Last year, they raised enough money to help restore the Spinning House. This year, the Neighborhood Friends hope to raise enough money to help restore the Gardeners’ House, the only original 18th-century outbuilding at Mount Vernon that has not been restored for public exhibition.
Last Sunday, Friends were thanked for their efforts at the 2004 Neighborhood Friends Family Night Picnic; they were also reminded that there is still more work to do. Both Jim Rees, executive director of Mount Vernon, and Jim Froid, Neighborhood Friends Steering Committee Chair, addressed the crowd, which extended all across the lawn facing the river. Some of the children helped Rees with the Pledge of the Allegiance, and then Rees and Froid cut the ribbon to the Spinning House.
Guests enjoyed fried fish, barbecue, salads, drinks and desserts. They were treated to special guided tours of the mansion and live music by the Mount Vernon Swing Band. Children enjoyed the colonial games, hands-on-history demonstrations and wagon rides.
Froid said that about 1,200 people attended the event, which is one of the benefits of being a member of Neighborhood Friends. Froid said that their membership is growing every year, and encourages everybody who lives on one of the Five Farms to join.
For more information about Neighborhood Friends, call 703-799-8647.