Evening star., 1949-04-21


WEEK.-The gardens of Oat-
II be on public view Saturday,
tour. william Corcoran
Gunston Hall 10 Admit
Garden Week Visitors
Starting Saturday
The public will have one Of its
rare opportunities Of visiting the
George Mason mansion, Gunston
Hall in Fairfax County, during
Virginia Garden Week, which
opens Saturday. The event will
continue through April 80.
Through consent of its present
owner and occupant. Louis Hertle,
the Garden Club of Virginia has
arranged to have the estate open
each day Of the tour from 10 am.
to $50 pm. except Sunday, when
the visiting hours will be from 2
pm. to $50 pm.
r Gunston Hall is the only estate
in the Washington area which will
be specially opened for Garden
Week. Mount Vernon and Pohick
Church, which also are part Of the
tour, are open regularly.
Gunston Hall is about 1s miles
south of Alexandria on a hill
overlooking the Potomac River
The estate can be reached by
driving south on No. / highway
to Route 600, about two miles
south of Pohick Church. A left
turn onto Route 900 leads directly
to the entrance of Gunston.
Signs will lead visitors to the
estate.
NldIlSIUH DulIb HI 4tCO
Gunston Hall was built in 1755
by George Mason, author OF the
Virginia Bill of Rights. The
Georgian-type house is low with
a steep pitched roof accented by
tall chimneys, two at each end.
The Chinese Ohippendale room
at Gunston has for many years
been admired by architects. From
the east door, q view Of the
Potomac Is framed by the fam
Gus 200-foot box hedge which
rises to a height Of 11-feet. The
hedge is fianked by formal flower
beds. outlined by low box hedges.
At the end of the walk lies a
sunken garden, beyond which the
pastures fall away to the river.
Kenmore at Fredericksburg. one
of the more than 200 estates on
public view for the annual tour,
will be the scene Of a series Of
short, dramatic episodes to be
staged on April 28.
Daily hours for the garden week
will be from 10 am. to s pm,
daylight time, and admission to
points on the tour will range from
Is cents to $3.50. plus tax.
Money raised will be used to re-
store Serpentine walls and the
gardens they inclose at the Uni
versity of Virginia. The work will
be done In accordance with plans
drawn by Thomas Jefferson.
Dramatic Scenes.
Dramatic scenes will be staged
at the historic Fredericksburg
estate. They are called "The Ken
more Heritage" Kenmore was
built by Col. Fielding Lewis. Revo-
lutionary patriot. for his bride.
Betty, only sister Of George Wash
ington.
For the showings of 1.-THE Ken
more Heritage" guests first will
60 through the mansion to view
the episodes. Then they will be
served tea and gingerbread.
The Heritage first was pre-
sented in 1947 by the Kenmore
Association. and proved so popu-
lar 1t became an annual event.
Other Estates to Be Open.
Other estates within easy motor
tai include the following districts:
Winchester -Clarke-(open Sat
urday. Sunday and Monday
Spring Hill Farm, Daniel Morgan
House, Macsfield. Holly House. Rec
Gate.
Front Royal District-toper
Saturday. Sunday and Monday
Druid Hill. Erwin, Riverside
Meadowbrook Hill. Kenmore
Manor, Chester House.
Piedmont District - topen
Saturday, Sunday and Monday
Rockland, Oatlands. Little Oat-
lands, Oak Hill. Dinwiddie Farm
st. Brides Farm. Catesby. Bal
cares, Oakwood, Ridgelea, Great
Run. Bellevue.
Fredericksburs District-toper
during entire week. Belmont
Kenmore and shrines.
Northern Tidewater District -
(open entire week. Marmion
waverly, Wakefield. Stratforc
Hall. Presidents Garden and Mu-
scum.
Orange District-topen during
entire week Montpelier. Monte
bello and Lochiel. and topen Mon
day through April SOD Rocklands
Charlottesville District = topen
entire week. Kinloch. Castle Hill
Old Keswick, Michie's Old Tavern
Monticello. Ash Lawn. Morven
Redlands, Gallison HAN. Mirador
Seven Oaks. Rose Hill, Tiyerton.
Blue Ridge Farm. University Of
Virginia buildings.
Tour booklets with routes. maps
and descriptive material may be
obtained ct the American Auto
mobile Association and the Key
stons Automobfle Club.