The Washington herald., 1907-05-12
GEORGE wAsHINGT0N's HOME
improvements at Mount Vernon Re-
storing the Old Place.

storing the Old Place.
After months Of tedious. work and care
ful study Of the original fieslgns and col
orings Of the ceilings and walls OF the
old home OF George Washington at Mount
Vernon, a likeness OF the interior OF the
rooms as they were during the colonial
days has been brought about, which az
present IS as nearly q perfect reproduc-
ton OF the old style as human ingenuity
can make it. The same stucco work that
adorned the walls and was admired by
| the people Of the oldeu days and by the
Washington family itself among others,
is still in its place.
hree generations occupied the mansion
on the eminence overlooking the beauti-
ful Potomac River. and the hills in the
distance after George Washington died.
Several times during the time OF each
family in the house the walls were paint
ed and kalsomined until eventually the
original work was practically covered
and buried, perhaps under an inch Of the
accumulation Of the painters brush for
many years.
Last year the idea Of scraping the
kalsomine and paint from the walls was
suggested 10 members OF the Mount Yer
non Memorial Association. and early in
the fan II. H. Dodge, the superintendent
Of the grounds, was instructed 10 secure
the services Of several artists, and the
work was begun. The experiment was
tried in one OF the rooms, with the re-
suit that the original stuCCO vas located.
Then the work was started with the idea
in view OF reproducing the old-time de-
signs and eolors all over the house. Last
week the task was finished.
Not only the old designs just as they
stood more than a century ago. but the
c0lorings and the various tints and
shades as well, just as they were when
the Father of His Country lived there.
have been brought out By the workmeu,
who. instead Of the usual way. took of
kalsOmine and paint, instead of putting
it on. The walls and ceilings of every
room on the lower floor were gone over
and scraped thoroughly. Afterward the
job was completed by the final touches
and finishing tnts. which have trans
formed the historic rooms 10 resemble
in coloring as near as is possible the ex-
act shades Of those Of the early DAYS.
The banquet room has been finished in
white and gray, the stUCcO work on The
ceiling standing out prominently, Just as
II G4s HHcH george " aS14HSl9A walked
under it. day after day and year after
year. The walls Of the parlor are mauve.
with a ceiling of gray. and touch OF gilt
done artisticauy about the edges Of the
stucco work
The large spacious hail. where hundreds
who were guests Of the Washington fam
lily first entered the old homestead, has
been finished in robins egg blue. with
gray and white. The Shades blend grace
fully and are particularly attractive TO
the eye.
The dining room. with its stucco and
relief work, just as Il was a hundred
years ago, has also been reproduced in
the original col0ring. The walls have
been painted a delicate shade OF brown
with a ceiling Of gray.
The boundary lines and the approaches
and dFiveways TO the mansion are also
being improved. and wheR the work is
completed they viii be more ike they
were at the time Of Washington's occu-
pancy than at any time since