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Show HISTOmCJIAMSION : UIBTKPIiACE OF MARTHA WASHINGTON WASH-INGTON STILL STANDING. Situated Near West Point, Vft., nnd In Good State of Itepalr A Popular Pop-ular Place for Belle Hunters. West Point, Vn. Chestnut Grove, tho blrthpiaco of, Martha Dandrldgo, who married first Daniel Porko Cus-tin Cus-tin and then Col. Georgo Washing-ton, Washing-ton, Is only a short Journey from West Point. It Is situated In Nsw Kent county, about llvo miles from tho county sent, on the banks "f the PamunUey river. Tho old mansion, in which .Mrs. Washington Hist saw tho light, Is standing to-day, and by tho nails, lunllior and stylo of cotv Htructlon, oxtremo ago Is attested. Col. H. P. Cook, who was born in Now Kent, near Chestnut Grove (the Dandrldgo homestead), October 10 lSIIi, and who purchased tho property prop-erty and lived on It GO years, snld that his grandmother, who wns Miss Ann K. Chnmberlayno, Htstcr of Gen. William Chambcrlnyne, nnd a schoolmate school-mate of Martha Dandrldgo (MrB. Gen Washington) told him that she did not know when tho liouso wns built, and had no ncqualntanco with anyone) any-one) who know. Tho building is n two-story framo structure, tho walls resting on a brick basement which is flvo feet bolow bo-low tho surfaco of tho ground and four feet nbovo ground, and 18 Inches thick, Bavo nt tho bases ot tho two chimneys, each of which Is llvo by six feet, with an arch in tho basement base-ment six rect high, four foot wldo nnd flvo feet deep. Tho lumber In tho frnmo Is whlto oak, tho doors and window casings aro of poplar, and tho wenthcr boarding board-ing Is of heart pine. Tho nails woro originally nil hand made. Sovcrnl years ago It was found necessary to replaco many of tho nnlls, for the sako of safety, as bo many nails had been tlrnwn out nnd taken away as souvenirs or relics by tourists. Tho length of Uio basement walls is CS feet, wilth 22 feet, uud many sumptuous banquets havo been served therein. Tho rooms on tho first floor nro ten feet high, 20 feet wldo, and 18 feet long. Tho reception hall is 12 by 20 foot. On tho plnco la a largo burying ground, containing tbo graves ot tho IJantlrldgcs and many noted people of tho long ago. A largo vault remained re-mained thero for ninny years, built of lmportod brick. Tho bricks wero afterward used to build a chimney. On the slto of the vault thousands ot walnut trees sprung up, nnd many enncs nnd other souvenirs havo been cut and fashioned and carried away by relic hunters. Tho place la now owned by Mrs. M. C. .Smith, of Nowport Nows, and Is occupied by Mr. O. M. Chandlor and family. Mrs. Chandler la a daughter of Mrs. Smith. Tho liouso fronts north to tho Pamunkey river, and also fronts to tho south. Sloping from tho houso to tho river la n terraced garden, filled with many beautiful flowers nnd old-tlmo shrubs, among others tho cnlycanthus, with Its dellcnto fragrance. Out In tho river, In front ot tho houso, is a small island known us "Cock'a island." During tho civil war gunboats wero sunk on olthcr sldo of tho Island to blockndo tho courso to Richmond. Tho namo Chestnut Grovo was given on account ot tho many lino chestnut trees abounding on tho farm. Whllo Martha Dandrldgo was the wlfo of Daniel I'nrko Custls sho lived nt tho Whlto Houso, tho slto ot which can bo seen from tho Southern railroad, rail-road, running between West Point and Richmond. Tradition snys that tho presidential mansion in W:iilng-ton, W:iilng-ton, D, C, wns named from tho homo of Mrs. Custls, nftorward Mrs. Washington, Wash-ington, wlfo of tho first president of tbo United States. |