Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1894 — WASHINGTON COACH. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON COACH.

A Valuable Relic Presented to the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, Delrrtt Free Press. In connection with the restoration of the old coachhouse at Mount Vernon, which was entirely rebuilt by “Michigan” during the past year, there is an interesting story of the search for one of Washington’s old coaches to replace in the coachhouse. Though a search was- instituted in New York and Philadelphia for the lost coach, there were no traces up to the date of the completion of the coachhouse in Mav. A t that time Mr. Dodge, the superintendent at Mount Vernon, ascertained that a Washington coach had been sold f rom an auction room in Philadelphia about a year ago to Forepaugh’s circus company for SSO, and also that the Pennsylvania commissioners had tried unsuccessfully to get it from the company last summer for the Col um bian Exposition. Mr, Dodge immediately ' corresponded with Forepaugh’s and Barnum & Bailey’s circus companies, and also with Mr. Brownfield, chairman of the Pennsylvania commissioners. Mr. Brownfield responded very cordially and volunteered his active aid and cooperation in securing the coach for Mount Vernon. Mr. Brownfield was indefatigable on getting on track of the coach, but while the council ol the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association was in session in June a letter was received from him to the effect that the coach had been traced to the wreck “in the West” of a circus train, and the coach was probably a ruin. This came with tragic effect—a coach which had held the august persons of General and Mrs. Washington to be carted around the country with a traveling show and finally broken to pieces in a railway wreck. But the end is not yet. Suspecting that he might have been misled and was on a false scent, Mr. Brownfield renewed the hunt, which ultimately resulted in finding the coach safely stowed away. Mr. Dodge at once opened negotiations for the purchase of the coach, but further proceedings were assisted by Mr. Brownfield’s .reserving for himself the privilege of presenting the coach to tEFMoiinT Vernon Ladies’ Association. The regents of the association will henceforth accord great honor to Mr. Brownfield’s courtesy, generosity, and patriotism, ami will do everything in their power to attest their gratitude and appreciation.