| Show CHANGES ARE MADE AT MOUNT VERNON alterations result of re search among records washington D C mount ver non home of george washington near the national capital has a new superintendent the fourth since the mount vernon ladies assoria tion took over the care and upkeep of the famous shrine in 1858 fol lowing the recent death of colonel harrison H dodge the ladies as elected charles cecil wall former assistant superintendent to take charge numerous changes and restora eions have taken place at mount vernon in recent years says the national geographic society many of the alterations the new superintendent points out were made as a result of extensive re research work among records letters and other documents found both in this country and abroad As a result the mansion house and its adjacent buildings and gardens are today more nearly as they were in wash ington s time than when the ladies association took over the neglected estate this organization founded 79 years ago by miss ann pamela cunningham of south carolina is chartered by the state of virginia its officers serve without pay because the vast proportion of mt vernon s thousands of annual visitors come by motor car the federal government and the state of virginia have each constructed trunk highways to take care of the heavy tourist traffic hall protects estate facing the circular plaza but outside the gates are lunch rooms and souvenir shops housed in build ings whose colonial architecture harmonizes with the rest of the es tate there is also an outdoor cafe parking spaces for cars and busses are partially concealed by shrub bery and trees A high brick wall which was not a feature of the plantation in wash ington s dy but was erected to protect it today encircles almost the entire estate perhaps the most conspicuous change in the mansion house itself is the removal of the white railing above the roof of the portico on the east or potomac front study of several ancient drawings and paint ings of the mansion some of which have only recently come to light revealed that the railing did not a appear on any pictures prior to 1839 and therefore the railing must not have been a feature of the house during washington s lifetime consequently it has been taken down another restoration of lar interest to landscape architects is the kitchen garden along the sou south th side of the bowling 91 green this sloping plot of land was laid out by washington in terrace style an interesting example of eight benth century design growing in the garden now are old herbs eatables and fruits mentioned i n washington s farm accounts the old brick barn ha has 3 a new roof a shingling job completed ed this spring relics returned visitors may now peek into the tiny building at the west end of the flower garden believed to have been used by the curtis children and their tutor as a school house this red roofed octagonal structure was until recently used as a tool house some authentic relics recently returned to the estate for display in the mansion or in the small mu scum near the spinning house are mrs washington s french writing desk a knee hole dressing table a stool tool with mrs washington s mi dal bials on it the original bronze can non used by george washington to salute vessels sailing up the poto mac and a quaint lacquer mirror entirely concealed from visitors eyes is one of the most remarkable bits of restoration work undertaken in connection with the preservation of the mansion some time ago it was discovered that the heavy wooden beams supporting the roof and ceiling above the banquet hall were showing signs of sagging from a narrow third floor trapdoor work men were able to brace the ancient timbers with iron plates and heavy bolts so that they now are as strong as new so carefully did they do their work that the brittle plaster 0 of f the wide ceiling below was not damaged in the least mount vernon now is open every day in the year but only in recent years has it been open on sund sundays ays |
