Show spa A HISTORIC MANSION BIHTHPIXAOE OF MARTHA WASHINGTON WASH-INGTON STILL STANDING Situated Near West Point Va and in Good Stato of Repair A Popular Pop-ular Place for Relic Hunters West Point Chestnut Grovo lie birthplace of Miutlm Dandrldge who married first Daniel Parke Gusts Gus-ts and thou Col Ueorgo Washing ton Is only a short journey trust Uost Point It Is situated In New Kent county about live miles from he county sent on the hanks of the Iamunhoy river The old mansion III which Mia Washington first saw he light Is Htuudlug todny and by tho nails lumber and i style of con striictlon extreme ngo IB attested Col H P Cook who was born In Now Kent near Chestnut Grove tho Dandildgu homestead October 10 ISIS rind who purchased the 111011 erty and lived on It 50 years tiald hat his giandmnther r ho was Miss Ann K Clinmbcrlnjno sister of len William Chnmboilnyno and a schoolmate school-mate of Martha Dandrldgo Mis Gem Washington told him that she did not know when tho huuso wn built and had no acquaintance with anyone any-one who know Tho building Is a two story frame structure tho walls resting on n brick basement which Is live feet bo low tho surface of tho ground and four feot above ground and 18 Indies thick save at tho banes of tho two chimneys each of which Is five by six feet with an arch In tho basement base-ment six feet high four feet wide and five feet deep The lumber In tho framo Is whlto oak tho doors and window casings are of poplar and the weather boarding board-ing Is of heart pine Tho nails wcro originally all hand made Several rears ago It was found necessary to I replace many of tho nails for the sake of safety as HO many nails had been drawn out and taken away na I souvenirs or relics by tourists The length of tho basement walls Is 58 feet with 22 feet and many sumptuous banquets have boon served therein Tho rooms on tho first floor aro ten fool high 20 feot wide and 18 feet long u Tho reception hall Is 12 by 20 feot On tho place Is a largo burying ground containing tho graves of tho Dandrldgcs and many noted people of tho long ago A largo vault remained re-mained thoro for many years built of Imported brick Tho bricks woro afterward used to build a chlmnoy On tho slto of the vault thousands of walnut trees sprung up and many canes and other souvenirs have been cut and fashioned and carried away by relic huntors The place Is now owned by Mrs M C Smith of Newport News and Is occupied by Mr O M Chandler and family Mrs Chandler Is n daughter of Mrs Smith Tho IIOUBO fronts north to tho Paraunkey river and also fronts to the south Sloping from tho mouse to tho river is a terrace garden filled with many beautiful flowors and oldtlmo shrubs among others the cnlycanthus with Its delicate fragrance Out In tho river In front of tho house is a small Island known as LOCKS island During the civil war gunboats woro sunk on either side of tho Island to blockade tho course to Richmond Tho name Chestnut Grovo was given on account of tho many fine chestnut trees abounding on tho farmWhllo Whllo Martha Dandrldgo was the wlfo of Daniel Parko Custis she lived at tho White House the site of whIch can bo seen from tho Southern railroad rail-road running between West PoInt and Richmond Tradition says that the presidential mansion In Wn > ilng toe D C was named from tho home of Mrs Custis afterward Mrs WashIngton Wash-Ington wlfo of tho first president of tho United States I |