Evening star., 1932-02-21
BY HAROLD KEATS.


-HE first monument ever erected to
George Washington stands today a
brambleguarded ruin on top OF South
Mountain in Maryland.
No monument was ever built with
purer or more reverent patriotism
and none has been more shamefully neglected
by the country which owes SO much to the man
whose work it commentaries RattlesnakeS
buzzards, bobcats and bandits have made it
and the rock below it their refuge. while light
nings of the mountain storms have jolted Its
upper structure into tumbling jumble
The structure, which now resembles pre-
historic cairn, was once conical tower 81
feet around the base and 80 feet high.
It is Of unusual historic interest and testifes in
an unusual manner to the affection and respect
in which George Washington was held. Citizens
Of the nearby town of Boonsboro. many OF
whom fought in the Revolution turned out en-
masse on July 4, 1927, and labored all day to
build and dedicate it. This was just 20 years
after the great Generals death when those who
personally remembered the peerless leader were
just beginning to realize the breadth Of his
vision and craftsmanship. With the exception
OF firing q volley by q squad of Revolutionary
soldiers and q reverent address by the Rev. Mr..
Clinghan. whose remains rest In the Reformed
Church Cemetery Of Boonsboro there were no
funeral exercises.
No better site could have been chosen for the
project It stands on the summit ridge 200
feet above the valleys and overlooks the old
National Highway which Braddock took on his
ill-fated expedition and the scene Of the early
work and adventures which attracted attention
to Washington as the future leader Of his country.
Midway between Frederick and Hagerstown, it
is about 65 miles from Washington, D. c., and
about half a mile from the highway This road,
with the improvement Of which Washington had
much to do was the only one to the West and
>k.;x,z 49,
main route to washington Travelled by thou
sands daily who do not know what the old ruin
on the hilltop is although hundreds of tablets
along the way maintained at Government ex-
pense stand ready to tell of the soldiers who
camped or fought there during the Civil War.
An effort will be made in the present Federal
Congress to obtain an appropriation for the
restoration and maintenance of the monument
A bill fathered by Representative David John
Lewis, Maryland, in whose district it stands, has
the Endorsement of many patriotic organizations.
including all the chapters of the Daughters of
the American Revolution within the State under
the leadership of the State regent Mrs. ]. G. H.
Liburn, and Mrs James H. Dorsey, chairman
Of the State Conservation Committees Of the
D. A. r. and Of the Federation of Womens
Clubs
There can be no doubt of the genuineness Of
the claim that this Is the first monument
dedicated to Washington's memory. The
following account of the ceremony was carried
in the Hagerstown Torchlight of July a. 1927,
now on file in the Congressional Library in
Washington:
uDURSUANT to previous arrangements, the
citizens of Boonsboro assembled at the
public square on the fourth inst. at
half past seven O'Clock in the morning, to
ascend the Blue Rocks for the patriotic pur-
pose Of erecting a monument to the memory
Of him whose name stands at the head of this
article. This spot was selected in consequence
Of the great facility with which the materials
were furnished. little more than the
foundation had been laid the day before, which
enabled us to proceed without delay to the
grand design before us. The men seemed &C
tuated by a spirit of zeal and ardor almost
bordering on enthusiasm.
About IL o'clock we heard a very apprc-
pirate extempore address from the Rev. Mr..
Clingham, gentleman of the Revolutionary
period. whose warm patriotism, animating a
constitution rendered infrm by age and bad
health, induced him to bear all fatigue and
danger to accomplish the purpose of his heart.
About o'clock we partook Of q cold COL
lation, as our object was not to crafty our
pampered appetites; consequently no sump-
tuouS arrangements had been made, neither
were toasts prepared for the occasion, but we
enjoyed more heartfelt satisfaction in partak-
ing of simple fare than the most costly
highly seasoned dishes would have afforded.
Our thoughts and food were both highly spced
with the contemplation Of our work, thereby
needing no stimulants to excite an artificial
appetite. At the conclusion of our labors about
4 o'clock, the Declaration of Independence was
read from one of the steps of the monument.
preceded by some prefactory observation, after
which several salutes of Infantry were fred,
when all returned to town in good order.
''This monument Is fifty four feet in circum-
ference at its base and fifteen feet high 1--WE
raising
busy season has passed.. The wall Is COM
posed Of huge stones, many weighing upward
Of ton, with the whole of the center filled
up with the same material. A flight of steps,
commencing at the base and running through
the body Of the fabric, enables us to ascend