The Washington times., 1914-06-28
Ghosts and Memories of Colo.
nial Days Haunt Fine Old
Mansions Where Our For.
bears Lived and Loved.
Names of Virginia and Maryland
Families Cluster About Es-
tates Where Washington
Was Guest.
By RUTH ELEANOR JONES.

terest are part Of the education Of every
child, a source Of inspiration to thou
sands of grown-ups, and yet how often
are near by landmarks teeming some
times with interesting legend and tradi-
| tion-ignored in favor of remote spots,
to which. mayhap. distance lends en-
chantment. This is particularly true Of
the vicinity Of washington. abounding
in charming old places, the scene Of no
one knows how many departed glories,
Of countless stirring scenes, which are
quite unknown to tourists and wnoss
! stories are forgotten, or cherished In
the memories Of few.
Mt. Vernon and Arlington are. Of
course, tourist ridden, but who knows
the story Of Marshall Hall, now an ex-
cursion place; or Of Rosedale, Mrs. Nor
toms interesting old home out by Wood
lev Lane. where Major L'Enfant visited
and from whose porch he looked down
on the struggling little village Of WASH
ington and laid his plans for the beau
tiful city that has outstripped even his
dreams? And then there Is Poplar
Prince George county. built Of brick
brought from England In 100 or there
abouts and possessing the only bona
fide haunted graveyard in the vicinity.
This is not only an historically interest,
ing spot, but a wonderfully beautiful
place. house that is a veritable gem
OF pre-colonial architecture, and the
most attractive of homes.
Blair Lee Has Historic Home.
The home of Senator Blair Lee, in
Montgomery county. was the home Of
his forbears in civil war days and the
scene of many stirring events; while
near by, at "Glenross," up Woodside way,
stood until last summer an enormous
walnut tree, the biggest In the whole
country, which was used by the Con-
federate soldiers as a signal tower. And
that same great tree used IN FORMER
days to shade an old tavern, the rem
devious OF the farmers ana genlry' Va
the section.
When 1t was built is lost in the rnists
of tradition, but the present owner CT
tile place has in her possession the day
book. for the year l79s-a rare old rec
ord containing the names of famous
families of Maryland and Virginia, with
an account of the number of rum punch
es Or grogs charged against them, rec
ords of bets, curious bits OF inforna-
ton Of all sorts and showing more than
one fine old Marylander CHARGED with
the purchase of a barrel Of rum. One
Page is glorified with the name nf
George Washington, who stopped on
over night on his way TO MI vernon
Another place sacred to the memory
Of Washington is Clean Drihnths. h.
the great general quenched his thirst
one day and whose waters he praised un :
stintedly. The quaint house there stan9s
today Just as 1t stood then-a little
grayer with age. and with a few signs
of decay, but filled with queer furni-
ture and with a box hedge that Is the
envy OF all garden lovers.
Senator Lees home is another place
named for a spring, Silver Spring,
beautiful peaceful spot II is, but many
of the wounded were treated there dur
ing Early's raid. and a soldier was Kill
ed on it's very edge by shell from Fort
Stevens. A duel was arranged there IN
the rarlous days before the war oehween
john c. Breckenridge and member OF
Congress, who opposed him in some
measure, but 1t was finally patched up
and bloodshed prevented by the owner
Francis p. Blair. Later, Breckenridge
made the place his headquarters ana
thus Silver Spring was the center OF
hostilities during the time that WASH
ington was threatened by the Confed-
crates
House Built In 1885.
The Poplar Hill estate is part OF
an original grant called His Lordship's
Kindness" which dates back to the
early days OF Maryland and the great
Lord Baltimore. The house was built
about 1875 by one Henry Dsrnell for
his scn, Henry Darnell, Jr.,. on the oc-
cas!on OF his marriage to the oaugnter
OF the Earl OF Shrewsbury.
II is owned by the descendants of
this Henry Darnell today. notable
thing in this country. but 1t Is curious
that, while continuing in the family 1t
has seldom descended from father TO
son The present owner. Henry Dain-
gerfieId, of Baltimore and Washington.
inherited Poplar Hill'' from an aunt
who in turn inherited II from her uncle.
Robert Sewell. the nephew of the orig
inal Darnells. Mr.. Daingerficld, a
brother. Barbour Daingerfeld. who
makes his home there with his wife
and children
The house is a fine old brick struc
ture. Georgian in style. with wings on
either side connected by narrow pas
the other a pretty little chapel. in
which mass was regularly said in the
days when country churches were
unknown. 1t stands in a grove o. sp!en-
did trees. from which the place takes
it's name, behind are terraces, d beau
tiful old box-gar6en, and below to one
side the family grave yard.
Ghosts Haunt Place.
This is the haunt o. the family ghost.
or one of the family ghosts, a figure in
white, with 4 shadoWy light. which has
been repeatedly seen seated on a grave
stone. Iconoclasts say that the figure
in white was matcrialiZed by a member
of the family to frighten visiting
youth. but those who prefer can take
the word of the colored people Of the
neighborhood who believes in the spirit
with wkole-hearIcd enthusiasm, who
have all seen II, and who I've the Oil
burying ground a wide berth. Another
ghost there is. 4 lady in purple. who
walks the halls. in a gown o. a by
gone fashion.
The authority on the "hants" and
also on the stirring days that have
passed at Poplar Hill is old Uncle
Louis, horn there some ninety odd
years ago. and living still in "tre quar-
tcrs" where he nas passed his entire
life When the Emancipation ProClama-
ton was made, Uncle Louis had been
a slave 20 long that he had got the
habit, and stayed on and on, looking
after the big house" while the fam
ily scattered during the troublous days
OF the civil war.
He is character and a mine of
"reminiscences. He'll tell of the roar
ing days OF "Ole Marse" Robert Sew
ell. when the squire was apt to ride
his horse through the great hall,
when the blades OF the countryside
gathered for carouse and high play.
and when. one night. the master was
only prevented by force by the help
of a friend and the servants, from
gamb bling away his broad acres. He'll