Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1940-10-04
StratfOrd Hall
Will Celebrate
On Sunday, Is

"PlanCaClOn lay at SCrdCIOru Will
be celebrated on Sunday, October IL,
Stratford Hall in Westmoreland Coun-
ty, Virginia, is the birthplace of Rob-
ert E. Lee and two signers of the
Declaration of independence. In the
restoration of this early Georgian
home and it's HOO acres, one of the
most important features is the revival
of some phases of colonial farm life,
now shown side by side with today's
most advanced agricultural methods.
Brief ceremonies will be held at
2:3O o'clock adjacent to the great brick
stable, with that old building as a
background. General B. F. Cheatham
Superintendent at Stratford, will pre-
side. He will introduce B. F. Cheat
ham, III, to speak on Stratford's farm
activities, and Mr.. Stanley F. Dawson,
Farm Agent of Westmoreland County,
who will give short address. Mr.. S.
F. Grubbs, Secretary of the Virginia
Crop Improvement Association, the
principal speaker of the afternoon,
will talk on crop improvement meth
DDS and what has been accomplished
at Straford.
The Directors of the Robert E. Lee
Memorial Foundation, Inc, have in
augurated a Plantation Day in order
to show those who are interested what
has been accomplished to bring back
to usefulness this great plantation
and to recreate the atmosphere of its
busy colonial days when every tillable
acre served to carry on the life of it's
community.
Today when National Preparedness
is demanded of all our people and the
necessity of self sustaining coun-
try is manifest, the Directors feel
this successful demonstration of land
reclamation and use has it's practical
significance.
The stable yard will be transformed
into a miniature Country Fair. There
will be exhibits of purebred Hereford
cattle, Poland China pigs, and White
Leghorn chickens. Farm products
corn, oats, wheat, buckwheat and bar
ley, with canned goods and preserves,
will be shown.
The workshop with its collection OF
antique tools will be focal point of
interest. With the modern implements
combine, tractor, etc.-on display
nearby, visitors will have concrete evil
dence of the evolution of farm meth
DDS, such as the harvesting of grain
from the days of hand labor with the
cradle to the smooth perfection of the
combine.
The Lees of Westmoreland County
were among the first colonists to
import purebred horses, and today in
Stratford meadows thoroughbreds
again Craze. The success of Time-O-
War, grandson of Man-O-War, on
eastern race tracks this season renews
the fame of the Straford stables. The
parading of thoroughbred mares and
colts will be of particular interest.
Work stock will also be displayed,
mules-and even a team of oxen.
The entire plantation will be ready
for inspection by visitors who will
want to. see the improved fields and
open ground under intensive cultiva-
ton, with special emphasis on the
quality of things produced. The chick
en- industry with it's modern equip
ment gives a scientific demonstration
of poutrly handling.
The old grist mill which nestles I'M
der the hills down on the banks of the
Potomac River, completely restored,
is now grinding grain with machinery
of the early 18th century. 1t will
interest visitors to see in operation
this important factor in colonial plan
tation industry and obtain an idea of
the manner in which their forefathers
mot +ha ,,aoaccitiae 0f life