The Washington times., 1930-04-18
OLD w ILSON
HOME TO BE
MUSEUM
Mrs. Wilson Is Expected to
Attend Dedicatory Exercises
in Early Summer

SoSOS@
hood ho1s of the war Presi-
dent, Woodrow Wilson, the
old Wilson homestead in
Columbia, 8. c., has been
purchased and will shortly
be opened as . museum by
the State of South Carolina.
Dedicatory exercises will
be held sometime in the
early summer and in all
probability Mrs. Wilson, now
ct her s Street home in
Washington, will 60 South
to attend.
Open to Public
The house is to be maintained
aS a museum of relics and docu-
n1entS relating to the life and
career of President Wilson. In
keeping with the custom fol-
lowed at Mt. Vernon, Month
cello, and other historical Ameri-
can ShrineS, the Wilson prop
erty will be in charge of a
caretaker and a small admis-
sion fee charged visitors to as
sist in the upkeep of the home.
!, Wilson lived in Columbia
from his thirteenth to his seven
tenth year, in the house de-
signed by his mother and built
in 1871 by his father, DR.. Joseph
r. Wilson.
The lot on which the house
stands contains about an acre,
and was purchased by DIR. Will
son in 1870. Here the Wilson
family lived until 1875, when
they moved to Wilmington, N.
c., the elder Wilson having be-
come pastor of the First Pres
byterian Church Of that city.
Love for South
In Columbia, where DR.. VIII
aon was a professor in Columbia
Theological Seminary, the youth
full Wilson absorbed the ideals
and culture of the Old South,
and acquired many of the traits
of character which were to
prove so valuable to him in his
later years. Here, too, he
studied, wrote and developed his
aptitude as an expert in politi-
cal science.
. In after years, when relaxing
from his arduous and exacting
duties, Woodrow Wilson often
spoke affectionately Of this
home of his youth and Of the
associations formed - while he
lived in the South. He declared
that the impressions he received
had affected his whole after
life.
Was to BE Raced
It was the men who had
followed, his leadership in the
days of the world war who first
protested at the razing Of the
Presidents boyhood home and
the erection on its site Of a
municipal auditorium.
Before actual operations on
the destruction of the house be-
gan the local post of the Amer
lean Legion and the public at
large interceded; the former
raised $1,000, which the wrecker
had paid for the house, and
bought it back from him at the
last minute. The State legiSla-
ture then became interested
and came to the rescue by ap-.
propriating $17,5OO, on the con-
dition that a like amount be
raised through public Subscrip-
tons, making a total of $35, 900.
Under the direction Of Fitz
Hugh McMaSter as chairman,
an organization was formed to
raise the duplicate Of the sum
appropriated by the legislature.
A woman'S division, headed by
Mrs. James C. Cathcart was
also created to assist in solicit
ing subscriptions.
The combined efforts of the
committees resulted in the
acquisition of $4,000 through
public subscriptions. The full
quota to be raised, with a sur
plus of $1,000, was subscribed
by June 1.
HeirIOOms and Relics
The property was bought i'm.
rnediately and the. work of re.
storing and repairing the house
begun under the direction Of
A. s. Salley, secretary Of the
Historical Commission. This
work was practically completed
by December /, Of last year,
and the task begun of col
lecting the heirlooms' and
mementos connected. with the
life and career of Woodrow
Wilson. So far these consist
Of a bed from the home Of
DR.. and Mrs. Wilson. a silk
coverlet given to Mrs. Wilson
by the women of the First
Presbyterian Church of Au-
gusta. Ca, in 1856; DR.. Will
sons Bible and portraits of
himself and Mrs. Wilson, DR..
Wilson'S bedroom bureau and
some other intimate articles
have also been retrieved and
placed in their former pest.
tionS in the house.
Many volumes of the Wilson
library have been assembled
for permanent preservation in
the home.
&
At Home
Mrs. John Ryan Devereux
win be at home Sunday after