Evening Star Newspaper, April 27, 1930, Page 93

GTON, D. C, APRIL 27, 1930. of Old Vir v Land Drexel. s the Famous states of the nion 1 hrow bates of Hos- 111 Visitors, ince of The fub of Vir- istoric Gar- b t2E8y § * 8RS , near Richmond, Va. the great cucumber and the slender gingkos in close array. The same words are used by every one who visits Brandon: “If you want to let your imag- ination lead you with poetry and romance, make merry with childhood, laugh with youth or meditate with the wise, then go to Brandon and stroll at sunset down the long walk that leads to the river.” This is the original seat of the Harrison family. The ancient box hedges have grown past all expectations of the original planter, and have assumed queer shapes, gnarled and twisted, each more beautiful than the other. And here are the old-fashioned flowers of childhood. The narrow walks that lead in and out of the gar- dens are edged with yellow primroses, cow- slips and sweet violets, and in many of the bor- ders, heavily shaded, grow columbine, for-get- me-not, and bleeding hearts. There is no doubt that once visited the charm of this beau- tiful place will live always in the memory. Upper Brandon, so-called in constradistinc- tioh to the older plantation, is 3 miles from Brandon, and was built by William Byrd Harrison, son of Benjamin Harrison of Bran- don. The situation of the dwelling commands the river site and the parks are heavily shaded with beautiful trees—popular, beech, magnolia and the willow oaks. Boxwood and roses are in the remembrance ©of Upper Brandon when visited in the Spring. Carter's Grove is on the lower James, and once boasted a terraced garden that was one of the show places of that section. Here one may still see the deep-cut scars of Union Cav- alry sabers visible on the stairway. If one follows the Tidewater trail from Glou- eester Court House, the attention is arrested by an imposing entrance leading through a can- opied avenue of magnificent oaks which guard the social whirl, John made her the finest gar- den in Virginia, knowing her love for flowers. One of their descendants says: “The arbors of which there were four, were covered with white jessamine and roses. The greenhouses were considered wonderful and contained many varieties of night-blooming cereus.” Beyond the shrubbery a grape avenue ex- tends the full length of the main garden. Ten miles of roadway encompass the present estate, now owned by H. M. Baruch of New York. WARNER Hall, the oldest and most cele- brated of all the Gloucester homesteads, is still in possession of a descendant of the original Warner, who came to America in 1628 and a few years later established the estate that still bears his name. Warner gave to the State of Virginia and the American Na- tion such distinguish- ed grandsons and great - grandsons as George Washington and Robert E. Lee, besides a score of able men and charming women. One of the most attractive and com- plete establishments in Tidewater Virginia is Green Plains, for the river is here like an inland lake, and on a bright day the beauti- ful houses are reflect- ed in its waters. ‘The garden is sure rounded by a unique scalloped brick wall and along its borders the arborvitae tree is planted at intervals, and underneath grow lilies of the valley in profusion. ‘There is also such shrubs as caltcanthus, smoke trees, tamarisk and English laburnum, with here and there fine boxwood trees. During the War Be- tween the States, Green Plains was rav- aged by the Federal troops. Gunboats came up the river, plunder- ing and destroying all they could not take away. Poplar Grave will al- ways be one of the show places in the vi- cinity of Norfolk, for it was here that Miss Sally Tompkins lived during the War Be- tween the States and devoted herself and her fortune to the care of sick and wounded Confederate soldiers in Richmond, in appre- ciation of which Gen. Lee gave her a commis- sion with rank of captain. In 1910 Poplar Grave was purchased by Ar- thur 8t. Clair Butler, who added the Colonial columns, and thanks to him the beauties of the old gardens have been restored. Near Appomattox is the old estate, Violet Banks. Here Gen. Lee camped under the " shade of the cucumber tree with a spread of 100 feet, during the campaign of 1864. This old place was the home of John Shore. There still remains a quaint facade of the interesting home, though the rear portion of 16 rooms has been shot away. It will repay the tourist, how- ever, to detour a bit and see the remains of the house and trees which enframe it. It is said that John Shore was most fond of Oriental plants and used them in great variety for the embellishment of his grounds, and years later the garden supplied friends with specimens to ornament their new drive- ways and gardens in many parts of Virginia. Two torchlike holly trees stand sentinels on either side of the house. One catches a glimpse of Appomattox Manor through a picturesque avenue of century-old cedars, of old St. John’s Church, whose steeple was used as a signal tower in war time, and just York Hall, Cornwallis’ headquarters. beyond sparkle the James and the Appomattox Rivers. The house is pierced with bullet holes. Dur- ing the War Between the States the place was used as a hospital, and Gen. Grant built 65 