The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-02-15

why observe February % as
Washington's birthday.
- AS matter OF fact he was born
J ] !. !. ! !.
n ~ ~ on February II. 1882 But the rea-
M14uP6M son why we observe February % In
V&4lkBN stead of February II as his birthday
MmHN Is because of the tinkerng that man
llp4&ll has done with the calendar down
VNhbW through the ages. Without going into
W all the technical details OF the cal
endars early history, suffice 1t to
say that In 1882 the Julian calendar year {estab-
lished by Julius Caesar and modified somewhat
by Augustus Caesarl was ten days ahead of the
true solar year. So Pope Gregory XVIII ordered
that October be regarded as October Is, thus
dropping out 10 days. and also made
changes In computing leap years.
But 1t was not until 1852 that the GregorIan
year adopted by Great Britain and her colo
MES Then II days were dropped between Sep
TENDER and September Ia Twenty years before
this boy. to whom had been given the name of
George Washington, was born In England's col
ony of Virginia In North America. That event
had actually taken place on February II under
the old calendar system but when the Gregorian
calendar was applied and the calendar pushed up
II days 1t made his birthday February %. SO
that is why we celebrate on that date.
Where was George Washington born? Just as
he had two birthdays SO did he have atwo
bIrthplaces"-that Is, II listen to the asser-
lions of different authorities Just as
matter Of II days of time separates his two
birthdays SO does matter of approximately
mile of distance separate his "two birthplaces."
Back In 1923 there was organized In Wash
ington. D. G., by Mrs. Josephine Wheelwright
Rust, descendant of John Washington, the orig
inal Washington emgrant to this country, and
by other interested persons association known
which was Incorporated under the laws of vir-
ginIa for the purpose OF restoring Wakefield, the
house In which Washington supposed to
have been born.
Through the generosity of John D. Rockefeller
Jr., and other donors large part OF the panta-
ton of Capt Augustine Washington was pur-
chased and improvements made on 1t. In 1880
the federal government appropriated $4,000 for
the removal of the granite shaft erected In 1896
to mark the site of Washingtons birthplace. and
for the construction of replica OF Wakefield
and the Improvement OF the grounds. All OF this
was established as the George Washington Birth
place National Monument and placed under the
Jurisdiction of the national park service.
But during this time there was advanced the
disturbing theory by several specialists In Wash
ington that the association had improved the
wrong site As the birthplace of the Father of
His Country He was not horn at Wakefield on
the northwest bank of Popes creek so they sad
but more than mile away near the southeast
bank OF Bridges creek where the Washington
family graveyard Is located. The association was
positive enough that 1t was right to 20 ahead
with Its work and the federal government seemed
satisfied. But at the same time that disturbing
theory would not die
1t has remained for DR.. Charles 0. paullin OF
fha dtvcinn af historical research In tho Gar
negIe Institution of Washington to make a search
In contemporaneous documents and to uncover
evidence which seems to settle the question
clusively and to prove that the Wakefield site
actually was the birthplace of Washington.
The story OF the investigation which Doctor
Paulin made. the evidence which he found and
the conclusions which he reached from them are
contained In a recent press release from the
Carnegie Institution, upon which the remainder
OF this article is based. He says In part
The first land owned by the Washlngtons on
the popes Creek Bridges Creek peninsula was
purchased OF David Anderson In 1864 ty John
Washington ~, the emigrant and great-grand-
father of George. On this tract, which contained
$50 acres and which lay on the southeast side
of Bridges creek. John established his home and
graveyard When he died In 1877. John (II). one
of his sons inherited the Anderson tract or
nome planlation, twenty years idleI " passeu 10
the wife of John UD at his death. and at her
death to their John Gid.
On the death OF John D another son. Law
renee grandfather of George. inherited lands
near the Potomac some miles northwest Of
Bridges creek. In 1895 Lawrence purchased of
the heirs of David Liston 400 acres on the north
west side OF Bridges creek adjoining the lands
of his brother John CID. On Lawrence's death
in 1903 the Liston tract and other nearby lands
fell TO Capt Augustine Washington. father of
George.
Augustine was married In IT'S and his first child
was born In the following year. In 1717-1718 he