Greenbelt cooperator. (Greenbelt, Md.) 1937-1954, 1940-06-20
Pride and Prejudice
part y
by Az Arundel

Shortly after Miss Hessie's death efforts were
made to furnish the old house and preserve It
museum. Mr.. R.T.H. Ha1sey, member of the faculty
of St. Joints College, devoted much time to this
project. He persuaded many owners of old furniture
to display their antique treasures until the house
completely furni shed. The Peale portrait
the architect, William Bcland hung on the walls
that Blckland had envisioned in blueprint. Ec-
penses for this undertaking could not be maintained
when the depression The house closed
more. The furnishings were returned to their owners.
Five years later another attempt to restore and
preserve this house for the future was commenced.
The Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland we're the
initiators. Now a special committee composed of
the Garden Club devote their attention SOLE
1y to this work. The present lease expires in1o4o
and the purchasing fund still lacks 81. 900 of the
required $45,ooo. If the property reverts to the
College after second failure, the College Will,
it has done with other historic buildings, convert
It into apartment house. If this occurs 1t
the national loss of the mosG perfect beautiful
example Of colonial housing. The women Who have
been striving to prevent this loss still optimis-
tic. In case their optiMi SIN Is unfounded it would
be wise to pay Annapolis a visit before the
house is closed to the public.
Today the house is almost empty inside. It is
the less interesting because 1t few
pieces of old furniture The polished floors of
uneven p1anks fascinating and just q little too
slippery in spots, be careful. There are two
Peale portraits to study and numerous old clocks.
In the great diningrom stands long cleaning table
which brought tothis country by Governor william
Paca, Of the 81 gners of the Declaration. There
are so few Sheraton and Hepplete chairs that it IL
possible to really examine them and carry away an
exact memory Of each style.
From the upper window at the it is pleasant
to look down into the bedragled old garden and dream
about the people VINO strolled the pathways
hedged by thick old lockwood. One almost the
spirit Of Matthias Hammond strtdng up and down re-
garding The magnifi house that cost him love-
Or catch glimpse of the Misses Harwood rushing
breathlessly out of the house with the duelling pis
toll to dispense their young tormentors.
From the front windows gaze across at the
Chase house with its unusual window arrangement
around the entrance. The long grass-covered mound
at the left OF the Chase House is not underground
crypt but the wine-ce11ar Of Samuel Chase. Was it
fully stocked, wonders. It slightly
immoral to be associated with Episcopal Home
for Old ladies'.
It Is hard to leave the old Kitchen in the right
hand wing and its meager array Of pewter ware, foot
warmers and wooden utensils. The office wing now
houses craft shop which features only Maryland
home products at amazingly low prices. Except for
slight percentage toward the fund for purchasing the
house, the proceeds go to the craftsmen. perhaps
Greenbeltians Will appreciate this hint.) The
women who tend this shop we'll the guides in the
big house voluntarily, motivated solely by the
desire to preserve the house for this generation and
the future. It is interesting to chat with these
who different from the usual museum at
tendant They not only Wel-informed about their
project but also full of enthusiasm and able to draw
upon personal memories of Miss Hessie for the visit
ors entertainment. Next week shall tell you a
couple of ghost stories they told me.