The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-04-20


lanes Colonial ladies moved and
were courted-homes made homer
by the passage Of nearly two CEN
turtles, will again have their day
or rather, their week.
Within easy reach of Washing
ton are the following places which
are expected to attract eager
throngs from every section Of the
nation:
GadSby'S Tavern
STEPPED in the lore of the period
from 1850 to 1850 is this quaint,
old eating-place in Alexandria. To-
day it's crumbly walls whisper to
the visitor of goings-on which the
pages of our school books confirm
in cold type.
Here it was that the Father Of
Our Country banded together his
initial brigade and here it was that
he tearfully dispersed them-their
duty done. Here, General Wash"
ington and his continental con-
temporaries dined, danced and
were feted. Here, the winsome
Sally Fairfax cavorted and inspired
toasts without number.
And here, today, may be seen
the chairs wherein these glamor-
Gus figures sat and the tables at
which they Supped. A venerable
memento of an age that will not
come again Is Gadsby'S-a favortte
Westinghouse when the country
was young; a treasured relic now.
WOOdlawn
Nine scenic miles south Of
Gadsby's Tavern, on the Rich
mond Highway, stands Wood.
lawn. Rearing its rambling self
high above the Potomac on a
knoll of its own, it peers with
upufted eyebrow down upon
George Washington's blacksmith
shop nestled in the valley below.
Built in 1905 by DR.. Thornton
the same architect who de-
signed the Capitol-it has stood
the years well. It stands on
a plot of land originally owned
by George Washington and which
he included in a 2,000,acre grant
to Nellie Gusts. It was she who
had it built and it was she
who first called it "home."
Today it is owned by Mrs.
Oscar w. Underwood, widow Of
the late Senator, who purchased
it 10 years ago from Mrs. Sharpe.
Thanked by trees far older than
the building itself, it is an archi'
tectural rhapsody in red brick.
On its spacious lawns grow guam
titles Of Old English box bushes,
valued by landscapes at $4,000
or more. Mr.. r. L. Thorpe is
the gardener and-approXlmately
enough-he has left no stone I'M
turned.
GunStOn Hall
In 1853, George Mason, author
of the famous Bill Of Rights,
compiler of Virginias first consti-
tuition and among those who
drew up the Constitution of the
United States, built Gunston Hall.
He built it so well that today its
woodwork is the marvel Of our
modern mechanics. Box bushes
thrive here, too.
George MaSon's remains lie
hard by. Like his aristocratic as
sociates, he picked out an enviable
spot to live.
wellington
One Of the Old Dominion'S old
est estates, Wellington, was built
sometime prior to 1760. Its most
famous occupant was Col. Tobias
Lear, military and private secre-
tary to George Washington for IL
years. It is at present owned by
Mr.. and Mrs. Malcolm MatheSon.
The latter, when asked whence
came the name, replied:
''NO one seems to know"
Much has been done to yelling
ton since it housed Tobias Lear.
Additions have been made and
necessary repairs attended to-all
tending to enhance its original
charm.
It was originally part of the Mt.
Vernon estate and once comprised
900 acres. That was when it was
known as River Farm and its
buildings were in shambles. To-
day 1t offers to the visitor a
glimpse of magnificence not
easily matched.
OrdIelgh
A stones toss from Wellington's
well.kept lawn is Ordleigh, the
present home Of Mr.. and Mrs. Will
liam H. Ord. It boasts, in addi-
ton to fine view of the river,
. modern garden whose beauty
and intricacy Of design are unSur-
passed.
Both these estates are situated
on the Mt. Vernon Memorial High
way about midway between Alex
andria and Mt. Vernon.
Then there are Rippon Lodge,
Pohick Church and other hiStori-
cal ShrineS in the district near
washington.
Under q carefully worked out
schedule, these places may be in.