Evening Star Newspaper, April 27, 1930, Page 92

CREATED atmosphere exists in the old-time gardens of Virginia and the eastern part of Maryland, where one may wander during the week of April 28 to May 3, inclusive, the time set aside as Historic Garden week by the Garden Club of Virginia, in the interest of the restoration of the gardens at Stratford, the home of the Lees of Virginia and the birthplace ©of Gen. Robert E. Lee. The old plantation of Stratford consists of 1,222 acres. It has recently been purchased by members of the William Alexander Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in Connecticut for $240,000. It is about 80 miles from Richmond and 100 miles from Washington, down the Potomac River. Stratford is now more than 200 years old and in the purchase of it by the Connecticut Daughters their first step will be to make of it not merely a Lee shrine, but a national educational memorial center of historical re- search. The ancient home of the Lees was built from 8 “bountiful present from the privy purse of the Queen of England.” It is the only Amer- ican home built in part with funds given by a British sovereign, and it thus forms a lasting bond of friendship between the United States and England. It was the home of the first native-born Governor of Virginia, Thomas Lee, through whose efforts the territory west of the Ohio was opened up for English settlement. It was the birthplace of Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee, signers of the Declaration of Independence, and of their pa- triotic brothers and sisters. For 36 years it was the home of Lighthorse Harry Lee, and it was the birthplace of Robert E. Lee, his childhood home and the place of recreation of his entire youth until his entrance into West Point. It has been preserved in all its fine simplicity and robust character by the Stuart family in their century’s holding of it. Its gardens, grounds and orchards, which were renowned throughout the 13 Colonies, and its ancient groves of English beechnut and English hickory trees are today worth traveling many miles to see. X Stratford passed from the Lee family many years ago, and up to January 19 last the owners were Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Stuart, who on that date deeded the property over to Mrs. Charles D. Lanier and Miss Ethel Ames, who represented the Connecticut Daughters. _’I‘metolnrdemwbeexmbl&edhmin 3 variety and one may visit all of them or just a few. A carefully laid out program has been prepared by experienced hands, so that the sojourner at this time may easily find his way into and around the Old Dominion and enjoy every step of it. It is said by early writers that gardens in Virginia were begun as early as 1614, and that John Rolfe and Pocahontas experimented with flowers and shrubs brought from England and taught their neighbors how to plant beds of flowers as they were laid out in that country. Sir William Berkeley planted a famous gar- den at Greenspring in 1642, and it is a fact that English squires and English and Scotch merchants were the early gardeners of Virginia, Carlisle House, ong of the historic places in Alexandria, was built in 1752. It was used as headquarters for Gen, Braddock during Eng- land’s campaign and is now an American Legion home. Not far away is Pohick Church, & historic shrine, which in recent years has been almost remade, but only for preservation, for one may still sit in the pews occupied by she Washingtons and visit the choir from Which issued the sacred music heard by our first President. GUNS'I‘ON HALL, on the Potomac, was built _ by George Mason, in 1755, and one may Jook through two rows of English box from the portico, overlooking wide stretches of meadow. A leading authority in this country estimates the beautiful box at Gunston Hall to be about 40 years older than the box at Mount Vernon, and it is said that slips from Gunston Hall were often sent there, as we Jearn from Washington's diary, in which he acknowledged flowers and fruit from his friend George Mason. From the crest of a high hill, bordered by a wide walk, an ivy-and-wistaria-covered tea house and pergola overlook the Potomac River winding its way to the sea. One can easily fmagine Washington’s 8-oared barge sweeping up to the dock landing the friend and neighbor coming in favorite fashion to visit Col. Mason, for in those days Gunston Hall was the place of gathering for all the noted men of its day. Journeying on to Predericksburg, whose Jegend goes back to 1571, we find that here the first Christian shrine in America was erected by Spanish missionaries. Here is Kenmore, the home of Betty Wash- ington, who married Col. Fielding Lewis. She was Washington’s omly sister, and here the first pilgrimage to old historic gardens was made last year for the restoration of its grounds. The Garden Club of Virginia, which sponsored the invitation to the public, was amply rewarded with its results. Wakefield, where Washington was born, is also in this Jocality, and open at this time. The old Town of Falmouth, which the average fourist never hears of until he crosses its border, was a far more important