Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-23
old Houses in FredcrIck sburr.

some time ago we asked the readers
OF this paper to assist us in catalogins
old houses still standing in Virginia.
There" were very few replies. but we
published all of those received The
following sketch was sent in some
time atterward, and we take pleasure
in publishing IT, with apology FOR
keeping il SO long. Accumulation OF
2encalogies. notes and queries have
kept it out. ED
I'm the town of Fredcricksburc there
are many historic houses. two OF which
possess an interest only second 10 the
Marshall House in Richmond.
- brief account of these houses
must he of interest, not only TO tho
antiquarian, but to every person Of
reasonable intelligence.
The most interesting of these houses
is the Rising sun Hotel. II is OF the
old style OF architecture Of wooden
buildings that prevailed in the early
settlement of the country. Before the
Revolutionary War it was one of the
principal, if not the principal. hotel
n the town. 1t was the stopping place
If the United States Senators and Rep
lescutatives from the Southern states
On their Journeys TO and from Wash
ueton city. ana even before that time,
when The national capital was in Ph!la-
delphia. Il is said that the eccentric
John Randolph OF Roanoke. on more [
han on. occasion addressed the citi- /
ems OF the town from the steps OF this .
hotel
General George Weldon kept hotel
it long years before he entered the
Colonial Army for American 1ndepcn-
dcuce. In MAY. 1901, il became the
OF the Society for the Prcser-
Walton OF Virginia Antiquities The
branch OF This society
has charge Of the building, and has
renovated il and Keeps II in good re-
those who would like To live for a
time iu the far-distant past.
''rn,. ncMt most interesting house is
The Mary Washington House, where
ia" mother OF Washington spent the
closing years OF her life. and in which F.
sh- died. The bed and furniture OF 7
ia" room in which she died remain
aa they were at the time Of her death.
IL lis :! plain old fashioned onc-anl-
oue-hnlf-story building. Like the !iis-
Ing sun Hotel. IL has passed into the
possession OF the Society for the
Preservation OF Virginia Antiqui-
ties. and the women of this society
have kept IT in good repair without
destroying its destructive features OF
and general appearance.
Mr. Quinn, in his Interesting His
tory Of FrcdcricksburG, states that
alltr hcr HUSBANDS Ncdtn on the OppO-
site side OF the Rappahnnnock River.
Mary. the mother OF WASHINGTON. +
moved into the town. where She
brought mp her illustrious son, George.
TO manhood This is a mistake. Wash
iugton was born in Westmoreland
county Al four years Of age. on the
death of his father, he was brought
10 ihe'home Oh the Rappahannock, OPP
p"sitc fredericksburg. There he lived
unit! MS seventeenth year. coming
across the river every day "a the
parish school kept by Rev James
Marye Episcopal ministers Of that
day all taught parish schools. ~ SIX
teen years OF age he went to Mt Yer
non t" live with his uncle. AuGustine
Washington Whom, In 1875. he was
appointed commanders chief Of the
American army. before repairing TO
Noston 10 assume command he rode
horseback from NJ. Vernon to Fred.
"rickshurg and moved his mother into
the town She lived in the town from
that tlmc until her death in 1881. q
PERIOD or five years. and not the FORTY
SIX years OF ne. widowhood. az Mr.
Quinn states
Washington. on this trip 10 move
his mother into The town. rode horse
bacl. the nifty miles In one night 'rbe
ltAi day b" removed his mother. and
'hat night rode back the nrty miles
I" Nj vernon II" was It man Of inn
m"nS". physical endurance He rode
ron Mt vernon "a BOSTON on horse.