The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1914-02-28
OLD HOMESTEAD OF DOUGLASS.
Why the Property Is Under Heavy
Mortgage.

Mortgage.
NEW LIGHT ON THE SUBJECT
VIII Of the Great Anti-slavery
Agitator Was Not Properly Drawn
Death Defeated the Good Inten-
lions Of Mrs. Douglass-Time For
Race Loyalty to Assert Itself.
Washington.-There have been a
number of inquiries, says Ralph w.
Tyler of this city, as to the existing
mortgage on the old home here of the
late Frederick Douglass. Many can
not understand why the home should
rest under a mortgage when Mr.. Doug
lass was supposed to have been quite
well of at his death. The estate of
Mr.. Douglass did mount up to quite
a sum at his death. A defective will,
made defective by an insufficient num-
Der of witnesses, caused the property
to be distributed according to law
rather than according to the will of
the testator.
The widow of Mr.. Douglass desired
that the old house, containing a mu-
scum of anti-slavery and Douglass
relics, the furniture, books, manu-
scripts and curios of the great orator,
pubicist and anti-slavery leader
should be bequeathed to the race as
a memorial to her husband. To do
this it was necessary for her to buy
in the home from the other heirs that
she might have a clear title to it.
This she did, giving $4,000 for the
old homestead on Cedar Hill.
In order to make the purchase, how
ever, it was necessary for her to Dor
row money with which to purchase the
equity of the other heirs. She died
before she could pay of that mort
gage. In her last will and testament
she bequeathed the home, with all its
rich and priceless possessions, to the
race Mr.. Douglass had fearlessly
championed and served. She might
have bequeathed it to her own rela-
tives, but she chose to will it to the
race with which her husband was
identified. This tells how that mort
gage happened to be placed on the old
home of the great leader.
By act of Congress a board of trus-
tees was created to have charge of the
home, but it came to these congress
sionally provided administrators with
a mortgage and without funds to even
keep up repairs, the result being that
the once handsome home, the once fine
old estate, is rapidly passing to decay
and the mortgage is pressing for pay
ment.
Several attempts have been made to
arouse sufficient interest on the part OF
the race to pay off this mortgage and
put the home in proper repair in order
first to save the home to the race and
to preserve the historical relics, ETC., il
contains, but not sufficient has beer
contributed to even keep up the inter
est on the debt.
1t is figured that if $4,000 is raised
by the race it will be sufficient to pay
of the mortgage and restore the build
ing and estate to its former beauty
and make of the home q historical
and memorial site to be visited By
thousands each year, just as the ole
home of George Washington at Noun
Vernon is maintained as q historical
retreat.
There are fifteen acres in the Doug
lass estate, and it occupies the mos
beautiful point in all Washington, over
looking the Potomac, as it does, AMI
being within ten minutes ride Of tn
White House or the halls Of Congress
But unless the race responds to tn,
last appeal, and responds quickly, tn,
old home may be lost.
By the terms Of the will it can b
no other than q memorial 60 Mr.. Doug
lass, free to the public, and conse
quently has no earning power. Whel
it ceases to be that-in case the mort
gage should be foreelosed-the Ole
Douglass homestead viii pass from thu
race. As the legal owners Of thi
estate it is the duty of the raee-every
man, woman, child, church or Organiza
ton, frsternAl or otherwise-to respond
with contributions to pay Of this debt
and this response should come quickly
It is earnestly hoped that the COlOret
people in al parts Of this country vii
respond to the appeal for funds to as
sist TO redeem and for all future tim.
to retain the home Of the late Fred
erisk Douglass.
# each one Of the ten million Afro