926 by Gen
eral Washington, and was afterward oc-
cupied by his brother, Col. Samuel Wash
ingtou. II has been in the possession of
the family ever since and is now owned
by hr. JOln Aug justine W dSIlliiE Loll
Around its grey old walls cling some of
the most romantic memories OF the Col
onial, Revolutionary, and early Federal
period. In it's great parlor James and
Dolly Madison were wed. having jour
neyed thither from Philadelphia in
Thomas Jefferson's coach for the purpose.
It's roof sheltered Louis Philippe, after
ward King OF France. and his Iwo broth
ers during their exile. There the young
son Of Lafayette found asylum during the
French Revolution Chief Justice Mar
shall compiled there part Of his life of
Washington, and Sparks part of his Let
ters Of Washington. Its hail have echoed
TO the tread Of many famous beauty
and gallant gentleman of the olden time.
In the Darlor still stands the great black
marble fireplace given by Lafayette 70
Washington, and placed by him at Hare
wood. Martha Washington planted the
box hedge now growing in the garden,
and Dolly Madison the famous row of
liacs which crowns the lower terrace Of
that bower OF beauty. Thomas jefferson
said OF the view from it's upper windows
looking east toward Harper Ferry. and
the Blue Ridge, that 1t was worth cross
ing the Atlantic 20 see.
"Of the 2.0J) acres Of land comprising
the estate il General WashiugtOn's day,
only 2G3 are now left. but these comprise
the heart of the place. Mr. Washington.
the present owner, has agreed to sell the
place for $500 an acre, manor house, Of
fees, barns, and outbuildings all included.
The Washington Manor Association pro-
poses to raise the money by subscriptions
Of 81 each, and the issuance of certifi-
Gates, and we hope to be able 10 accom-
plish this within less than two years.
Confident that you will join our board
Of vice presidents. and aid us in this
splendid work, / am, dear sir. yours sin
serely, --.-,..,- ,-,---,.,.
Secretary
Several Of the gentlemen who received
this invitation courteously accepted it
oil
ing enquiries, and are now being adver-
Used as vice presidents of the Washington
! Manor Association. Others, more fami-
lar with Washngtonia, studied up the bi-
| ographies and investigated the records
| in the Congressional Library, the Stat
| Department, and elsewhere, and are now
! prepared to say that there Is no justif-
! cation for the existence of this assOcia-
ton, because they say Washington never
built the alleged manor house, and that
no such place as Hardwood has any as
sociation with the life Of Washington.
Moreover, the historians say that Presi-
| dent Madison was not married at Hare
wood, but in house in Frederick Coun-
ty belonging to Steptoe Washington.
| George Washington did own land in West
Virginia, which he acquired when a young
surveyor but he sold ii to his brothers,
| Charles and Samuel and never built a
house there. He inherited Mount Vernon
in l755 when a young man, and never
lived elsewhere except in an official resi-
dcnce
In view Of these circumstances, and eS-
pecialV in view of the statements in Sec
retary Naulty's letter that $500 an acre Is
TO be paid for the Harewopd property,
some OF the distinguished gentlemen who
have been invited TO become vice preSi-
dents of the Washington Manor AssOcia-
tion. have declined in writing and are in
| clined To the opinion that this well-mean-
ing society has been made the unwitting
| victim either of real estate spectators or
| Of their too eager patriotism.
Try thc Century latest waltz. Droop's