The Washington times., 1919-02-16
SOLDIERS DIG UP
OLDFAIRFAX GRAVE
CONTINUED from First Page.)
the boy greatly in his early struggle
for success.
Va Near Mound VernOn.

for success.
Was Near Mount Vernon.
The ruins of the Fairfax mansion,
just uncovered, are only about three
miles from Mount Vernon. History
shows these two old estates were
closely linked by the visits of the
boy George.
When the furniture of the Fairfax
home was sold George Washington
purchased some of it, and much of
this furniture, taken from the house
whose foundations have just been
uncovered, now may be seen at Mount
Vernon.
The story of the finding of the
ruins is interesting. Soldiers digging
in the heart of Camp Humphreys
found a wooden box. much decayed
This box was later Identified as
coffin and excavations showed that
the engineers were working in a
cemetery of some twOscOTe graves.
Inquiry brought out the history of
this cemetery and it was believed by
the soldiers that the graves Of Colonel
Fairfax and Deborah Fairfax might
BE there. Following excavations were
made with exceeding care and finally
the burial places of these two close
friends of George Washington were
uncovered.
History shows that Colonel Fairfax
died in 1857 and his wife in 1747.
Slave Quarters UneaFthed.
Further excavations by the. soldiers,
following the discovery of the graves
of Colonel Fairfax and his wife dis
closed the ruins Of the house in which
they lived. Near by were found ruins
of the Fairfax slave quarters, tobac-
co warehouses, and brick kilns.
Following the clues unearthed by
the first excavations the old BeIvOir
drainage system was found. The
arches of the waterways, constructed
Of imported brick, are still intact.
Wells were found hidden deeply Un-
der the earth. One OF the wells is
12o feet deep, the other 20 feet deep.
HeadstOnes LOcateJ.
The headstones Of the two Fair
faxes have been located by searchers
at the establishment Of a s-6recurtcr
in Accotink. The stonncu-SeT salVag-
ed the stones about thirty years ago.
Presently the headstOne VIII be re-
stored TO the head OF the grave where
ii stood solitary guard iur more than
a hundred years before icing removed.
Unless action IS taken by the Sec
rctary Of War TO protect the spot in
which the pioneers are buried, the
graves will be covered by buildings;
for planned improvements call for the
erection Of barracks over the resting
places.
The main building Of the new camp,
which is designated as the engineer
training camp. will be built on the
other building will cover the ceme-
cry. Surveyors are now measuring
he land, preparatory TO work being
.tarted on the camp.
The place holds additional historic
interest, for it was there that George
Washington learned surveying,
Fairfax Home ~ Park.
4 movement has already been in
.tituted by persons Interested in the
preservation Of historical places 30
nave the Government set aside the
old graveyard. the FaitfaH home and
surrounding land, as park. The ID.
\. r. is active in the supporter this
movement -
Tie Acids surrounding the old CO.
loniaT residence Of ths. FaifFaxes have
row grown to forests. A black wal
die room Of the house -The-tree has
Errn taken out and is being made mo
souvenir canes.
Pieces Of pottery have been found
in what is believed to have been
The house slaves quarters. The
whole establishment was surrounded
by a wall which is fast being un-
covered by the soldiers. Small
houses. evidently for guards ana
sentrics. were posted in each corner
Of the wall i'm front.
\ sunken road leads from the old
Fairfax house TO the old tobacco
warehouse, about three-Quarters OF
mile distant This road was called
the BeIvoir road.
Near the tobacco house are the
ruins Of the old custOm-hOuses. Here
Colonel Fairfax held forth as customs
officer Of the Potomac He was ap-
pointed TO this office by the British
King
The tobacco house was built or
hand-hewed beams Tobacco has not
been stored there for perhaps a hun
dred years