Show I HOW MOUNT VERNON WAS SAVED r F9 f t a rt t2 Y p + rw C t w w cp r Yi s f Washingtons Tomb at Mount Vernon If there Is ono action abovo all others oth-ers for which American women can feel proud It Is the preservation of the homo of Washington How Mt Vernon was saved as n monument to patriotism Is an Interesting story fort for-t was through the formation of the oldest patriotic association of women now In existence In tho United States that this historic spot was preserved to posterity Upon tho death of Georgo Washington Washing-ton In 1799 a life Interest In the estate es-tate passed to his wife From her It fell to various Washington relatives until In 1855 John Augustine Washington Wash-ington Jr found himself in possession posses-sion of an historic place which he was unablo to keep In a proper state of preservation by soiling It to tho United States government and falling In this offered It to tho commonwealth of Virginia Vir-ginia It was at this crisis that Ann Pamela Cunningham of South Carolina determined that the tomb of Washington Washing-ton must bo preserved as a permanent Bhrlna of patriotism Accordingly she organized tho Mt Vernon Ladles association and appointed ap-pointed vice regents In tho various states to aid in the work Contributions Contribu-tions to a fund to buy the property were solicited and soon every section of the country became Interested Thousands of school children gave pennies pen-nies Edward Everett presented the Immense proceeds of his lectures on Washington societies donated funds and Mt Vernon was saved to the nation na-tion In 1860 over 200 acres of tho estate es-tate Including the wharf tomb and mansion were purchased by the asso elation for 200000 As the society was former for tho sole purpose of acquiring ac-quiring Mt Vernon tho estate can never pass from its possession and Is owned by it though Virginia retains a supervision over it Since Miss Cun ninghams death tho office of regent has passed through various hands until today it is hold by Mrs Justine Van Renssolaer Townsend of New York who Is ably aided by Viceregents from 29 states |