Part 1

Copyright, 1928, by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association

_An Illustrated Handbook of Mount Vernon_

_Contents_

The Home of Washington 3 Entrance Gateway 6 West Front 7 North Lodge Gate 8 West Lodge Gate 9 Mount Vernon Mansion 10 Portico 11 Mansion Interior, Central Hall 12 West Parlor 13 Miss Custis’s Music Room 14 Family Dining Room 15 Banquet Hall 16 Kitchen 17 Mrs. Washington’s Sitting Room 18 Library 19 Washington’s Room 20 Mrs. Washington’s Room 21 Second Floor 22 Third Floor 23 Flower Garden 24 Servants’ Quarters 24 Kitchen Garden 25 The Carpenter Shop 26 The Spinning House 26 The Barn 27 Summer House 28 Mount Vernon Wharf 29 Old Tomb 30 New Tomb 31 The Regents and Vice-Regents of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association of the Union 32 Pohick Church 34

_The Home of Washington_

In the year 1674, by Grant of Lord Culpeper, a tract of 5,000 acres situated on the west bank of the Potomac River, fifteen miles south of the present city of Washington, became the property of John Washington and Nicholas Spencer. Half of this tract, or 2,500 acres, descended to Lawrence Washington, who, in 1743, built a residence, and named the estate Mount Vernon, after the British Admiral under whom he had served. At Lawrence Washington’s death (1752) the estate passed to the ownership of his half brother, George Washington, who subsequently extended the boundaries of his plantation until they included nearly 8,000 acres.

In 1799, when George Washington died, the property passed as a life interest to his widow, by whose will most of the household effects in the Mansion were, after her death, divided among her four grandchildren. Thus was the original furniture of Mount Vernon eventually scattered.

Bushrod Washington, John Augustine Washington, and John A. Washington, Jr., followed in succession as owners of Mount Vernon.

These gentlemen furnished the Mansion according to their individual tastes and made such minor changes as papering or painting the interior to preserve it.

Mr. John A. Washington, Jr., the last-named owner, in accordance with the wishes of his family, to effect a permanent preservation of the property, offered to sell it to the National Government. This project failed, as did likewise an attempt to sell to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

At this juncture the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association of the Union was (in 1856) organized by Miss Pamela Cunningham, of South Carolina. Her appeal to the patriotism of all American women (December, 1853) resulted in the accomplishment of her noble project in spite of many obstacles. The purchase money was raised by contributions from thirty-three States of the Union, materially aided by Hon. Edward Everett, of Massachusetts, in lecturing for the benefit of the Mount Vernon Fund, his contributions amounting to $68,294.59. In 1858, this Association was thus enabled to buy from Mr. John A. Washington, Jr., and his heirs, 202 acres of the Mount Vernon estate, including the Tomb, the Mansion, attendant buildings, the wharf, etc., the price paid being $200,000 and interest.

In 1887, an important addition of 33½ acres was achieved through the generosity of the late Mr. Jay Gould, of New York; in 1893 Mr. Christian Heurich, of Washington, D. C., gave three acres, and in 1925 Mr. and Mrs. Hugh McK. Landon, of Indianapolis, kindly donated about 23 acres more, thus making the total area owned by the Mt. Vernon Ladies’ Association approximately 260 acres.

Among the many who visit Mount Vernon few are aware of what an expensive undertaking is involved in its restoration and preservation, nor do they realize on entering its gates that they, too, contribute their mite toward the maintenance of this historic place. To retain the appearance of that simplicity which characterized the home life of Washington, to preserve the reverence of his hallowed shrine and at the same time meet the protective requirements incident to increasing wear and tear, has been a problem to be mastered.

While the employment of modern appliances has become a necessity, they are masked as much as possible to avoid glaring contrast with the more primitive methods of olden times. For instance: to guard against accidents by fire all former and dangerous means of heating the buildings have given place to a hot water system, the mains of which pass through subterranean conduits from a distant (underground) boiler room, and all buildings are lighted by a system of low voltage electricity installed under the direction of Mr. Edison.

Fire engines—both chemical and steam—are at hand for instant use, and guards are on constant watch both day and night. Powerful modern pumps (electrically driven) supply water from an artesian well for household purposes, and keep the emergency reservoirs filled. Sanitary drainage is an essential improvement. Bogs and swamps have been reclaimed to make the place more healthful.

