The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1926-02-25

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The Wakefield National Memorial
association, founded in 1923 In Wash
ington for restoring the old Washing
ton homestead" to its original state,
already has acquired 20 acres Of this
long-neglected SITE
The plan of the association has been
to restore and replace the Wakefield
home in Westmoreland county to the
state it was on February %, 1872,
when Washington was born.
The name, Wakefield" which has
so long been yelled tn obscurity, the
association points out, is destined to
bring to the nation a new meaning
when as shrine it viii be f1ttingly
emphasized as the birthplace of the
first President. During congressional
hearings held for consideration of
plans and authorization Of adequate
appropriations for the bicentennial
celebration of the birth Of Washing
ton it was suggested that the observ-
ance should begin at the beginning
Wakefield.
TUG 6OyACOA HlOHFSs
There at Wakefield, where mucn of
the beautiful romance of Washingtons
boyhood was lived, is a spot where all
Americans may do homage.
Referring to the visit of the Coolidge
Presidential party to Wakefield, DR..
Charles Moore, chairman of the ma
tional commission of fine arts and a
trustee of the Wakefield association,
wrote:
During his brief visit the Presi-
dent must have been depressed with
conditions prevailing at place so his
toric and at the same time so beauti-
full In itself. When he came to de-
part the ebbing tide made 1t impos-
sible for a small boat to approach the
shore; and the government wharf had
long ago been so broken by the Ice
that it survives only as melancholy
and unsightly wreck. Therefore, the
party was compelled to drive eight or
ten miles to Colonial beach to board
the Mayhower. the Presidents yacht.
This was the best of an object lesson
concluded Doctor Moore.
Granite Shaft on Spot.
Going down the country road some
forty miles below Fredericksburg and
a half dozen miles below the little
settlement of Oak Grove, one notes at
the left small tablet inscribed, This
is Wakefield" Turning in, one ira
verses for a mile or two road which
was built through the combined efforts
Of the state of Virginia and the gov
eminent, and comes out into little
clearing among the pines and cedars.
In the center of the knoll rises thu
granite shaft erected by the govern
ment
The Potomac at Wakefield is some
eight miles wide, and on the clearest
days the trees on the Maryland shore
appear only as blue haze. No house
is in sight from the monument site
although as a matter of fact several
historic residences are not far away
Wakefield lies practically between
Pope's creek and Bridges creek.
Scene Of Romance.
WaSnlnSlOnS nrSL romance occurred
there, too. Betsy Fauntleroy. a Low
land Beauty" who lived at MAYORS
Hold, fifteen miles from Wakefield,
won his youthful affections. Proof of
this is seen in letter written by
Washington to Betsy's father. 1t ran
as follows:
May 90, 1852.
To William Fauntleroy, Sr.
"Sir: should have been down long
before this, but my business in Fred
erick detained me somewhat longer
than expected and Immediately upon
my return from thence was taken
with q violent pleurlce which has re-
duced me very low; but propose as
soon as ! reeoEeg my STRENGTH to wait