Show U S T 77 K za 11 L i J e 1 1 W 4 r I 1 ia X HOIST WELCOME welcon VE SIGN virginia X v to irginia to T 0 display showplaces Show places for garden week observance features RICHMOND VA all the traditional charm and graciousness cious ness of life in the cradle of the nation will be revived as virginia once again plays host to the people of the nation from april 28 to may 3 the showplaces show places of the state including approximately serene and stately homes lovely y gardens restored to their original beauty historic buildings a and nd other national shrines will be open to the public in observance of garden week sponsored by the garden club ot of virginia garden week is being resumed tills this year for the first time since 1941 before it was disbanded during the war years garden week had become a recognized institution annually drawing thousands ot of visitors from all parts ot of the nation in springtime dress from the western tips of the allegheny leg heny the shenandoah and the blue ridge mountains their slopes ablaze with the blossoms of rhododendron do and mountain laurel through 61 the lale lush green valley up through george country to the outskirts of the nations capital city down through the rolling bluegrass section that Is piedmont to the yellow sands of tidewater and the flourishing tobacco area of the south all virginia has hoisted the welcome sign high on a plateau above the potomac is the perfect little house so dear to the heart of its builder george mason that he declined offers of fame and fortune so that he might never be far from the sight of the smoke from its tall chimneys or the fragrance of its box hedged gardens planted by the same hands which so unfalteringly penned the bill of rights and the first constitution of virginia I imposing posing mansions its lovely formal gardens shaded by century old trees westover on the james jame 3 was termed the most beautiful place in america by the marquis de Chestel lux this plantation was bought by william byrd in 1688 and the present house built in 1730 by william byrd ir II the black swan founder of richmond Ilich mond in the century great house of carters grove near williamsburg is the finest georgian woodwork in all america the richly carved balustrades of its stairway still bearing the sabre marks of Tarl tons men not tar far from busy washington Is mount vernon shining white and peaceful in its wide expanse of green lawns lanns while on another arm of the broad potomac is wakefield Waked eld the sturdy little brick memorial house marking the site where washington first saw the light of day at berkeley onabe on the james of mellow brick without and rich panelling within americas ninth president william henry harrison and his famous father benjamin harrison signer of the declaration of independence were born in the same upper room first thanksgiving berkeley was built in 1728 1726 by benjamin harrison father of the signer but the plantation was in the news in 1618 1619 as the site of what virginians claim was the first thanksgiving in the new world the occasion was the arrival of the ship margaret from england with supplies settlers and servants the it proprietors h had ad given anstr instructions that the day of the ship ships I 1 s a arrival ariva I 1 must be yearly and perpetually kept as a da day Y of thanksgiving to almighty god and when on december 4 1 1619 th the c weary voyagers set foot on the soil of berkeley their first act was a service of thanksgiving homes of presidents in rr the foothills of the blue ridge Is Jeffe jeffersons rions beloved monticello reached by a winding roadway lined with golden forsythia forsyt hla and snowy white bridal wreath the blue ridge mountains and the rolling piedmont provide a picturesque salting and trees and shrubs planted by the hand of jefferson nod to one another across the white portals of one of the most beautiful houses in all america just over the line in orange county with a venerable weeping wl willow U ow at its gateway is montpelier home of james madison fourth president of the united states and his charming wife dolly this imposing and gracious mansion set tar far back behind green lawns Is surrounded by breathtaking breath taking drifts of color in the springtime in nd county not tar far from the potomac Is the great house of stratford which in all its simplicity and dignity probably has harbored more inore men ot of eminence than any other residence la in virginia built by thomas thoas lee acting colonial governor of virginia more than years ago stratford was the birthplace of five patriots of the revolution two signers of the declaration ot of independence and virginias own robert E lee son of 0 light her horse se harry who long called stratford I 1 horne home fredericksburg george first home town has all the charm of an old valentine here imagination and memory play tag along old brick sidewalks past hall half hidden gardens and mellow brick homes dreaming in the sunshine behind white doorways door with shiny brass knockers here mary washington mother of george greeted the marquis de lafayette on his way to yorktown and on the steps of the little cottage she kissed her famous son goodbye along these streets which all called home walked john paul jones matthew fontaine maury pathfinder of the seas and lewis littlepage only american citizen ever to hold office in the cabinet of a king next to mary home is kenmore home of her daughter betty wife of col fielding lewis who gave his fortune and his life to the cause of the revolution fascinating history just down the street Is a low brick building complete with quaint colonial garden where james monroe first began the practice of law one of its many treasures carefully preserved Is the desk on which the monroe doctrine was written down the river Is the noble mansion of chatham built before the revolution by william fitzhugh which served as headquarters for general sumner during the battle of fredericksburg in 1805 and for the federal troops under general burnside during the war between the states here clara barton of red cross fame helped to nurse hundreds ol of wounded today its gardens are a riot of bloom and the waters oi of the rappahannock Rappa hannock ripple oi off in the distance restored williamsburg tourist mecca at all seasons of the year Is like a perfect stage setting its actors all in character playing their lines hues with the casualness 0 of long understanding the feeling of watching it a play continues as the sharp tattoo of horses hoofs sol sounds hollinds linds along duko duke of gloucester street described by the late franklin D roosevelt as the most historic avenue la in all america an lath iotti century carriage rolls by past the P palace al ce of th the e royal governors the ancient capitol which rang to the voice of patrick henry where met the convention of 1776 and where masons bill of rights was adopted past bruton parish church and raleigh tavern birthplace ol of phi beta kappa and william and mary college second oldest in america history in review just outside of williamsburg on the jamestown road an amphitheater is in process of construction and during this coming summer the drama that is the whole early history of 0 the founding of the nati nation on will sweep across its stage the P parts arts of the founding fathers played by leading actors of the american stage farther down the broadis jamestown first in importance of all the historic shrines in america where the three little ships discharged their cargo of adventurous souls on that may day in 1607 to lay the foundation of the american nat nation 10 n in this old brick church about which the ivy clings pocahontas was baptized and married and here the first legislative assembly in the new world met in richmond capital of the confederacy and city of the seven hills there are many historic points point to visit beginning with the columned capitol designed by thomas jefferson around which teems the life of the cigarette capital of the world opened especially for garden week are two homes which were ancient when america was first dreamed of and which have been transported stone by stone from england one of these VIT virginia gInia house was once the priory of the holy sepulchre at warwick england virginias eastern shore second oldest settlement in america Is across chesapeake bay from the rest of virginia the eastern shore has the oldest continuous court records in america dating from 1632 located here are some of the loveliest homes in the state 13 of which will be open to visitors during garden week A ride across the ferry from the eastern shore brings the visitor to princess anne county the haunt of blackboard blackbeard and the spot where the first permanent english settlers sett lera landed on american soil here are churches auf built t in n the early lath century with their sliver silver comman communion ton services the gilt gift of queen anne and lovely old gardens and homes in the heart of the valley of virginia staunton birthplace of pres woodrow wilson stands ready to receive garden week visitors and lexington hallowed with memories of lee dons all its spring bloom |