Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1950-11-28
GUEST PROGRAM


To the members of the Woman's
club and their guests Monday
Mrs. H. A. Tyson, Mrs. w. c.
Smith, Mrs. Glenn Woosley, Mrs.
Horace Jones. and Mrs. Clarence
Wallace presented a very inter-
esting program.
Mrs. Kenneth Fichner, accom-
panied by Mrs. III. G. Mansfield,
opened the program singing IF
/ Could Tell YOU" by Ida Bell
Firestone and dedicated to her
daughter. This lovely melody will
be remembered as being the
theme of the Firestone radio pro-
gram for many years
Mrs. w. G. Smith then intro
duced the speaker of the after
noon, DR.. Mary Jessie Ferguson
who for many years was pro-
fessor of Education at the Ameri-
can University in Washington p.
c., now living in Troy, Ohio she
is listed in who's Who" and
Leaders of Education" Her sub
ject, illustrated with fine kodoch-
rome slides shown by Mrs. Dins-
more was 'Washington's Virginia.
Choosing williamsburg as the
best example of colonial Virginia
because it has been restored SO
automatically, Dr. Ferguson show
ed slides of most of the famous
buildings as we'll as many excel
lent views of the gardens and in
teriors. Williamsburg became the
capital in 1899 when the colomists
found the climate and conditions
at jamestown unbearable. 1t was
the first experiment in city plan
ming and was the home of the
governors until 1779 when the
capital was moved to Richmond.
At Williamsburg the second Oldest
college in America was founded
in 1893, William and Mary. The
main building, still used and IN
excellent condition was designed
by Sir Christopher Wren who was
the architect of st. Paul's Ca
thedral in London. From this col
lege three presidents, fifteen Vir-
ginia governors and many emin-
ent colonial legislators have grad
uated. The honorary scholastic
fraternity Phi Beta Kappa origin
ated here and nearby stands the
oldest Episcopal church in the
states.
The elegance of the interior of
many of the homes was some
what surprising considering how
near were the wilderness and hos
tile Indians. Fire ravaged many
of these early buildings but such
accurate records of plans and
furnishings were kept that of the
300 that have been restored most
contain very few reproductions.
The gardens are typically English
with symm tric a j flower
beds bordered with lockwood and
the interiors are distinguished by
the exquisite plaster work and the
predominance of Williamsburg
blue.
After Williamsburg, DR.. Fer
guson showed pictures of Mon
tecello, the home of Thomas JEFF
ferson in Charlottesville. This we'll
known historical landmark, as
well as the main building of the
University of Virginia which he
founded, were both designed by
Jefferson. Through the beautiful
Virginia country side between
there and Mt. Vernon are scat
tered many colonial homes and
land marks dating back to Wash
ington's time and frequented by
him. OF these DR.. Ferguson Sc
lected the most interesting to
show and talk about.
She chose to conclude her ex-
cellent program at Mr.. Vernon
where there are roses and trees
still growing which were planted
by Washington. Where the houses
and grounds are as beautifully
kept and restored to the condition
as they were in his time. Where
each year hundreds of thousands
of people come to see the home
Of our great first president.