Evening star., 1938-04-09
ALEXANDRIA TOUR
WILL Be NEXT WEEK
Some of Oldest Homes to Be
Opened as Benefit to
Gadsby's Tavern.

Alexandria is again offering op-
portunities to see the interiors of
some Of tha Oldest homes in this part
Of the country with a single-day bene-
At tour scheduled for next Saturday
april 16) from II am. till pm.
The tour is designed to raise funds
to pay for the new roof on the his
torically famous hostelry-Gadsby's
Tavern.
There will be 1e places in the list.
BY far the majority of them were
built Just before, during or inme-
diately after the Revolutionary War.
In addition to hand-carved mantels
and arched doorways with original
antiques for most of the furnishings,
there are many added, really unique
attractions. For instance, there are
two Of the four chairs which men,
bers of the Boston tea party patriots
occupied while making final arrange
ments the evening of their famous
act, in one house on this tour. There
Is a jockey clubhouse, in the doorway
Of which Thomas jefferson stood re-
ceiving congratulations one fine day
In 1896, on the victory Of his roam
colt in a race witnessed by George
Washington.
The Boston tea party chairs" are
In the latest house to be added to this
years list-one not previously shown
and at present lived in Judge and
Mrs. Thomas F. McAllister and owned
by Mrs. Fitzhueh Talman, who also
owns the chairs. The entire house
has been furnished by Mrs. Talman
with authentic antiques of the period
Of the house. small house built
within the period 1783-90 (exact date
not known. 1t stands at Ill Prince
street. This house is unchanged since
its building, except for the INSTALL
ment of modern convenlences, and
has it's original six-panel doors and
quaint, huge locks.
Tea to Be Served.
Mrs. Charles Beatty Moore, leader
In the group sponsoring this benefit
tour says that from till 6 o'clock
next Saturday tea will be served, free
of charge, to all who take the tour
1t will be served in Gadsby's Tavern.
which, since the very sudden removal
of the famous Henderson collection
of furniture which had been in the
tavern, will be furnished with au-
thentic pieces loaned by many of the
Alexandria hostesses.
Just up the hill and across Prince
street from Mrs. Talman's house is
Col. Michael Swope's home, at 210
Prince street. Part of it was built in
1855 and the rest in 1874. Mrs. Gar
land Lambert has the house now and
has beautiful furnishings in it. in
cluding two tiny sofas which grace the
tall front windows of the music-draw-
ing room, while huge desk made
from an old square grand piano is a
feature of the library beyond The
woodwork in this house is beautiful.
A feature of the kitchen is an enor-
nous fireplace, with the original crane
of Revolutionary times still in it.
House Built Like ct"
Yates Tavern. previously known as
Spring Gardens, and home of the sec
ond Jockey Club, is what is known
as a Federal house" having been
built after the Revolution, when there
was first Federal Government This
house is built like capital ct" with
the entrance on what would be the
top of the letter and the rest of the
house in long line behind 1t. It is
at 4l4 Franklin street.
BY far the majority of the houses
In this group of IA houses (private
homes). Gadsby's Tavern and the old
Presbyterian meeting house, which
makes is places in all, are of the
Federal period, between 1880,
However. there is one that goes back
to 1850 and several built during the
Revolution.
Many tourists who come to WASH
ington to see the Tomb of the Un-
known Soldier at Arlington are not |
aware that the Nation also honored
the unknown soldiers Of the Revo-
lutionary War with a much simpler |
but very dignified tomb in the church. |
yard of the old Presbyterian meet
ing house of Alexandria, which is in
cluded in this tour.
A stage coach of Colonial times, |
with outriders postillion style, and
lovely ladies inside-all in costume
will add to the picturesque charm Of
Alexandria's exhibit of old homes"