The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-02-16

endar's early history, suffice it to
say that in 1852 the Julian calendar year (estab-
lished by Julius Caesar and modified somewhat
by Augustus Caesar) 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 some
changes in computing leap years.
But it was not until 1852 that the Gregorian
year adopted by Great Britain and her colo
MES. Then IL days were dropped between Sep
TENDER 8 and September a. 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 IL under
the old calendar system but when the Gregorian
calendar was applied and the calendar pushed up
IL days it 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 "two
brthplaces"-that is, if we listen to the asser-
lions of different "authorities"-and just as a
matter of IL days of time separates his 1.-TWO
birthdays" so does matter of approximately
mile of distance separate his "two birthplaces"
Back in 1923 there was organized In Wash
ington, D. c., by Mrs. Josephine Wheelwright
Rust descendant of John Washington, the orig
inal Washington emigrant to this country, and
by other interested persons an association known
as the Wakefield National Memorial association
which was incorporated under the laws of Vir-
GINA for the purpose of restoring Wakefield, the
house in which Washington was supposed to
have been born.
Through the generosity of John d. Rockefeller,
Jr and other donors large part of the planta-
ton of Capt. Augustine Washington was pur-
chased and improvements made on II. In 1880
the federal government appropriated $4,000 for
the removal of the granite shaft erected In 1896
to mark the site of Washington's birthplace, and
for the construction of a 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 born at Wakefield on
the northwest bank of Popes creek. so they said,
but more than q mile away near the southeast
bank of Bridges creek, where the Washington
family graveyard is located. The association was
positive enough that it was right to go ahead
with it's work and the federal government seemed
satisfied. But at the same time that disturbing
theory would not die.
1t has remained for DR.. Charles o. Paullin Of
the division of historical research in the Car
negie institution of Washington to make search
in contemporaneous documents and to uncover
evidence which seems to settle the question con-
clusively and to prove that the Wakefield site
actually was the birthplace of Washington.
The story of the investigation which Doctor
Pauln made the evidence which he found and
the conclusions which he reached from them are
contained in recent press release from the
Carnegie Institution upon which the remainder
of this article is based. He says in part:
The first standard biography of George Wash
ington is that of John Marshall, chief justice Of
the United States. which was compiled from the
original papers of Washington, under the inspec-
ton of Justice Bushrod Washington, nephew Of
George. Its second volume, published in 1905.
gives the birthplace as Eat Bridges creek. In the
county of Westmoreland."
In 1906 the immortal Parson Weems brought
out his first full account of his hero. Two years
later in a subsequent edition, the statement that
Washington was born ION Popes creek in West
moreland county, Virginia" was published for
the first time. The earliest accounts by Weems,
published in 1900, do not contain the words ION
Popes creek" am disposed to conjecture that
in making this addition he accepted family tradi-
ton. Most subsequent writer's have followed the
mother statement" either of Marshall. who To-
Gates the birthplace at Bridges creek, or OF
Weems, who places 1t on Popes creek.
In June 1875 George Washington Parke Gus
It's, grandson of Martha and ward of George, of
Arlington House on the Potomac river opposite
Washington City, sailed for Popes creek with
stone slab bearing the inscription. Here, Inc
18th of February, 1872 (Old Style), George Wash
ington was born" and in somewhat theatrical
manner placed the slab on Popes creek site.
Writing of the event SO years later Custis de-
scribes his landing at the mouth of Pope's or
Brydge creek" his falling in with several local
residents including the overseer of the property.
and bis being escorted to the spot where a
few scattered bricks alone marked the birthplace
of the chief" The confusing of the two creeks
nv CuStiS and his reputation for neyactituda
mind leave something to be desired.
When, in the early 30s Marshall carefully re-
yised his first edition. he must have known Of