The Clinton chronicle. (Clinton, S.C.) 1901-current, February 26, 1953, Image 14
Page Six
THE CLINTON CHRONICLE
Thursday, February 26, 1953
*4,
FRAIL LAURENS WOMAN MADE
MT. VERNON A U. S. SHRINE
Many Years of Work,
Energy Expended Before
Goal Reached.
Feature Article By Wm. C. Lake,
I'nion, S. C.
Union, Feb. 21.—Sunday was the
birthday of President George Wash
ington, as everybody knows.
But how many have heard about
the frail little Laurens County farm
woman who saved Mount Vernon for
the pepole of this country.
friend. After a long disussioai with
Mr. Washington he refused to sell.
“I left to take my boat home,” said
Miss Cunningham, i “but we missed
our boat and were forced to return
to Mount Vernon for the night.”
Again she went into the matter of
the sale and finally Mr. Washington
yielded after much persuasion, “giv
ing me his hand when Ke made the
decisions,” she said.
Miss Cunningham sold the idea of
preserving Mount Vernon for the
nation to Edward Everett, disting
uished American orator. Mr. Everett
turned over to Miss Cunningham
When Miss Pamela Cunningham ^ J J
learned of the condition of Washing- $69,064 from orations he had deh\ -
ton’s home, and its danger of falling
into the hands of strangers, she de-
ered over the country
When unable to walk but well
termined to acquire it for the na- enough to be carried, she made trips
tion. And set herself the stupendous i to Philadelphia, t Charleston, Wash-
task of buying the home and restor- ington, Mount. Vernon and other
ing it to its. former beauty and glory
for the people.
She overcame all kinds of opposi
tion, obstacles and reverses with her
wisdom, courage and determination.
The condition of Mount Vernon
came to her attention while en route
to Philadelphia to consult a spe
cialist concerning her health. She
was shocked to see how the home of
the father of this country had fallen
into its present state. Here was a
challenge to the women of the South.
Mount Vernon must be saved and
restored and become the property of
the nation.
In 1853 she set out to sell Mount
Vernon to the South. She. held it to
be a Southern enterprise* Hundreds
of letters were written by her to ed
itors of newspapers and publishers
of magazines in the southern states.
At this time she was confined to her
room at Rosemont as a helpless in
places in her efforts to save Wash
ington’s home.
Finally, in 1859 after the govern
ment of the United States and the
commonwealth of Virginia declined
to purchase the property, the Mount
Vernon association bought 200
acres, including the mansion and
tomb.
But this was just a beginning,
there was the job of restoration—
this would take much money. Then
after the house and grounds were re
stored there must be more money
for maintenance. So the “Southern
Matron” set about to raise money
for those purposes. Along came the
Confederate War. This, of course, in
terrupted the work. Then Miss Cun
ningham’s health became worse.
Writing to friends she said, “I passed
winter after winter with masks of
cotton flannel over my face at night
so that I could get some sleep. Often
valid, constantly under the care^ofTl^wmrhi-He for days with a pillow
a physician. Northern papers took up over my head in dumb torture.”
her cause, saying that it should be
a national affair, and not a sectional
affair. Then she appealed to the
But the half-blind little woman,
laboring under a heart ailment,
worked on. Then on'top of the bus-
whole country to save Washington’s iness of raising funds for the restora-
home. tion there were instructions to be
For four years this modest and
timid little woman concealed her
identity, signing all of her letters
“the Southern Matron.”~-
On' Feb. 22, 1854, the first meeting
to save Mount Vernon was held at i
given the superintendent at Mount
Vernon. There were also the house
hold daties at Rosemont, to say
nothing of the plantation which was
depending on her supervision.
During the~Cbhfederate War the
Rosemont, her home on a Laurens associ 3 tio 5' s . boat T , a } Mount Vernon
County plantation, and $293.75 was
was pressed into Federal service. Af
ter hostilities, the association asked
raised. In July of that year, a meet- „ - , • mu-
-Tng-royw- n Dli 1 I Congress tor mdemnrtKS. This was
an organization was formed On V long in-aWli OTT atTair- ^«s Cnn-
March 19, 1858, the Virginia legis-i nmi * am wen ’ 10 Wa ^; ngt °"„ an, 5
lature passed ah'acf to Ihcraepbrate! JP®" 1 .many- bourse .m the halls of
the Mount Vernon Ladiel Associa- Co"^ 5 * 1^8 « *rt.U> e btll ap-
j 10n proved. Sh<F talked with President
Andrew Johnson to make sure that
he would “not veto the bill.” Many
conferences were held with senators
and congressmen. Finally Congress
granted the $7,000 claim. It was to
be used for repairing the desolation
at Mount Verrjpm-vN
In the course of time, Mount Ver
non and the grounds were complete-
Mount Vernon and the surround
ing plantation was left to General
Washington’s nephew, Judge Bush-
rod W. Washington, and by him be
queathed to his nephew, John A.
