The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-08-13
A HISTORIC MANSION.
BIRTHPLACE OF MARTHA WASH
INGToN STILL STANDING.
Situated Near West Point, Va, and
IN Good State of Repair-A Pop
ular Place for Relic
Hunters.

West Point, Fa.-Chestnut Grove,
the birthplace Of Martha cambridge,
who married first Daniel Parke Gus
tis and then Col. George Washing
ton, is only 8 short journey from
West Point. It is situated in New
Kent county. about ive miles from
the county seat, on the banks Of the
Pamunkey river. The old mansion.
in which Mrs. Washington first saw
the Light, Is standing to-day, and by
the nails. lumber and style Of con-
struction. extreme age is attested.
Col. R. p. Cook, who was born in
New Kent, near Chestnut Grove (the
cambridge homestead). October 10.
1913, and who purchased the prop
erty and lived on it so years. said
that his grandmother, who was Miss
Ann X. Chamberlayne. sister of Gen.
William Chamberiayne, and a school
mate Of Martha cambridge MRS. Gen.
Washington told him that she did
not know when the house VAS built,
and had DO acquaintance with any
one who knew.
The building is a two-story frame
structure, the walls resting on a
brick basement which is five feet be-
low the surface Of the ground and
four feet above ground. and IS inches
thick, save at the bases Of the two
chimneys, each Of which is five BY
six feet, with an arch in the base
ment six feet high, four feet wide
and five feet deep.
The lumber in the frame is white
oak, the doors and window castings
are Of poplar, and the weather board
ing is Of heart pine. The nails were
originally all hand made. Several
years ago il was found necessary to
replace many OF the nails, for the
sake Of safety. as so many nails had
been drawn out and taken away as
souvenirs or relics by tourists.
The length Of the basement walls
is 5S feet. with 22 feet, and many
sumptuous banquets have been
served therein.
The rooms on the first floor are
ten feet high, 20 feet wide. and Is
feet long.
The reception hall is u by 20 feet.
On the place is a large burying
ground, containing the graves Of the
Dandridges and many noted people
OF the long ago. A large vault re-
mained there for many years, bNlt
OF imported brick. The bricks were
afterward used to build a chimney.
On the site OF the vault thousands OF
walnut trees sprung up. and many
canes and other souvenirs have been
cut and fashioned and carried away
by relic hunters.
The place is now owned BY Mrs. NJ.
c. Smith, OF Newport News, and is
occupied by Mr. .. NJ. Chandler and
family. Mrs. Chandler Is a daughter
Of Mrs. Smith.
The house fronts north TO the
Pamunkey river. and also fronts to
the south. Sloping from the house
10 the river is a terraced garden.
hlled with many beautiful flowers
and old-time shrubs. among others
the calycanthus. with its delicate
fragrance. Out in the river. in front
Of the house. is small island known
as Cocks island" During the civil
war gunboats we're sunk on either
side a the island TO blockade the
course TO Richmond
The name Chestnut Grove was
given on account Of the many fine
chestnut trees abounding on the
Iarm.
While Martha cambridge was the
wife Of Daniel Parke Custis she lived
4 the White House. the site OF which
'an be seen fron the Southern rail-
Dad, running between West Point
md Richmond. Tradition says that
he presidential mansion in washing
on. d. c.. va LAmed from the home
II Mrs. Gusts, afterward Mrs. Wash.
ngton. wife of the first president Of
he UnNed States