Threatening landslides near the Mansion and old Tomb were averted by the costly expedient of tunneling the hill to drain the water-bearing sands, the source of disastrous surface movements which had caused Washington much alarm.

The Association owes to the interest and patriotism of Prof. Charles Sprague Sargent, of Arnold Arboretum, the replacement and listing of many trees planted at Mount Vernon during Washington’s lifetime. A plan with the position of all historic trees is shown in the guide book. Successful efforts have been made to replant both the grounds of the Mansion and the surrounding woods according to Washington’s original idea as expressed in his diary.

The repair and safeguarding of buildings and their contents, attention to the old trees Washington loved, his roads, walks, gardens and grounds, continually tax the energy and resources of the Association. That the steadfast aim and purpose, thus successfully achieved, is appreciated by those who are familiar with it, is admirably expressed in the concluding chapter of Owen Wister’s “Seven Ages of Washington.” The following is a brief quotation:

“_Everything, every subject, every corner and step, seems to bring him close. It is an exquisite and friendly serenity which bathes one’s sense, that seems to be charged all through with some meaning or message of beneficence and reassurance, but nothing that could be put in words. Turn into his garden and look at the walls and walks he planned, the box hedges, the trees, the flower beds, the great order and the great sweetness everywhere. You may spend an hour, you may spend a day, wandering, sitting, feeling this gentle power of the place; you may come back another time, it meets you, you cannot dispel it by familiarity. And as you think of this you bless the devotion of those whose piety and care treasure the place and keep it sacred and beautiful._

_Unless otherwise designated all the tailpieces in this book represent original furnishings in use at Mount Vernon during the lifetime of General Washington._”

_Entrance Gateway_

Through this gateway Washington and his guests were accustomed to pass from the main road. The original paving of cobble stones has been found intact and now visitors to Mount Vernon enter as in Washington’s time. An attractive bowling-green extends from the gateway nearly to the Mansion. To the left are the flower gardens, and occupying a similar area to the right is the kitchen garden. These gardens are surrounded by brick walls, the coping of which was restored, in 1895, by Mrs. Christine Blair Graham, late Vice-Regent for Missouri.

Many of the old trees still bordering the original driveway have been identified from Washington’s diary as having been planted by him or his guests. Notably among them may be seen, near the Flower Garden entrance, two handsome tulip poplars—the tallest trees of the group.

On the lawn facing the Potomac are three large pecan trees which, as seedlings, came from Thomas Jefferson and were planted by Washington.

_West Front_

The west front of the Mansion was the point of approach for visitors, as indicated by the large central door bearing the original brass knocker. On this side is a spacious court, flanked by several frame buildings—to the right, the kitchen, butler’s house, smoke-house, laundry and coach house, while to the left are the office, the gardener’s house, carpenter shop and spinning house.

The kitchen and office are joined to the main building by colonnades, which were rebuilt in 1874 by the combined efforts of the late Vice-Regents for six States, as follows: Mrs. Hannah Blake Farnsworth, Michigan; Miss Lily Lytle Macalester, Pennsylvania; Miss Emily L. Harper, Maryland; Mrs. Lucy H. Pickens, South Carolina; Mrs. Maria Brooks, New York, and Mrs. Nancy Wade Halstead, New Jersey.

The sun-dial in the center of the court marks where one stood in the days of Washington. The posts and chains are a restoration of an original feature, accomplished in 1917 by the Vice-Regent for Oregon.

_North Lodge Gate_

In 1892, when the Electric Railway located its terminal station near the north boundary of the estate, an entrance at that point had to be arranged for visitors. It is called the North Lodge Gate to distinguish it from the private entrance half a mile away. To provide an appropriate walkway to and from the Mansion, funds were raised, in 1894, by the late Vice-Regent for Pennsylvania—Mrs. Lippincott—and stone flagging laid the entire distance of 1,100 feet.

In 1900 the Vice-Regent for Texas, with financial aid from Masons and other patriotic citizens of her State, erected the present lodges and gateway.

The Vice-Regent for Texas and Mrs. Charles Denby, late Vice-Regent for Indiana, in 1905, jointly arranged for the building of a brick wall along the boundary next the North Lodge Gate, copying walls built elsewhere on the estate by General Washington.

The gradual extension of this wall is being accomplished through contributions of individual members of the Association.