Washington II, became the last pri
vate owner of Mount Vernon. He
proposed that the state of. Virginia
, TT # ~ AAWAA C1AAVA Hit C
c . .he Lmted Statesyl^uy the proper-' jy restored. And today the associa-
O, out negotiations fell through. He: tion, founded by the little frail ,wo-
qu.c y rejected the offer of all spec- man f r0 m South Carolina, holds
u.a.ors to buy Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon in trust for the people
On a hot day in June, Miss Cun-'of the United States,
ningham went to Mount Vernon I The* “Southern Matron” retired
r.bout selling the mansion, tomb and j from the regency of the association
200 acres to the association that she , in 1874. On May 1, of the following
had organized. “I was carried in a I year, she died at the beloved Mount
chair to the house,” she wrote a Vernon. She is buried in Columbia.
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LB.
Quality Tender
OTHER
GROCERY VALUES!
(4S C». 54c) (16 C». 1c)
Tetley Tee Begs PVgi. 55c
Quality Tender—Boneless
T«xit« Houtehold
Gleaner . . £*
Beech-Nut Fine
lk 94c
Sirloin or Club STEAKS8 5
Coffee
VKVMIIIJ ■ ^IIVOX* I VW1IV0V99
^ BEEF ROAST
Lb.
Can
No Rubbing Wax (Of. Can 53«)
Aerowex piM
Red Sour Pie
Cherries
Quality Tender—Boneless Shoulder
■ ■ Can
No. 2
■ Can
Short Grain Rice
WATER MAID
3 Pkg. 45c
Peanut Butter
Beech-Nit
33«
Cleanser
Bab-0
^ c °" 12c
“fine Shortenr-j
BAKE-RITE
3 lb 7Qr>
Can I9V
^ BEEF STEW
21c Durands—Sweet
Potatoes .
Lb.
Quality Tender Beef
69
59
No. 2Vi
Can
Coffee (Mellow Blend)
Silver Cup
Bama—Peach
Preserves
Goolden Isle—Shopped
Collards. 2’?-■ 25c “ 8S
Hershey’s—Chocolate
Syruy,-^
Golden Com
29c Short Ribs a . lb 19c
Quality Tender Beef
~77c Chuck Roast. lb 49c
Dairy Values
Puffin
Biscuits .2 ^ 23c
Grad* A Largo Shippad Frash
Palmotto fe,
f Lb.
o » j °' ZVC
16-Oz.
.-Cajri
Grade A Medium Shippad Fra*h
Mountain - 57c
io EGGS View Farm*
I Southern Gold—Vx Lb. Print*
Dot.
a ■
7* 26c
No. 303
Can
C,
Armour’s Meat Values
Ail Meat—Armour’s
TreeL . 43c
Tasty—Armour’s
Chopped Ham - 51c
Savory—Armour’s
Beef Stew .'t* 37c
Flavorful—Armour’s
Corned Beef, 'L°' 49c
(In Glass)—Armeur’s
Frankfurters.
TRUE SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY
1$ OUR RULE FOR COURTESY
m at B«by
19c«
Edam
Chesss
esse . .
7 Vi-Ox.
■ ■ Six#
48c
43c
7-Oz.
Jar
47c
Seafood Values
Fresh Small Whole
Black Bess . .2^ 25c
King—Center Cut*
Mackerel Steaks. ii > 49c
Frelh Large
Mullet . . u 29c
Drmsiwd
Whiting . . . k 15c
Freeh
Shrimp . . . u> 59c
TENDER-KNEAKO
FRESH FRUITS
70L
and VEGETABLES
iyrfii Frtslt!
. ,
ZIPPER SKIN
CUT MOD COSTS
Sweet Florida Tangerines
DOZ.
10
Goldon Heart
Juicy Florida
Grapefruit . 4 Rr ty 19c Celery
2 sf.7k.25c
Fresh Tender—MUSTARD and
Bright Red
TurnipGreens ,2 lb, 25c Radishes B *3 2 Bch. 13c
Georgia Gold Field
PEASS SEARS
He
Crisp Green
Sweet Spring
Cabbage . 3 lb ‘ 11c Onions a a e 2 Bchs. 27c
New Crop Red Bliss POTATOES
5 u, ‘ 37c
Toilet Tissue
Kitchen Towel*
Paper Napkin*
Fashion Toilet Tissue
CHARMIN
3 27c
CHARMIN
2 “ k SSe
CHARMIR
X 12c
CHARMIN
2 25c
Aluminum Foil
WEAR-EVER
25-Ft 07*
Rotr 41C
Granulated Soap
SILVER REST
£ 29c
Soap af Beautiful Women
CAMAY
3 £ 23c
Toilet Soap
CAMAY
2223c
Washday Favorite
(Gt. Pkg. 65c)
DU2
. & 27c
For Extra White Washes
OXYDOL
& 27c
Famous Detergent
(Of. Pkg. 69c)
TIDE
k, 29e
Blue-Magic Suds
BLUE CHEER
X 29c