The Washington herald., 1908-02-16
OPEN KEYS MANSION
Patriotic Exercises Planned
for Next Saturday.
SCHOOL CHILDREN TAKE PART
Addresses to BE Delivered by Com
missioner Macfarland and Others,
rated with Pictures of Washington
and Francis scott Key,

Edi tptlC tAtIclScS VIII Dt COHuutltu
next Saturday in memory of Francis
Scott Key, author Of the national anthem,
| 'The Star Spangled Banner
The old Key mansion, in Georgetown.
fstanding in dilapidated condition at S5iS
NJ street northwest, viii BE- formally
opened to the public at 10 O'Clock in the
morning.
The programme. which has been ar
ranged by the Francis Scott Key Me-
mortal Association. will be participated
in by the teachers and pupils OF the
public schools Addresses viii be de-
Iivered by Hon. Henry +. F. Mcfarland
president Of the association. and other
officers. among who are several promi-
nent persons.
Organized Year Ago.
The association We organized a year
ago, and steps were Immediately begun
to gain possession of the mansion. This
movement was successful, and the asso-
citation is now selling stock to raise
money to be used in placing the mansion
in proper condition.
Charles II. Weisgerber, the artist who
preserved the famous Betsy Ross house
III Philadelphia has been retained by the
association as business manager. He viii
endeavor to reconstruct the damaged
parts of the house, and eventually re-
store it to the condition it was in when
Francis Scott Key lived there.
On the occasion of the opening, tho
house viii be decorated with pictures OF
Washington and Key. painted by Mr.
Weisgerber A number of other paintings
Of the artist will later be exhibited III
the Key mansion The Birth Of Our
Nations Flag the canvas that helped
TO make Mr. Weisgerber known 10 the
public. probably will be on exhibition.
The old house, which is one Of the
finest types Of colonial architecture. Is
palaual in its appointments. The usual
wide hall runs through the building from
front 20 rear and contains a magnificent
example of the old colonial stair case
The ceilings are twelve feet high and the
large square rooms. with their great
open freplaces, viii be "a revelation to
dwellsrs in modern houses.
state of Preservation.
The moldings are in splendid state Of
preservation. and the paneling and wood
work are in surprisingly good condition
Considering the fact that the house has
been used for various businesses and oc-
cupied by al classes Of persons. IL Is
we'll preserved.
The ravages of time are more marked
on the southern front overlooking the
Potomac than on any other portion The
l,rlaI r,gr.l ,,-f.f.p ,rfs-sr,.fI,- .--.as tG-4-
side of the house, and the old couserva-
tory are gone, They have rQtted away
through neglect but. fortunately. the
architectural lines are still plainly indi-
Gated. and may be restored 10 accord
with the original structure.
Owing 10 the immense space within It's
walls. the house may be used as a re-
pository for historic flags and objects OF
interest pertaining 10 the history of the
iag. Many of Keys personal effects and
pieces Of household furniture have been
located. and viii ultimately be placed in
the house. A committee Of the assocla-
ton is already at work TO procure these
treasures.
Visitors 10 the mansion Will find objects
of interest. MT Weisgerber's original
painting THE Inspiration viii be con
spicuously displayed. 1t alone is well
worth trip 10 Georgetown. There win
also be shown an exact reproduction OF
the room in the Betsy Ross house, where
the Stars and Stripes was born. This
ROOM as TO dimensions and furniture Is
historically correct being reproduced by
Mr. WeisgerbeT after exhaustive research
and long residence in the Flag House
Il contains lite-size figures of Betsy Ross
maker of the flag; Gen. Washington
Robert Norris, the patriotic fnancier OF
the Revolution. and Col George Ross
uncle of the mother of the flag" Each
figure is clothed in costume historically
correct, and the faces are striking like
nesses OF the originals.
Betsy Ross House Models.
There viii also be shown "a model OF
the Betsy Ross house. surrounded by
miniature park. This model shows for the
first time an exterior Of the house as it
was in 1776 when the first Star Spangled
Banner" was produced
This is also the first time this wax
group and model have been shown outside
Of Philadelphia. They will be kept here
until the school children OF the District
have had ample time to see them.
The officers Of the association are as
follows:
President, Hon. Henry b T. Macfar-
land: first vice president, Admiral George
Dewey; second vice president. Rear Ad-
miral Winfield Scott Schley: secretary. +. /
s. Key Smith. great-grandson Of
Francis Scott Key; treasurer. =. Hoover.
The board of trustees is composed of
the above officers. Justice job Barnard.
and Stuart Mcnamara. assistant United
States attorney for the District of Colun-