Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1920-06-17

's", anu hhe NSS'cIH part nlRnef
than the middle part. The roof is green
The house contains ffty-two rooms
The porches are very large, with
French windows opening out to them
The lawn and gardens are very beauti-
full. In the garden is a fountain with
many beautiful water lilies. In 1870
this estate was bought by Colonel
March, who sold it to a certain Mr.
Dawson, who was a very peculiar
man. His absurd idea Of hitchng his
horse to his bed post is proved BY
horseshoe marks on the stairway. n
disliked seeing a certain huge, carved
sideboard in the house, so had i,
/ placed in the cellar, and walled up or
every side, so that it can never b,
taken away unless part Of the house is
torn down. Frank Stockton later
owned "Claymont Court" and here h.
wrote his story, "The Captain Of the
Toll Gate" Mr.. Won Shrader was an.
other owner. 1t is now the home OF
Colonel Murphy.
On the outskirts of Charles Town
on the southeast side, stands Mordin,
ton, where lived Charles Washington
brother of George, the founder
Charles Town, and after whom it wa,
named. The main part OF the HON
is built Of brick, and painted yellc,
The small rear part was the orig.
nome of Charles Washington. This
has thick stone walls, covered with con-
crete, and painted yellow. The house
stands on hill in beautifully shaded
AVN of about fifteen acres. The in
terror of the house is very beautiful.
Many stories Of ghosts opening the
doors even when locked have been
told, and few negroes are fond of the
place. The various members of the
Washington family were evidently not
afraid of ghosts, tho, for they found the
place very pleasant at various times.
1t is now owned by two ladies', the
Misses Mitchell.
Piedmont, near Charles Town. T.
home of the Briscoe family. is a beau
tiful red brick house The house is
large, and is situated in nice lawn
There are two interesting relics in the
house. letter written in 1863 by the
second Lord Baltimore to DR.. !. Brie.
coc, and wall paper upon the walls in
the drawing room showing various
scenes representing TeIcmachus's
search for his father This paper is
very rare and very handsome.
An interesting old place on the
Shenandoah river, near Myerstown is
line Rocks" the home of Miss Anne
+. Lewis. This was built more than
TWO hundred years ago by Ralph Worm
ley, as hunting lodge, on land survey
ed by George Washington. The orig.
lnal owner of the land had been sport
ing his money, and found it necessary
TO sell his land to pay his debts. Cen
eral Washington happened to be pres
ent at the sale, knew. the land and
advised Wormley to buy it. Wormlev
bid five hundred guneas and il was
"struck off" to him. 1t is said that Mr.
Wormley, just before or at the time of
the sale, had been RECALLING himself
with a social glass, and that when he
became sober, he was extremely dis.
satisfied with his purchase, consider /
ing his money thrown away. Wash
InGton, hearing of this, was willing
take the land off his hands, but 81
vlsed him to hold it. Wormlev becam,
better rcconciled, and was later proud }
OF his bargain. Mrs. Wormlev and
hcr children were buried here. and IN,
graveyard has been left as it was .,
hrSt. The place was bought bv Bat
'aile Muse, and has been owned hv IN,
present Lewis since 1889. The hous
mas been succeed and is light yellow
Inc yard is high, and walled in. and + F.
very well shaded. Wide halls and
spacious rooms make the house At
tractive on the interior. Great hipr
neds OF walnut and mahogany are sti,
tohnd IN the bedrooms. In the bsr
hangs a framed power of attorney writ
ten by Washington for Sattaise Muse
Not far from "The Rocks" and near
Myerstswn, alsO is another place ssiI+
ABOUT the same time The Rocks" W.,
ouiIt This is The MoorinSs." A
MT Lewis, who was a naval Officer drr
ing the early period of our country's /
history retired here and named tn,
place. Part of the house, the olde,
part, is built of logs. and has been
Weatnerboarded. The house is very ot.
tractive in its quainness.