About a stone throw from Kenmore, Mary, the mother of Washington is
buried. This spot was selected by herself, declaring it to be preferable
to any location, as it could never be cultivated, being near a rocky crag,
a part of the original Kenmore land.
[Illustration: MONUMENT ERECTED IN 1833]
After the remains of the venerable matron had lain for forty-four years, a
monument was partially erected to her memory by Silas E. Burrows, a
wealthy New York merchant. The corner-stone was laid with imposing pomp on
May 7, 1833. Andrew Jackson, President of the U. S., several members of
his Cabinet, numbers of distinguished citizens from Washington, the Marine
Band and military came to swell the pageant. This monument of white
Italian marble was never finished, and for more than sixty years laid a
prey to the relic hunters and ravishes of time.
In 1889, the nation was startled with the announcement that the grave and
unfinished monument to Mary Washington would be sold at public auction
from the steps of the Capitol at Washington, indignant meetings were held
and the sale abandoned by its originators. The women of America organized
to erect a monument to the memory of their fellow countrywoman, which they
did; unveiling May 10, 1894, a monument fifty feet high, and comprising a
monolith of forty feet, standing on bases eleven feet square and ten feet
high. The whole shaft is of Barre granite and of the finest workmanship.
President Cleveland, many of his Cabinet, the Governor of Virginia, the
Marine Band, companies of military and thousands of people witnessed the
ceremony.
Just back of the monument is a ledge of rocks known as "Meditation Rock,"
where she used often to resort for private reading, meditation and prayer,
under the shade of the beautiful grove of Oak trees.