Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-08-02
Old Lee Home Is Takes Over.
The Free Lance Star, Frederick burg. Va,
July 20. 1929.


Miss Ethel Armes of Greenwich, Conn, to
preserve Stratford. ancestral home of the
Lees, for permanent patriotic shrine.
eliminated yesterday afternoon when on
the lawn of the historic estate crowd of
about 700 people witnessed the ceremo-
mics attending the payment Of $4,000
and the assignment of the title to the
Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation.
The first payment of 10000 was made
on the last anniversary Of Lees birthday
by Mrs. Lanier and Miss Armes, and the
William Alexander. Jr., Chapter of the u.
ID. c.. joined them in organizing the Robt.
E. Lee Memorial Foundation. Yesterday
the foundations check. given to Charles
E. Stuart. owner, brought the total paid
to $50. 1000. leaving $4,000 still to be
raised by subscription. The property trans
ferred includes the historic home and 1.l00
acres of land lying along the Potomac and
adjoining Wakefield. birthplace of Wash
ington, and near the spot where James
Monroe was born. Ga. .HaH
The most impressive moment of the day
came when Rev. Giles B. Cock, of Mat
thews, 80 years old and last surviving
officer who served on the staff of Gen.
mansion almost under the window OF the
room where the great Southern chieftain he
followed through the Civil War. was born
and delivered the invocation. a.
Following the invocation, Mrs. Charles
D. Lanier. president of the foundation and
daughter Of the honorary president Of the
u. d. c.. Mrs. Henry Field. of Greenwich.
Conn.,. made brief and impressive address
of welcome to the visitors. and described
the occasion as "a dream which has come
true" the making of the home of the Lees
| shrine for posterity.
Hon. John R. Saunders. Attorney General
of Virginia. representing Gov. Byrd. who is
absent at the Governors Convention in
Connecticut, said that Stratford had pro-
duced men who had shed their light over
the world. Robert E, Lee. he said. "the
most famous son of this famous manor
house. was a man without guile. beyond
reproach. a gallant leader and a great
Christian gentleman. man against whom
no word Of reproach has ever been written. ="
Mrs. Emerson Root Newell read the
financial statement. and was followed by
Charles E. Stuart. former owner of the
place, who spoke of his pleasure in seeing
so many people interested in preserving
the memoried home for pOsterity. and said
that the only touch Of sadness. to him. was
that 1t was passing from his hands.
|
for Tennessee. in appropriate words. pre-.
scented to Stratford an American flag which
| for five days had hoated over Mount Vernon.
Mrs, Lanier, reading greetings from many
parts Of the country. awakened hearty ap-
pIause with the message Of Lady Astor,
sent to her sister. Mrs. Charles Dana Glib
son, publicity director of the foundation,
which said: Proud 10 be member.
Nancy" -
Resolutions adopted at Baltimore by
veterans OF the Rainbow Division were
read. saying in part:
Rainbow Division Veterans note with
approval the purchase by the Robert E.
Lee Foundation of Stratford. ancestral home
of the Lees, for the purpose Of converting
it into a national patriotic shrine" and
added their good wishes for the project.
Hundreds of other greetings were received
from all over the country.
In an address Mrs. Andrew Jackson
Geer, director for South Carolina. expressed
the sympathy of her State with the move
ment, and Mrs. Walter d. Lamar. Of Macon,
director for Georgia, read poem written
for the occasion by Will Allen DromeoOle,
The knights Of Stratford Hail." Mrs. Am
brose C. Ford gave the message Of Viz
ginia in appropriate words.
Mayor Jere NJ H. Willis followed with
brief address for Fredericksburg, and ex-
pressed in a terse. interesting talk his
conviction that Mrs. Lanier and Miss Armes
and their associates had done noble
work of devotion. and confidence that they
would bring it to its perfection. He was
followed by Col. Dodd. Superintendent at
Mt. Vernon.
Miss Ethel Armes. assigned to speak OF
1 al. - ,.,A AZ ehA Qaka 4
plans and hopes for the future. Mrs. Gran.
vile X. Valentine spoke for her native city
| Richmond
Congressman S. Q. Bland. of this district,
assigned the subject of the Lee aud STRAIT
ford touched on the history OF the Lees.
IL challenge any man" he said. ITO pro-
duce q home in Virginia from which came
so many great men as Stratford sent forth.
II was built by Thomas Lee. first native
Governor of Virginia, just two hundred
years ago and John Adams described his
sons as that band OF brothers. who as the
Greeks at ThermOpylea stood in the gap Of
the revolution From this old manor came
Richard Henry Lee, the great orator Of the
Revolution, those four Lees who. risking
their lives, pledged themselves in the
LeedstOwn Revolution to the cause Of
freedom and justice; il was Thomas Lees
sons. Richard Henry Lee and Francis Light
foot Lee, who signed the Declaration of
Independence William Lee. who gave up
his business and his Office as sheriff Of
London 10 serve his country In its time OF
trial as an envoy at Paris. Berlin and
Madrid Arthur Lee. who concluded the
treaty with France. and Lighthouse Harry
Lee, who distinguished himself IN the Con-
tinental Army. And finally. within these
Dal, "a I an ha
leader of the armies Of the South. This
home makes one believe in Americanism
and here pOsteTity may come TO learn
patriotism and the love Of virtue"
Mr.. Bland wound up with plea for the
marking Of the grave Of Richard Henry
Lee and the preservation Of the home OF
Arthur Lee, which stands near UTbana.
An unexpected incident was the pre-
sentation by H. W. WOodeh0use. president
of the Aerial League OF America. Of letter
dated March II, with the year illeeible. in
which Lighthouse Harry Lee" beginning.
my Dear Washington" expressed his
sympathy with some bereavement sus-
tanned by the Father Of His Country. and
ended with May God bless you. H. Lee"
Mr.. WooLehouse said that every house
must have a soul and that he believed the
latter, which he would have framed suit
| ably, would help 10 restore the sOui Oh
Stratford as il was In the olden days.
Another presentation was made when
the original Lee family tree. found In an
antique shop. was presented to the Memo
rial Foundation by the Betty Carter Chap
ter, U. d. c.. Attorney General Saunders
making the address for Mrs. NJ G. Rich
ardson, president Of the chapter. which Is
located in Upperville, Va.
Benedction was pronounced by Rev. T.
X. Baker. Of WestmOteland county. Va.
The day set for the exercises was the
two hundredth anniversary Of the compile
ton Of Stratford by Thomas Lee, and the
one hundredth anniversary OF the entry into
the United States service Of Robert E. Lee.
The house Is in the most beautiful part
Of Westmoreland county. thirty-six miles
from Fredericksburg. reached by good roads,
and close to Richmond and Washington
It is one Of the three great American
shrines which lie on or close to the Kings
/ .u,. A. - IAst Oh tss~A