Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-12-02
Selection of Site Encourage
Masons in Memorial to
Washington Project
PROGRESS BEING MADE
Description of Magnificent View OBJ
tanned From Shooters Hill Where
Building Will Be Erected.
(By Charles Fl. Callahan)

The movement to erect memor-
ial to "Washington, the Mason" IN
Alexandria, Virginia has made great
er progress during the year 1919
than in any period since the organ
,ization of the National Memorial As
sociation in 1910. The Grand Lodges
of Mississippi, Wyoming, Washing
ton, and Arkansas, the General Grand
Chapter, several Grand Commandries,
Chapters and Councils, which had not
hitherto endorsed the proposition
have recently subscribed for member
ship and substantial additions to the
building fund have been received by
the Treasurer, John II. Cowles.
This alone is sufficient to encourage
renewed effort or the part of those
interested in the undertaking, but in
addition to the above and undoubted-
" the most gratifying achievement
so far is the acquisition of a suitable
site for the Memorial Building.
By the extention OF the Corporate
limits Of Alexandria, westward, the
City now embraces what is known as
Shooters Hill, on the very apex OF
which, plot Of ground, two hundred
feet wide by four hundred feet long
has been secured. This is IN ever!
parieular an ideal. location for the
proposed Memorial Temple. In
deed. nature, by topographic design
seems to have provided the syot for
some imposing structure of a COM
mcmorative type. Like giant horn
the site juts out from level plateau
over one hundred feet. above tide
water and at least sevcnty-tive feet
above the old residential section O.!
Alexandria.
The view obtained from this NINA
.ure mountain. both natural and an
.iticial. has been subject OF admlra-
ton for more than y century. II
was enthusiastically referred to by a
writer in 1896, at which time the en-
tire premises now known as George
Washington Park subdivision, was
owned and occupied by Ludwcll Lee,
son of the American patriot. Richard
Henry Lee, and is the identical loca-
tion selected by Thomas Jefferson for
the Capitol of the United States.
President Taft, on the occasion OF
laying the cornerstone of the park
said it was the most beautiful limited
view he had ever seen and other fam
Gus travellers have correlated Mr..
Taft's opinion.
1t commands on its eastern 'front.'
not only splendid view OF Washing
ton City, six miles away, but ten
mile stretch Of the broad Potomac
River, with the imposing bluffs OF
Maryland rs a background and hori'
zon. The Washington Monument, the
National Capital. the Library of Cong
ress, and all the stately editiccs OF
the Nations home rise with dazzling
splendor to embellish the scene BY
day, while at night myriads of cleo
tric lights from two cities and sever
al suburban towns reflect as it were
and with gorgeous effect, the star
lit dome of heaven.
On the south, extending far baci
into the western hills, is Cameron
valley dividing the landscape and
opening up broad vista. creating
woodland scene of surprising beau
ty. Directly across this valley and II
plain view, is Mount Eagle, home o
Bryan, Eighth Lord Fairfax. Noun
Eagle was the last private residenc
visited by Washington before hi
death and Bryan Fairfax was Wash
lngton'S: last guest at Mount Vernon
Around the base of the hill on whicl
the Temple will be erected. in plail
view and not more than one thousan
feet distant, sweeps the Southern an,
Washington Southern Railroads. TIL
main trunk lines to the South, owe
whose tracks five railroad corpora
tions transport passengers to AMI
from the north to DiSie's land, an
the great southwest. The Washing
ton-Virsinia Railway. over whic