Evening star., 1934-02-25
FORT HUMPHREYS
STUDIED AS PARK
Considered as Link in Chain
of Historic Reserva-
ti0nS.

Possibilities Of utilizing the $780,
acre tract comprising the Fort Hum
phreys reservation as link in a pro-
posed chain OF historic parks follow
ing the Potomac River by way of
Mount Vernon TO Wakefield Manor in
Westmoreland County, George Wash
ington's ancestral home. are being
studied by two governmental agencies
The study was undertaken at the
direction of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission in cooper
alton with the Office Of National Parks,
Buildings and Reservations A commit
tee was appointed last week consisting
of Maj. Malcolm Elliott and Director
Arno A. Camnerer of the latter office
The project lends itself to many
possibilities, which intrigue the inagi-
nation of the park and planning Off
GERS, because of the historic places
through which such chain of reser-
vations would pass. 1t presents also
difficulties and obstacles, especially
since Fort Humphreys is under the
jurisdiction of the War Department,
which has lost number of its reser-
vations to the Interior Department
since March 4.
Rich In Lore.
Adjoining Mount Vernon. the Fort
Humphreys reservation is rich in its
own historic lore At one time it was
a part of the vast domain of Lord
Thomas Fairfax, the principal land
owner and first citizen of Virginia
Lord Fairfax was the friend and pa
tron of George Washington and en-
gagged the then youthful surveyor to
lay out many parts Of his far-reach-
ing possessions.
Since the Government already owns
more than 5000 acres, no question
, OF land purchase is involved at Fort
Humphreys. The Arny's Engineering
School is located on the reservations
and considerable public works funds
are being expended upon a necessary
| building program for the school.
On the other hand park officials
point out that the Army actually uses
only small portion of the reserva-
tion, the remainder consisting oi
rugged acres which are admirably
adapted to park purposes Under the
plan considered, this would be left
much in its natural state, and bride
paths and trails would be laid out.
Would Rebuild Home.
The foundations of Belvoir, the
original home of Lord Fairfax are still
to be traced on the reservation, and il
the plans of the Government officials
are ever allowed to materialiZe this
former Colonial mansion would be re-
built in correct detail as the historic
houses in Williamsburg, Va. are now
being reconstructed.
Close by is Gunston Hall, former
home of George Mason. au hor of tne
famous Virginia bill of rights. friend
also of Washington and Fairfax and
one of the great men of the Revolu-
tionary era. This historic mansion
and estate, now privately owned, the
Government hopes some day to ac-
quire. This also would be along the
route of the proposed chain Of parks
leading to Wakefield.
The Government already has built
a road from Mount Vernon, passing
south around the Fort Humphreys
reservation to connect with the Rich
Notwithstanding Highway. This
roadway would be utilized as one Of
the links in the historic boulevard.
Representative Howard w Smith OF
Virginia, whose district comprises the
territory, is eagerly supporting the
proposed project.