Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-30
ALONG THE ROAD SOUTH.

fered the privilege of visiting
Il those wonderful gardens so in
timately connected with Vir-
ginia's past and present history, which
are opened to the public through the
courtesy of the owners to assist the
Garden Clubs of Virginia in the res
toration of the Stratford garden.
Starting at Rippon Lodge, about 20
miles from Washington, drive down a
long road to the house itself. This
house is a splendid example of Geor-
gian architecture, with beautifully pam
eled rooms, and one room in 1t Is called
the Washington room. The writer en-
joyed going with the owners, Mr.. and
Mrs. Wade Ellis, and reading the names
and dates on the tombstones in the old
Blackburn Cemetery on the place. Three
young ladies went from this home to be
mistresses of Mount Vernon, and to the
present owners we are indebted for the
restoration.
Leaving Rippon Lodge, the next place
Is Fredericksburg, and the historic
places there which may be interesting
are open to the public at all times
such places being the law ONCE OF
President Monroe, Kenmore, the house
in which John Paul Jones lived, the
old apothecary shop and many others.
Going east out OF Fredericksburg, on
the road down the Northern Neck OF
Virginia, the first shrine on this road
is Wakefield, where George Washington
was born. The house an gardens have
been destroyed, but are now being re-
stored by the Wakefield Memorial AS
ISOLATION.
Home of the Lees.
Just beyond Wakefield, or Is miles
from Fredericksburg, Is Stratford, the
home of the Lees and where Gen. Rob-
a.@ Z h1eR 1ie a.
ing restored by the Stratford Memorial
Association, but the garden here has
almost disappeared, as there are only
few of the most hardy of shrubs left
and some pieces of the marble railing
which outlined the garden. The house
was built by Thomas Lee, acting gov
ernor of Virginia, about 1880. The pam
cling in this house Is very interesting,
particularly In the library, and on some
of the panes Of glass in the bookcase
doors are cut the names Of some Of the
Lees, presumably with diamond. The
doors in the house are all made with
what is known as the double-cross, q
form of paneling which In olden times
was supposed to keep the spooks away.
The firebacks in the fireplaces are
splendid examples of ironwork, the one
in the nursery being quite unusual, as
1t has heads of angels with wings on 1t
and, according to superstitions, was
made that way to guard the babies
sleeping in the nursery. This nursery
adjoins the room in which Gen. Robert
E. Lee was born. The outdoor kitchen.
with its large fireplace and crane, is IN
almost perfect condition. 1t has brick
long ago in this kitchen are to be seen
there today. The stables, outhouses
and mansion itself are all made OF
brick, which in all probability were
made on the place.
About Is miles from Stratford is Sa-
bine Hall, and when you come to the
entrance to this place drive through
the woods for l mile before reacning
the house. This was built by King
Carter in 1870 for his son Landon.
There is a wonderful view Of the Rap
pahannock from the house, although 1t
Is at least a mile away. The house Is
Of brick, of Georgian architecture; the
walls are massive, and the partltion
walls all through the house are brick
from cellar to attic. In the hau Is q
beautifully hand-carved staircase, ano
almost all the rooms are wainscoted
from the floor to the ceiling. In this
house one will find many fine old por-
traits Of the Carriers and one OF the lew
portraits of King Carter.
AS to the garden, II Is made IN dve
terraces, beginning at the top OF the
hill and extending to the fields below;
The first and second terraces are USED
e. :lusively for flowers and one finds the
flowers so dear to the ladies OF long
ago. On the second terrace Is a high
box hedge dividing the flower garden
from the vegetable garden, as the three
lower terraces are used exclusively ior
vegetables. The house as well as the
garden is open to visitors.
A few miles down the road Is war
ol cross tne
Rappahannock River to TappahannocK,
going on down the old post road which
ran between Fredericksburg and York
town and what Is now known as the
Tidewater Trail, when about quarter
of a mile from Gloucester we come TO
the old Long Bridge Ordinary, which
was built in. 1870 and used by travel e.,
ers. This place has been acquired by
the woman's Club Of Gloucester ana
Is used as a club house.
In this immediate vicinity will be
found many places OF interest, among
them being Goshen, which contains
many finely paneled rooms and very
unusual slave quarters. Here the old
garden is being restored.
Many Fine Old Homes.
There is also on this road White
Marsh, which was built before 1854 eno
which is now owned by Mr. and Mrs.
H. N. Baruch of New York, who have
done. much toward restoring it.
In walnut grove on the road toward
Gloucester Court House stands Abing-
don Church, which was built in 1850.
replacing a church which had stood
there for at least 100 years. In the
graveyard are many old tombstones
and 1t is interesting to note that among
the congregation of early days was MIL
bred Warner, who married Lawrence
Washington and who was the grand
mother of George Washington.
Crossing the ferry at Gloucester
Point, we arrive at Yorktown, which
was made town in 1881 and made
famous when CORVALLIS surrendered "A
the Continental troops there in 17sl
Three-quarters of a mile out Of town
is the Moore house, where the terms Of
surrender were drawn up and signed
The house is well worth seeing
In yorktown proper we find the FRS
custom house, or the Oldest custom
house In America: also the Nelson
house, or York Hall, as 1t Is now called
This house was built In 1740. With it