center than Fredericksburg in Revolutionary days. The first flour mill in America stood here, and Basil Gordon, who made his money by shipping flour and tobacco from Falmouth to England, was the first American millionaire, This delightfully Montpelier, the home of James and Dolly Madison, near Orange, where is to be seen one of the lovliest gardens in Virginia. bears leaden eagles with wings spread as if for flight. Crepe-myrtle has grown into tall trees, roses and trumpet vines run riot over the hedges, foxglove, iris, clove-pinks and peonies all bloom here in profusion. This charming old garden is redolent of romance. Here William Byrd and his com- panions strolled, and in these memory pictures a vision of the lovely Evelyn Byrd arises. IN New Kent County, some 20 east of Richmond, stands Hamj in 1827 by There charm in the old-fashioned garden lawns of this stately home, and among the garden trees is an old The serpentine wall, down the walks at the University of Virginia. tree, with a circumference of more than 13 feet. Willlam A. Wallace, appreciating the archie tectural beauty of the place, bought Hampe stead in 1903 and restored without change the original design in both house and garden. Sabine Hall! To visit this charming spot is to see a real English garden preserved in all its originality. The glory of its many varieties of garden flowers is unsurpassed and its splendid trees sheltered many prominent men in their day. Don’t miss Williamsburg! One writer says: “One is prone to dream at the whispered word of Willlamsburg, for it belongs to the picturesque Virginia of long ago. Rambling along shady streets and through the grounds of century-old houses, the entire town resembles a continuous old-fashioned garden in the Springtime. A quiet walk through the little town gives one the idea of woven webs of historical places and a real patriotic thrill. For here are the tombs of those who risked their lives to build a nation. Here are old churches and court houses. Here, too, is William and Mary Col- lege, where Jefferson danced with “Fair Belinda,” and the Apollo, where many jovial feasts were -held among the great men of the colony. It is also the spot where Bacon planned his rebellion. Among other places of interest to be seen here is Wythe House, the home of George Wythe, designer of Virginia’s emblematic seal, with the motto “Sic Semper Tyrane nis.” This dwelling is rich in history. The home of Gov. Page has passed from history into fiction as the home of the heroine of Mary John- ston’s book “Audrey,” and is now known as Audrey house. ‘The Colemand house will be found in the midst of an old gar- den, and within a stone’s throw is the home of Dr. Peachy, who played host to Gen. Lafayette. Bassett Hall, which was later the town house of President John Tyler, is the place where Tom Moore wrote “The Pirefly,” fresh from a visit to the great Dis- mal Swamp. One writer says: “When the cares of & restless existence are burdensome, throw them aside for a glimpse into Eden and go to Williamsburg, where daffodils carpet the lawn, the gardens burst into the season’s bloom, and the birds carol the joy of live Jamestown is in the tour, the first perma- nent English settle- ment in the United States. Founded in 1607, the city, once a penin- sula, is now an island, THE SUNDAY STAR, WASH n the (Gardens By Nellie [ For Six D Historic 0ld Do Wide the pitality t in Obser Garden- ginta’s den Weel The Jeffress gard and has been purchased by the Society for th Preservation of Virginia Antiquities. Yorktown, 70 miles from Richmond, on thd York River, shelters the oldest customs housq in the States. A monument was dedicated there at the centennial in 1881 commemorat. ing the surrender of Lord Cornwallis in 1781 Nelson house was the headquarters of Corn. wallis, and it is said when Gen. Thomas Nel son was in command of the American artille at Yorktown he offered five guineas to th gunner who could hit his home, saying thal it meant nothing to him as long as it har bored a foe of his country. CLAREMONT Manor is one of the mo historic homes in Virginia. It is located of the south side of the James River, and is sal to be an exact reproduction of Claremant Mang in Surrey County, England. Claremont-on-the James was bestowed upon Arthur Allen as original grant from England. A ‘roman legend is told of Arthur and his brother Ei who fought over the hand of a high-born Eng] lish lady. Eric, who was successful in winnin the lady, was stabbed on his wedding night b Arthur, who then fled from England. The orig inal house was built about 1653, and genes tion after generation during two centuries an a quarter members of the Allen family ha contributed to the beauties of the place. A wide avenue of linden trees leads to th river and great double rows of boxwood hed lead from the driveway to the terrace. hen are many varieties of roses—perpetuals, blossoms of every shade of pink, and all ) an indescribable charm. Between mimosa tree may be seen the flowering almond and the covered Summer house. Mock oranges stand aisles, and the trees, ages old, still stand as sen tinels—English walnuts, chestnuts, hicko