Category Archives: Mount Vernon

Heirs of River Farm

Posted on April 13, 2021 by Tammy Mannarino

Published in the Mount Vernon Gazette March 31, 2021 On October 15, 1785, George Washington’s favorite nephew married Martha Washington’s favorite niece. George Augustine Washington was the son of George Washington’s youngest Brother Charles, the founder of Charlestown, West Virginia. … Continue reading →

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A New Home for an Old Bugle

Posted on July 5, 2020 by Tammy Mannarino

The pigtail crook.  That’s what caught my attention.  This bugle looked different from the one my trombonist son has lying around his room. It was larger, with that unique twist near the mouthpiece, and —it was definitely older.

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Tree in Fort Hunt Park Commemorates 1939 Royal Visit

Posted on June 9, 2020 by Tammy Mannarino

June 1939.  The King and Queen, President and First Lady left the camp at Fort Hunt.  Their visit had been short, perhaps only half an hour, but the young men that they met would not quickly forget the experience.  These … Continue reading →

Posted in Backyard Mount Vernon, Fort Hunt, Fort Hunt Park, George Washington Memorial Parkway, Mount Vernon, National Park Service, Potomac, River Farm, Trees | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Who Built Collingwood in Alexandria, VA?

Posted on July 23, 2019 by Tammy Mannarino

Local tradition, a 1937 Works Progress Administration report on the structure, and the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) hold that

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Telephone Exchange Names in Alexandria, Northern Virginia

Posted on March 19, 2019 by Tammy Mannarino

In the early days of telephone usage, central offices were built to serve subscribers within a small local area.  Telephone exchanges were groupings of numbers assigned to a central office for switching.  These telephone exchanges were given names that often … Continue reading →

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Stacy H. Snowden: Mount Vernon Supervisor

Posted on February 1, 2019 by Tammy Mannarino

This is the second in a series of posts on the Snowden Family and their connections to the history of our area.  Of at least 5 homes occupied by the Snowdens from 1859-1949, only two are left:  Wellington and Collingwood.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Backyard Mount Vernon, Collingwood, Mount Vernon, Potomac, Snowden | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Wellington, Riverview, Andalusia, Arcturus and Collingwood: The Snowden Brothers and their Homes

Posted on January 9, 2019 by Tammy Mannarino

This is the first in a series of posts on the Snowden Family and their connections to the history of our area.  Of at least 5 homes occupied by the Snowdens from 1859-1949, only two are left:  Wellington and Collingwood.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Backyard Mount Vernon, Collingwood, Mount Vernon, Potomac, River Farm, Snowden, Wellington | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

John Smith’s Travels on the Potomac River

Posted on July 11, 2018 by Tammy Mannarino

John Smith is usually remembered for his leadership role in establishing the Jamestown settlement as well as his often-legendary connection to Pocahontas.  Many are unaware that before he became the third President of the Jamestown colony, he and fourteen men … Continue reading →

Posted in Backyard Mount Vernon, Dogue Creek, Great Hunting Creek, John Smith, Mount Vernon, Potomac, Tauxenent | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Harrison Dodge: Superintendent of Mount Vernon & Vestryman of Pohick Church

Posted on May 20, 2018 by Tammy Mannarino

On May 19, 1937,  Harrison Howell Dodge passed away suddenly from a cerebral hemorrhage.  This would end his 52 year tenure as the Superintendent of the Mount Vernon Estate, a record of service that stands today.  On May 21st, following … Continue reading →

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Wisteria in the Mount Vernon Area: Devastatingly Beautiful

Posted on May 8, 2018 by Tammy Mannarino

When George Washington purchased 3 wisteria plants for his Mount Vernon estate in March 1792, William Bartram delivered them with a detailed description that could be read as a friendly warning.  Bartram, a naturalist who inherited his father’s nursery, describes … Continue reading →

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Lilacs: A Mount Vernon Area Favorite since 1732

Posted on April 29, 2018 by Tammy Mannarino

The Custis and Washington Families both cultivated lilacs in their gardens.  John Custis (1678-1749), the father of Daniel Parke Custis (Martha Washington’s first husband), was an avid gardener.  Custis traded plants and corresponded with notable horticulturists of the time.  His … Continue reading →

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