I wonder if I would have known about Mt Vernon if I hadn't lived in Mt Vernon? George Washington's Mt Vernon was constructed in stages between 1758 and 1778 which makes it a good 100 years older than ours, although the estate had been in the family since 1674, and the mansion occupies the site of a former, smaller house.
Our Mt Vernon was built in 1882 by Rich's Great Great Grandfather. It is not really known why he decided to call the farm Mt Vernon (the farm being named so before the house was built) but it is understood that he was a great admirer of George Washington and possibly even visited the Virginian one at some stage. Certainly our house reflects many of the architectural qualities of the original although some have disappeared thanks to the 1931 earthquake which rendered the house uninhabitable for over 25 years. While not an exact copy there are enough similarities to make one think John Harding did indeed see the original. The wide verandah (piazza at George's) supported by huge columns and 'Tuscan' arches (like the colonade at George's that connects the house to the kitchen), the tower (cupola) topped with a weathervane, the high ceilings and grand staircase (although ours is grander), are the few that I can think of right now.
While ours was originally clad in plaster ( weatherboards since the earthquake), George's was wooden but made to look like stone, using a technique called rustication. See, I did learn something that day when the three of us took to bikes and pedalled our way along the Potomac River to our home's namesake.
I'd booked this tour some months before we left and it really was the reason we came to Washington in the first place (and I'm so glad we did, Washington is a lovely city). We caught the train which took us under the river, all the way to Old Town Alexandria. What a gorgeous place, it really was. If I return this is where I'll stay. Stone buildings, paved footpaths, bevelled glass in the shop windows, beautiful trees, old style lamp posts, it was almost a step back in time.
We walked from the station, following the directions of our phones, towards the river and the bike hire shop. It was a lovely crisp autumn day and we had plenty of time as the shop didn't open until 10, and happily meandered through the fallen leaves. We stopped for breakfast which for Tom consisted of a 'squagel' (somebody had to try it), a sort of pretzel/bagel cross, then continued on to the shop, timing it just perfectly.
Our Mt Vernon was built in 1882 by Rich's Great Great Grandfather. It is not really known why he decided to call the farm Mt Vernon (the farm being named so before the house was built) but it is understood that he was a great admirer of George Washington and possibly even visited the Virginian one at some stage. Certainly our house reflects many of the architectural qualities of the original although some have disappeared thanks to the 1931 earthquake which rendered the house uninhabitable for over 25 years. While not an exact copy there are enough similarities to make one think John Harding did indeed see the original. The wide verandah (piazza at George's) supported by huge columns and 'Tuscan' arches (like the colonade at George's that connects the house to the kitchen), the tower (cupola) topped with a weathervane, the high ceilings and grand staircase (although ours is grander), are the few that I can think of right now.
While ours was originally clad in plaster ( weatherboards since the earthquake), George's was wooden but made to look like stone, using a technique called rustication. See, I did learn something that day when the three of us took to bikes and pedalled our way along the Potomac River to our home's namesake.
I'd booked this tour some months before we left and it really was the reason we came to Washington in the first place (and I'm so glad we did, Washington is a lovely city). We caught the train which took us under the river, all the way to Old Town Alexandria. What a gorgeous place, it really was. If I return this is where I'll stay. Stone buildings, paved footpaths, bevelled glass in the shop windows, beautiful trees, old style lamp posts, it was almost a step back in time.
We walked from the station, following the directions of our phones, towards the river and the bike hire shop. It was a lovely crisp autumn day and we had plenty of time as the shop didn't open until 10, and happily meandered through the fallen leaves. We stopped for breakfast which for Tom consisted of a 'squagel' (somebody had to try it), a sort of pretzel/bagel cross, then continued on to the shop, timing it just perfectly.
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