cabins as wards for wounded soldiers. The old garden still blooms in its beauty of design under the trained hands of Col. Epps, who, Thomas Jefferson claimed, was the first horticulturist in America. Included in the garden boundaries are the remains of the old Confederate Ram Straight and direct paths are bordered roses and perennials, happy and luxuriant. Bacon’s Castle, where centered the first re- volt in America against English rule in 1676, and fomaus Shoals Bay, the seat of the annual crepe myrtle festival, are also in this vicinity. ENTF.R.ING Charlottesville, the tourist knows he will find the most beautiful university in America, founded by Thomas Jefferson, who selected its faculty, arranged its curriculum and designed its buildings. Here one may find the most beautiful group of collegiate buildings in the world, and there are many old traditions within its bounds, for its worn colonnades and exquisite ancient cornices are bathed in an unbroken atmosphere of history. Here Lafa- yette was feasted and Edgar Allan Poe and Woodrow Wilson read. The room of Poe is now the club room of the Raven Society. Strolling through the grounds, there is much of keen interest, the old serpentine wall, the McIntyre open-air theater with its outdoor organ, the law school, the gymnasium, and standing on the steps of the rotunda and look- ing down the long green lawn one may see on either side the storied porticos of five pavilions, at one end of which is Cabell Hall, the audi- torium. In front of this hall is Sir Moses Ezekiel’'s “Homer,” which wags like to tell gullible visitors is really Uncle Remus, and that the lyre in his hand is quite an appro- priate instrument. In Midway Park stands the Lewis and Clark Memorial by Charles Keck. Almost directly opposite the Monticello Hotel is the Red Land Club, the site of the Old Swan Tavern, where lived Jack Jouett, whose heroic ride saved Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia Assembly from capture by Tarleton, in June, 1781. MON'I'ICELDO, Jefferson’s home, is only three miles from the university. The perfect road is a contrast to the red clay of - other days, when the only means of trans- - portation were like those of Pharaoh’s time, for when Monticello was built slaves hauled brick, stone and all materials up the steep in- cline on their backs and with the help of mules. The steep drive offers many sources of inter- est to lovers of nature. Native shrubs and trees still frame with artistic beauty the vistas of the valley below. Motoring along the roadway to the house, the luxuriant growth of Scotch broom with its yellow blossoms carpet the ground beneath. The entire house and grounds are thrown open and the tourist may stroll at will through them, taking in all that is sacred in the history of its bounds. Farmington Manor, just three and one-half miles to the west of Charlottesville, has always been claimed as one of the most beautiful places in Virginia. It was designed by Jefferson, was started in 1803 and not finished until 1852. On the lawn are many handsome native trees and beautiful shrubs, a boxwood garden is at the southeast side of the house. Last year Farmington was purchased by the Charlottes- ville Country Club, who have modernized #t, and its 800 acres have one of the finest goif courses in Virginia. Morven, once the home of William Short, who was an aide on the staff of George Wash- ington, and Ash Lawn, the old Monroe home, are both in the vicinity of Charlottesville. The plans of Morven are said to have been fur- nished by Jefferson, who also ordered the man- tel of Carrara marble for its drawing room. The same honor is claimed for Redlands, built by Robert Carter in 1789, and for Estoute- ville, on its high plateau. And here live old memories of hunt breakfasts, balls and garden parties. Enniscorthy, Castle Hill, Belvoir, all In Albemarle County, are associated with many adventures and romances, and their gardens are still beautiful. x 5 Alexander Spottswood, once Governor of Vir- ginia, who established the iron furnaces st Germanna, was practical enough in business, but susceptible to romance when he was young and handsome. It is said he sailed up the Rappahannock River in a boat made musical with skylarks, which he released in the meadows below the falls in Spottsylvania. The Spottswood trail is named for Alex- ander Spottswood, once Governor of Virginia, It is said he blazed the trial over the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Shenandoah Valley and here they drank the King’s health with champagne and fired a volley, then drank the governor’s health with rum punch, firing a volley. They called the highest mountain Mount George, and the one they crossed Mount Spottswood. Bad roads compelled them to dis- mount while their horses were shod at a vil- lage blacksmith shop, and thus was defined the term “Sir Knights of the Golden Horseshoe.” Their emblem was tiny gold horseshoes, sent from England, with the words “Sic jwoat transcendere montes,” means, “Thus we swear to cross the mountains.” Barbourville, built by Gov. Barbour in 1815, is a romantic sight, for while the old mansion is partly in ruins, the pillars and portico and ivy-covered walls still stand. Great trees grow in the dining room and the roof is the Continued on P mii Page