_West Lodge Gate_

This was the main approach, in olden times, from the much-traveled highway to the homestead, which can be faintly discerned through a vista cleared by Washington. A carriage road winds through intervening valleys to the Mansion, nearly a mile distant. Extending from this gateway to the Potomac River is the part of the estate purchased in 1858 by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association.

In 1890 Mrs. Martha Mitchell, late Vice-Regent for Wisconsin, provided funds for renovating these ancient lodges which once sheltered Washington’s gatekeepers.

_Mount Vernon Mansion Construction_

George Washington enlarged the original residence, built in 1743 by Lawrence Washington, by increasing its length and height, completing these improvements in 1786. In construction, its foundation walls are of stone and brick; the framework oak; the sheathing Virginia pine, cut, painted, and sanded to resemble stone. The roof is of cypress shingles. A spacious and well-drained cellar underlies the whole house.

When the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association came into possession of this property, the Mansion and other buildings were found unfurnished and greatly in need of repairs. The story of the restoration cannot be adequately told in this short sketch.

The work was divided by allotting to each Vice-Regent a room or some other feature to be restored. Gradually many articles of original furniture and personal effects of the Washingtons were recovered, some by gift, others by purchase, while several articles had only been loaned. The work has been attended with gratifying success and still progresses. Every effort is directed toward the complete restoration of each feature and condition as it existed in the days of Washington.

The “Ha Ha” wall, shown in illustration, was, in 1896, rebuilt upon its original foundations through funds raised by Miss Amy Townsend, late Vice-Regent for New York.

_Portico_

The east portico extends the full length of the Mansion, and its roof is supported by eight square wooden columns reaching a height of two stories. An ornamental balustrade surmounts the porch roof and adds height to its pleasing effect. The tiles with which the floor is still paved were imported from England by Washington and laid in 1786. In 1915, 1512 tiles were obtained from the original quarry to replace those so badly worn as to be unsafe. The dimensions of the pavement are: length, 95 feet 5 inches; width, 14 feet 6 inches, and, according to Washington’s own measurements, this pavement is 124 feet 10½ inches above the river level. The columns and balustrade are faithful reproductions of the original, the foundations of the building have been strengthened, weakened timbers renewed, and steel girders hidden between floors and ceiling for increased stability.

In 1895 accurate architectural drawings of interior and exterior details were secured by Mrs. Mary T. Leiter, late Vice-Regent for Illinois, and placed in safe deposit vaults in Washington.

In 1909 a skeleton model of the Mansion, showing its unique construction, was lodged for safe keeping with the National Museum.

The outlook from the porch commands extensive and picturesque views of the broad Potomac.

_Mansion Interior, Central Hall_

The view of the hall is from the East, showing the main stairway. To the right, doors open into the Music Room and Parlor; to the left are Mrs. Washington’s Sitting Room and the Family Dining Room. The paneling of the hall is as Washington improved it in 1775, and the original colors are restored. The pattern of wall paper above the stairs has been worked out from recently discovered fragments of what was originally there. The key of the Bastile, presented to Washington by Lafayette, in 1789, hangs in a glass case between the doors on the left, while opposite may be seen the brass hunting horn received from the same friend.

Four of Washington’s swords are shown: one he used during the Braddock campaign; his dress sword (damaged by rust); a sword made for him at the Solingen Armory in Prussia; the silver-mounted blade he wore when resigning command of the army (1783) and at his inauguration in 1789. In the case with the swords is the sash worn by General Braddock when he was wounded, and given by him to Col. George Washington, who was then his aide-de-camp.

By his will, Washington bequeathed to each of his nephews one of his five swords, with the following injunction: “Not to unsheathe them for the purpose of shedding blood except it be in self-defence or in the defence of their country and its rights, and in the latter case to keep them unsheathed and prefer falling with them in their hands to the relinquishment thereof.”

The clock on the stairs belonged to Lawrence Washington, the founder of Mount Vernon, and the hall lantern was given to him (1745) by Admiral Vernon, for whom the estate was named.

The marble top table belonged to Washington, and the engravings are reprints of originals. The restoration of the hall is due to the Vice-Regents for Michigan and Alabama.

