Show CHANGES ARE MADE AT MOUNT VERSION VERNON alterations result of research among records washington D C mount vernon home of george washington near the national capital has a new superintendent the fourth since the mount vernon ladies association took over the care and upkeep of the famous shrine in 1858 1853 following the recent death of colonel harrison H dodge the ladies association elected charles cecil wall former assistant superintendent to take charge numerous changes and restorations have taken place at mount vernon in recent years says the national geographic society many of the alterations the new superintendent points ou made as a result of extensive 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 ing tons 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 vernons Ver 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 wall protects estate facing the circular plaza but outside the gates are lunch rooms and souvenir shops housed in buildings whose colonial architecture harmonizes with the rest of the estate there is also an outdoor cafe parking spaces for cars and busses are partially concealed by shrubbery and trees A high brick wall which was not a feature of the plantation in in ing tons day but was erected to protect it t 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 paintings of the mansion some of which have only recently come to light revealed that the railing did not appear on any pictures prior to 1839 and therefore the railing must not have been a feature of the house during lifetime consequently it has been taken down another restoration of particular interest to landscape architects s the kitchen garden along the south side of the bowling green this sloping plot of land was laid out by washington in terrace style an interesting example of eighteenth century design growing in the garden now are old herbs vegetables and fruits mentioned in i n farm accounts the old brick barn has a new roof a shingling job completed 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 amah museum near the spinning house are mrs french writing desk a kneehole knee hole dressing table a stool with mrs initials on it the original bronze cannon used by george washington to salute vessels sailing up the potomac 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 fro from M a narrow third floor trapdoor workmen 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 of the wide ceiling below was not damaged in th the least mount vernon now is open every day in the year but only in recent years has it been open on sundays pa |