Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-02-20
Original Grant of Tract
by Lord Culpepcr Was
$500 Acres.
ACREAGE LATER WAS
INCREASED TO 5000
John Washington Was First
Owner of Magnificent Proper
ty in Northern Virginia.
ny EnIrn Tu>IS SALE.

When we look UPON Tho grandeur
II this country :ind consider its stu
'hndons grow TN, "" AZ" not sirpr!sed
II tho radsin'. for the past which is
the air ana mas born anew in
"r.7t and crthuH!ae,A IN old letters.
""oris ami pap"rs connected with it's
any foundation. ana those who
PLACED such brave parts in It's de-
Nolopmcnt
second ou,Y 20 these great p.rfo:.-
a!t:"s are IN" homes la which they
''"J, ana though til" name 81 Mount
vernon is a. familiar q, that OF
washington. its ;ru- story ;s only
vaguely EIown 10 the majority OF
Amcric"ns. History tolls W. jhat the
"riSina! Mount Vernon trac, o: :.5UO
ari"N was included in the lands
granted in 1875 by Lord Cu.pcper TO
J"hh Washington and Nicholas Spen.
ser Upon the death ~ the former.
IN" estate IN Wcstmor..ard County
went 10 his Won Lawrence. II was
Ia "r"ncc Na"hiuston who. IN honor
nf Admira! vernon. undo, whom he
had served IN the English navy.
named ;f. p,acc Mount Vernon. and
began the C1lsir'.ction of tn. pres
ent nous" IN lIil Tie Homestead
was n"N, Inherited hy Sarah Wanh-
hSion. dauenter "r Lawrence, from
wholn IT wen, into tn possession ..
her l.alf-brotl.r. ,;corEo
Not on.y did Geors. Washington
cH.arse the house. but H. increased
To acreage %. the plantation TO 5000
Whcn The -e:nohoiing va, completed
"a i7SG. the house Was just as /; /.
How--;, .rapl- building rising from
! foundation OF stone and h,icl. An
Interesting -Nterior feature :s found
IN the cja7boards. which though. %
.inpic pine wood. we're cut. ,ncr
sndsd and painted 10 have tile APP
resr.ncc al stone
Tiles drought From England.
y inw nitcncd por;!co extends tho
enS,h % tho orlgina! building aion.
tn" river front. and this is paved ain
curious old tiles brought crri,. Eng.
and IN lis3. The facade is Imposing
and the effect 81 ihc structure. paced
in thc center 81 park and gardens.
aud quite removed from the cigh-
way. = ho;h uOb!. and di.ui.lcl \
gateway 81 wood rises above :, hlIck
nrder-whll 10 guard the main en-
trance from :hc much Travelled r,pd
front. presents u rather formal nm.
pearancc. owing To the long colon
nadcs, which connect with The central
onl'dinS Inc office and scrvil. wing
y sundial stands directly in m.
center OF the grassy oval as II did
~ 1899. and about this the driveway
circles. Like the country seats of
the nobility of England. the mansion
rs surrounded by a number of smaller
houses. including the spinning. smoke
and coach houses as well as servants.
quarters and conservatory.
The vast lawn is shaded nv
patriarchal trees. gnaried and hoary.
and broad Of crown; trees which
snow by their compact foliage. how
many years or even centuries they
nave lived. There is one said 10 have
been planted BY Jefferson; another.
by Lafayettc, and beneath clu,np
of FRS down towards tho river bank,
once rested that interesting French
man known as the Marquis dc esssy-,-
:ellux. On the north side of the.
house. the lawn is broken h. the
'IaIIa." or old brick wall. A true
bit of England's north country
wall drops four feet to a meadow
ond was punt as protection from
the sheep. once bearded there
The situation OF Mount Vernon
vas wisely chosen upon steep
blum which descends to the Potomac.
The silvery river is bordercd by :,
dense growth of trees between which,
may be caught glimpscs Of the Mary
land hills beyond. The park follow
ing the shore outline is still stocked
with deer as in Washington's time.
and before the Revolution changed
all customs. it was the habit OF the
family to stroll here after dinner
in order TO enjoy once day the
beauty upon all Sides
TO the north of the entrance
gate. clumps OF lowering shrubbery
SHOW where the garden lies Pink.
white and yellow groupings. stand
in contrast to lines of cheerful box
wood and beds Of flowers. crimson
purple and blue: these blossoms. the
direct defendants Of those first Sc.
out BY Martha and George Washing
ton. Roses--one named for Nellie
Gusts. another for Mary Ball--bloom
in reckless and riotous profusion
within large squares bounded oy
four foot box. But there are round
and oblonR tneds for the smaller
lowers next those OF diamond and
!yeart shape-aiI holding their place
by primly clipped box never permit
ted to outstrip certain lines.
Many aristocratic assemblages me,
In the boN-hordered walks OF Mount
Vernon on garden party days while
the birds sang and the. timid deer.
from their covert along tho river.
gaZed wistfully at such Of the com
pany as came within reach of their
preserve. Surrounded by an attentive
audience, we can almost see George
Washington with his eyes sparkling,
Telling some cherished anecdotes.
sWandering today through the garden
Alleys. the visitor. on looking up sud
denly, catches a view OF the oldest
part OF ;he Mount Vernon house anG
fancies himself for one bewildcrcA
Instant IN the old world, the age of
a,shle;,- is measured BIZ centuries in.
stead of years
fnv