_West Parlor_

The finish of this room—its wall panels, mantel and ceiling decoration—is a restoration of the original. Washington’s coat of arms is carved above the mantel, and his crest and initials are cast in the heavy fireback. An old painting empaneled over the mantel is said to represent a part of Admiral Vernon’s fleet at Cartagena, and was sent by the Admiral to Lawrence Washington in 1743 as an acknowledgment of Washington’s courtesy in naming the estate for him.

The rug in the room is particularly interesting. It was woven by order of Louis XVI, and sent by him as a present to General Washington.

The curtain cornices are original, also the mirror, now restored to its former position between the windows, and two rosewood stands for vases of flowers.

Among articles of interest gathered by Mrs. Mary T. Leiter, late Vice-Regent for Illinois, are several of the old chairs and a reprint of an engraving of Louis XVI.

The old piano and handsome French clock are contemporaneous but did not belong to the Washingtons.

_Miss Custis’s Music Room_

The prominent feature here is the harpsichord which General Washington presented to Nellie Custis. The stool belonged to Nellie Custis. There is also some of her embroidery on an old tambour frame. Here may be seen Washington’s flute, and two of his chairs; also a citra, or guitar, and a card table, which belonged to relatives of Washington. A quaint old music book has been found, bearing the autograph of Martha Parke Custis, the step-daughter of Washington.

This room is in the care of the Vice-Regent for Ohio.

_Family Dining Room_

The Vice-Regent for South Carolina has furnished this room. The Heppelwhite sideboard is original. All the furniture is of ancient form. The rug is of the Washington period, as are also the handsome brass andirons and fender. In the corner cupboard may be seen a reproduction of the set of china presented to Mrs. Washington by the officers of the French fleet. The stucco ornamentation of the ceiling is the same as applied in 1775. An iron fireback bearing the Fairfax coat of arms, stands in the fireplace. It was at the Fairfax home, “Belvoir,” adjoining Mount Vernon. The clock and rose jars were Lafayette’s.

A pair of handsome pitchers, Washington’s wine chest, two wine decanters and glass, all of which are authentic, have been lately added, also a chair Washington owned at Cambridge.

Here also is a portrait of David Rittenhouse, which he presented to Washington.

The memorial tablet to Miss Cunningham, of South Carolina, founder of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, has been appropriately given place here with her portrait.

_Banquet Hall_

This well-proportioned room was planned by Washington for the banquet hall, and this addition, in 1776, completed the enlargement of his house—now dignified by the name of Mansion. The decoration throughout is as he designed it; the present fresh appearance of which is the result of restorations (1884) by Mrs. Justine Van Renssalaer Townsend, then Vice-Regent for New York. An attractive feature is the handsome marble mantel presented to Washington in 1785 by an English admirer, Mr. Samuel Vaughan. The model of the Bastile is made from a stone from the renowned French prison and was sent over by Lafayette in 1793. A plateau for ornamenting his dining table was imported by Washington. Among original relics recovered for this room are the clock, candlesticks and vases, two quaint silver bracket lamps, a footstool from Washington’s pew in Old Trinity Church, N. Y., and paintings of the Great Falls of the Potomac. There are portraits of Washington by Gilbert Stuart and C. W. Peale, also a supposed portrait of Washington at the age of twenty-one, recently sent over from Glasgow as a loan.

_Kitchen_

A tour of inspection among the several buildings develops points of interest at every turn. The family kitchen bears evidence, in the proportions of its huge fireplace with ponderous crane and bake-oven near by, of what feasts were prepared therein. The interior of this room was renovated by Miss Amy Townsend, late Vice-Regent for New York, who obtained for it furnishings of contemporaneous date. The smoke-house stood near, and in season was filled with hams and meats for smoking. The larder was well stocked, tradition states, as indeed it must have been, to feed so many guests in addition to the regular household and large retinue of servants.

_Mrs. Washington’s Sitting Room_

The sitting room is in the care of the Vice-Regent for Georgia. The card table and mirror are original Washington articles of considerable interest. The silver candlestick was owned by Col. William Washington, a nephew of the General. It was presented by Mrs. Georgia Page Wilder, late Vice-Regent for Georgia. The four prints representing the siege of Gibraltar are those which hung at Mount Vernon in the days of Washington. The window curtains and hangings are of the type of that period. A mahogany chair, presented to Washington by Lafayette, is a recent acquisition. One of the candles moulded for the illumination of Yorktown in 1776 is a relic of unique character. A couch which once belonged to Nellie Custis has recently been added.