Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-12-26
Mansion Erected in 1905
Has Weathered Many
Storms.
MISTRESS WAS GOD-CHlLD
OF GEORGE WASHINGTON
Building Should Stand Next to
Mount Vernon as National
Shrine.
ny EDITH TUSIS SALE.
tCUpyrIEht.)

atcads famed IN the early days for a
bounttful hospitality. was Woodlnw n,
She. home ot Nellie Gusts, which.
upon it's high bluff on ;he Potomac.
River. stands az trim and staunch
toJay as IL did Hhcn bull; in tsg5.
EcAt 10 Mount Vernon. Il should 0G-
cupy . shrine In the hcart or cTery
American. for the manor was a part
OF the Mount Vernon tract: It's mis-
trcsa was the ward of the first rrcsi-
lent Of tho country: It's matter TaH
lis nephew who won laurcis as a SOL
der. and the mansion vas erected az
a gift from the idol Of the natio..
When Eleanor Iarke Custis. grand
daughter OF Leonard Calvert. sixth
ord baltimore. married Lawrence
Lewis. February -. 1899. George
Washington sax in tho Wedding Of
l,ls god-child and nephc" the cul-
nuina,ion OF his earthly dreams. Proof
OF his pleasure Is found in an old
map where 1000 acres were cut OF
from Mount Vernon to create the
countr seat named in honor Of IN
older Lewis. IONS Woodlawn. In his
viii, Washington added TO the prince
~ gift i large amour of money to
bc spent in the erection Of "A house.
and the latter, which rs said TO have
cost 800. 900. is as IL has always been.
ono OF tho most ~prctentious OF the
Potomac River homes.
\ winding roadway climbs the
hin to the lawn which falls In ter
races TO the Potomac bordering the
grounds on w sideB. lockwood, o; 4
century's growth outlines tho drive as
Il ncars the house. and clumps OF the
came shrub are placed on either side
ul IT,. Upon the west front a tuTfed
oval, hcdgcJ with n double row of
box. !,oldR out i,e arms TO the main
t~Scroushiarc, Ave hundred feet away.
House of Red Brick.
Growing tho lawn. and backed o.
= grassy ~pleasaunce studded with
oaks n NAPLES. holly. linden, and
iirs. the red brick manor house with
It's extraordinary frontage. rises much
more stately than raidunt Vernon 10
command n very beautiful view of the
river. The ~threc-story central build
Ing measures 40 by 60 feet and 10 con
nccted with It's two-Rtoried wings b.
covered corridors. the latter being
;air-siZed oOins used as sun pariors
or porch. II Is Interesting to note
tina: the wings are placed ut right
angles TO the main structure instead
OF standing parallel. a formal touch
is given by the white stone window
arches and the tablets inset between
;he first and the second stories OF the
central house. and il is only the win
dows OF this part that are guarded
by blinds. painted green.
Many Of the treasures now at Mount
Vernon were originally at Wood!awn.
AID It is easy 20 fancy Nellie Custis
at her newly imported ha-pischord
playing for Lafayette and other Old
World dignitaries Who had known the
young matron as = child a; Mount
Vcrnon. President Zachary Taylor
spent many happy days a. woodiawn.
for Major and Mrs. Lewis were very
fond OF society and rarely sat down TO
4 meal without guests. During the
period OF their residence at this plan
tation. the VISITORS roll contained the
names OF celebrities from all parts of
the world.
But IL Woodlawn was charming
through springtime with its carpet OF
~iafOdils spread beneath dngwood
;rccs. and bewitching through sum
mer and autumn. il was at Christmas
that the house and It's chatelaine both
showed at their best. for Christmas
back in 1906. was much like those OF
Merric Old England. At this happy
season. great and distinguished
parties were assembled at Woodtawn n,
in preparation for which, black girls
- So. a. ,.l So. l-sa xr
excitcdiy the bidding of master and
mistress. In the pantry. with its deep
chcsted cupboards and lines OF
shelvcs, were rows and rows of fruit
cakes, dark and mellow. with the
faint aroma of brandy about them
and mixed by the hands OF Mistress
Nellie. for who but the cha:ela!ne
must mix the cakes and bake the
buildings in tho good. old days?
Had Full Lardcr.
Piles of nuts and raisins. barrels
% apples and oranges were In the
store-nouSc ncar the dairy which
bowls OF cream like tha: clotted, in
old Dctonshirc. The meat house
guarded lines OF plantation cured
hams, launches of venison from deer
shot on the place. n ~hogshcads Of
Sp:ccd hcef. Game of all kinds-wild
turkeys. wild geese. partridgos and
Woudcnck. had been hunted and found
10 make the Christmas party n sue
cess.
Whole trees OF holly. hampers of
creeping cedar. great boughs Of mis-
tletoe. and the Yule log were brought
TO add to the beauty and merritncnt
and when all was in readiness Christ
mas Eve, Madam Lewis, with her
mos, trusted hand-maid. would trip
down the dark steps to the old wine
cellar and with n wax taper. point
out tho cob-webby bottles to he taken
Ia the cellarettc upstairs. Wines OF
Oporto II the Canary Isles. Malag.
and Madeira. cognac and champagne
with sherry and the best Jamaica
rum. n now and then. a bottle ot
ale or stout-all were brought forth
TO play their parts during the gala
week at Woodlawn.
BIx Time for NcRrOcr.
II Christmas Eve was n day of pre-
paration to the mistress Of Tho plan
tation, It was q time Of great expect
ancy to the negroes on the )ace. each
Of whom had dreams OF what the
morrow. would bring. and all OF whom
were pleased with what il always
brought. That night. when tho chill
Gren had bnnn mt m ho6 IN l,iot, fo,r