The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1924-04-24
NIT VERNON IS WELL
KEPT HISTORIC SPOT
THOUSANDS ANNUALLY MAKE
PILGRIMAGE TO WASHING.
TOMS RESTING PLACE
FACES POTOMAC RIVER
MASONS ERECTING $4,000, 900
MEMORIAL AT ALEXAN.
DRIA, VIRGINIA

During his recent Washington trip
the Herald editor in company with
Congressman Harold Knutson, spent
a very enjoyable half day at Mt.
Vernon on the Potomac river a few
miles below the city of Washington
which for nearly two centuries has
been the shrine beloved by American
citizens.
Originally thes Washington estate
and plantation comprised about g.
900 acres but the property was taken
over by the Mt. Vernon Ladies Asso-
citation of the Union in 1856. Women
from 33 states make up this organi-
zation. The original purchase cam
sisted of 202 acres and cost $500, 900,
containing the home and the old and
new tombs. At the present the asso-
citation owns 237 acres. About the
time America entered the World War
Congress had arrangements about
completed to take over and care for
the property. The plan has been
abandoned temporarily but it will I'M
doubtedly taken up again as the old
Washington home should be under
government supervision.
The original mansion which faces
the east, has glorious view of
the Potomac and has been brought
back to it's original state of preserva-
ton as nearly as possible. The
furnishings of the mansion are either
the original owned by Washington
and his family or its furniture and
furnishings are of the period. The
home is of the old colonial type of
frame construction, three stories, hav-
ing about 20 rooms, with a fire place
in many of them.
There are a number of courteous
attendants who graciously answer all
questions In order to prevent the
souvenir hounds from carrying away
the furniture in small pieces, iron
gates built in a semi-circle, permit an
unobstructive view of each room, but
prevents anyone from getting in close
contact with the furniture. The bed
room where Washington died is on the
second floor looking toward the south.
The canopied bed upon which the
Father of our Country passed away,
is there in the original.
Following the death of her hus-
band, Martha Washington had her
room changed to chamber on the
third floor directly over the chamber
occupied by her distinguished hus-
band. 1t has one little narrow win
dow toward the south which made it
possible for her to view the last rest
ing place of Mr.. Washington from
her window.
On the edge of the hill, midway
down the road leading to the wharf,
an iron-railed enclosure marks
where Washington's remains rested
from 1899 until 1881. This vault
was constructed by George Washing
ton, but later believing it to be inse-
cure, he planned another tomb which
his executors built. In April, 1881,
all bodies in the old vault were trans
ferred to the new tomb.
"Within this enclosure rest the re-
mains Of General George Washing
TOM
The plain statement empanelled
above the doorway of the rigidly SIM
pie brick vault at once marks its inn
portance. Within the doubly ironed
portals may be seen two marble sar-
cophagi; that on the right contains
the body of General Washington and
the one on the left remains of his
wife. At the rear of this open vault,
and connected with it through a
square iron door, is an inner vault
containing the remains of many of the
Washington family. To the memory
of Bushrod Washington and John
Augustine Washington, successors OF
the Genaral (whose bodies are with
in the vault), marble shafts were
erected in front of the tomb, while to
the east are the graves of Nellie Gus
tbs and her daughter.
Washington selected this site for
the vault only few months before
he died. His executors carried out
his explicit directions as to construc-
ton, which accounts for its ex-
IRENE simplicity, Because Of WASH
ington's disaste for display, the char
acter of this tomb should never be
changed. Extensive repairs for the
preservation of the original struc-
ture were made in 1886. To this hall
lowed spot come thousands of pill
grims from every land each year. A
nominal charge of 20 cents is made
to enter the grounds.
AS one travels from Washington to
Mt. Vernon he is Impressed with the
thought that the problem of trans
portation between the District of Co
lumbia and Mt. Vernon must have
been a serious one at least in the
spring Of the year when he had to
contend with stocky clay and gumbo.
The coach at Mt Vernon is not the
original Washington coach but it is
of the period.
There a.e many buildi' gs besid
the house and barn as/every depart
ment has its own building 6tch-
en-, pantry, buffers room, the loom
room, the blacksmithshop, and num-
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