Nogales international., 1931-02-21
Women Saved
Mount Vernon
for Country

The nation is indebted to a group
of patriotic women who restored
Mount Vernon, the home of George
Washington, to it's original beauty
and dignity. The organization,
which by it's devotion and spirit
has been able to accomplish this,
is known as the Mount Vernon La
dies association. 1t holds its an
nual council session on the estate.
Back in the fifties the last OF the
Washington family to possess
Mount Vernon, exhausted by the
effort not only to keep up the es-
tate. but to endure the strain OF
entertaining a constant stream OF
visitors who wished TO see the home
of their first President, offered it
for sale to the state OF Virginia
and the United States government.
When neither of these public
agencies took advantage of the Of
fer Miss Ann Pamela Cunningham
appealed to the women of the coun-
try to save the home where George
washington found his greatest hap
piness.
Raise 100000 Fund.
Bv her untiring efforts and with
the help of Edward Everett and
other enthusiastic workers, $780,
900 was raised for the purchase OF
Mount Vernon. Under the charter
from the state of Virginia by which
the Mount Vernon Ladies' associa-
ton holds the property, their pro-
prietorship lasts so long as it is
tittirgly maintained.
1t is the purpose of the ladies OF
this organization to make Mount
Vernon exactly as it was in the
time of it's famous proprietor. 10
accomplish this they spare no
thought. effort or money. They
are never extravagant, but they
always require that the very best
in equipment or service be en-
ployed.
Ever-BIooming Flowers.
In the flower beds, outlined by
box hedges, are always blooms,
from the gaudy tulips of early
spring to the equally striking dah-
las of fall. Cuttings of box and
ivv and seedlings are on sale in or
der that all who wish may have
some growing thing from Mount
Vernon in their own gardens.
A great many of the original fur
nishincs of the mansion have been
found by these Jealous women, and
have been placed in their proper
setting. Aithclgh some furniture
which did not belong to George
and Martha Washington is used to
add to the homelike atmosphere,
relics which have not been authen-
ticated as original after careful in
yestigation are no longer accepted
or purchased.
It is no effort to imagine the en-
ioyment that the gracious master
and mistress of Mount Vernon de-
rived from their home. By merely
removing the grills at doorways, Il
perfectly appointed mansion is
again ready for occupancy. Every
detail is complete. Beds are made
with snowy covers over DlllOWy
mattresses, books are on the IL
brary shelves, a card table and
counters await players, piano and
flute are there, even knives are in
their wooden cases on the buffet in
the family dining room, and d
clock ticks on the mantel in the
banquet hall.
In addition to the ancient, rare
and valuable furnishings are. The
most modefll protective systems, by
their perfect concealment lending
no discordanf note. IIot-air heat is
piped from q distant furnace, port
able electric fixtures are used
when necessary, and equipment for
! fire prevention that is the last
word in ingenuity is USED. -,
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