Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-28
VIRGINIA is DOTTED WITH OLD
S MANSIONS OF CENTEEL DIGNITY
Many Famous Names Linked With Home.
81. steads Scattered Along Main Rivers
n of State.

BY the Associated Press.
Old Virginia homesteads in which
were horn and reared the makers of
Virginia and the United States sta nd
today. mute evidences of the sim
plicity and genteel dignity which sur
rounded those men and women pio-
neers
Just rs the cradle OF America haS
often h4cn said to have been at
jamestown. so the oldest mansions in
Virginia are to he found there And
extending slowly, as did these early
settlers over Virginia nd TIE rest of
the country. these pal1tiai homes
dotted the State. Naturally. this ex-
banding movement followed 10 rivers,
p nd so most of Virc!nia' = colonial resi-
dences are TO lie fonnt: close by the
hanks of the YORK. lanes the Poto-
mac and the Rappahannock rivers.
included among the seNera! hundred
colonial residences are arores whose
histories pre-date EeVo1lif. pnary' tia VS.
and the Declare zion Of Independence,
the 150th anniversary %: watch is he
ing celebrated this yea. Mary Of
them are national shrina=.
Many Historic Names.
Monticello. Arlington. Mount Ver-
non, Kenmore--synbo,ic - Thomas
Jefferson. the Cust .ssee and Lees
George Washington and the !.ewises--
all have become halioWed and nave
been dedicated 10 the naticn. Four
palaces, representing as Many dis
ttnct types OF architectural beauty.
these colonial mansions would be IA
nous for their beauty alone.
Bra ndon. MISSIONER. Rerkeler. Shir.
ley. garden spots along tne James.
once housed the lIarrisons. Byris and
Carriers. all prominent in the early life
of {,Ntn Il he F,,:t ol
Around Williamsburg are the homes
of President Tyler and many others
who helped make history. While. few
sections OF Virginia capnot claim one
or more of these palatia! residences of
colonial times.
In this advanced civiliza tion which
crowds homes almost one upon an
other these picturesque. spacious man
ors. free of gaudy orna ments and Sc
rene in their large settings, serve TO
recall the simple wholesome environ
ment which made for the firm foun-
dation of the United States.
Mount Vernon Most Famous.
No home in Virginia has ever at.
tanned the national and international
recognition that Mount Vernon, the
beautiful country estate of George
Washington in Fairfax County, has.
vi
President of the United States rest
and it. was At Mount Vernon that
Washington lived.
Not far from the National Capital,
Mount Vernon stands upon the banks
of the Potomac River, surrounded by
the outer houses, servants quarters,
kitchen, smoke house and spinning
house. The main building a wooden
structure, looks down upon the river.
l4 T., 81,
den in which during the time of
Washington many of his guests
planted shrubs or trees. Among these
are trees planted by Jefferson and
Lafayette.
The three.story house is entered
from the east front through a long
pillared portico. paved with tiles
which Washington imported. Many
pieces of furniture used by the Wash.
ingtons have been brought bach and
placed in the home. which now is kept
10y the Mount Vernon Association.
All the furnishings and ,-aGerations
are of the period.
Etas IL Rasira:ms.
The fou .:rincIpa1 rooms on the
first floor ere Just off the panelled
hall. On the same floor are the H.
brary and the banquet hall. Twelve
bedrooms are on the second and third
floors.
Mount Vernon was built upon
6,000-acre tract granted Col. John
Washington and Nicholas Spencer in
1914. Lawrence Washington inner
tied his great erandfather's half OF
the estate and upon this he built
Mount Vernon. naming the mansion
after the British admiral under whom.
he served. George Washington, a
half brother. inherited the mansion.
The early home of the CustiS and
Lee families of Virginia, Arlington.
would be one of the show places in
Virginia even were il not a national
shrine. The white-columned colonia!
structure also is in fitting sentinel
over the graves of the Nations heroes
at Arlington Cemetery.
From the portico of the mansion
where Gen. Robert r. Lee and Mary
Ann Randolph Custis We're married,
Washington NAV he clearly seen.
When George Washington parke
Gusts. grandson of Mrs Martha
Washington. and the adopted son of
Gen. Washington. came from Mount
Vernon to Arlington which he had
huih. many of The relics of the first
President were brought there. Mum
hers Of these were stolen when the
United States Government took pos
session Of Arlington and esta hlished
q military cemetery there. hut such
OF these relics as We're seized have
been restored.
Resembles State Capital.
It's ma ssive central building causes
Arlington To resemble closely the
State Capitol building at Richmond.
Va. which Thomas jefferson planned
while in France. Eight huge white
columns support the roof Of the build
Ing AS it extends to cover wide
porch and throw in relief the two
story building. ON either side are
single story wings. and before the
portico stretches the beautifully Slop-
ing lawn
The adopted son of Gen. Washing
ton married Mary Lee in 1906. and
he and he daughter OF William F'itZ-
hugh entertained royalty at the
palatial mansion. many distinguished
guests being received there. In 1881
Gen. Lee and Mary Ann Randolph
CustiS were married. After the death
Of Mr.. CuStis the Lees inherited Ar
lngton. and the Confederate com
mander- chief heca me greatly at
tached to the home.
Mon icello. the classic home of
Thomas jefferson. atop the little
maintain outs side Charlottesville.