Year book of the American clan Gregor Society ... - Electric Scotland

Proceedings op Eighth Annual Gathering 47
TWO OLD MAGRUDER HOMES.
These Sketches are abstracted from the "Rambler" Appearing in the
SUNDAY STAR, March 16th and 26th, 1916.
UNION VALLEY.
ON
the Sheriff road about two miles from the District line, a few
hundred yards east of the railroad one comes upon Union Valley,
an old Magruder home. This is a large frame house with
four strong and lofty brick chimneys situated on a hill near the road.
The house is surrounded by venerable trees, which are in keeping with
the house. It is a good looking old house, tall, broad, and strong-,
and there was no doubt that it had stood there many years. Theie
was nothing pretentious in the appearance of the house, but it had
a simple, quiet air of dignity, and it seemed to feel secure in its
social position among the houses of that part of Prince George's
County, It was no upstart of a house. It did not strive to make
an impression. It did not start out at once to tell how many great
men and lovely women had crossed its threshold. It did not stand
out on the hillside and shout to you that George Washington had
once slept in it; that Lafayette had been entertained in it; that its
bricks were brought from England in ballast, and that its timbers
were hewn and its shingles rived by hand. It did not even insist on
first acquaintance that its grandfather ten times removed had come
over with Lord Baltimore; that its great-grandaunt twice removed
had been lady-in-waiting or a maid of honor to Marie Antoinette.
It was a very quiet old house, and did not seem to be splitting its
sides and rafters to get its name and picture in the paper, but after
contemplating its kindly features the Rambler knew that had he
called out to that old house that he was cold and tired the old house
would have opened its arms and its doors and called back: "Com.,
strangei', and sit in my inglenook."
Six or seven generations of Magruders have lived in this house.
The present owner is Mrs. Laura V/ilson Magi-uder, the widow of
Edward Magruder, who was the son of Fielder Magruder.
OLD ORCHARD.
On a hill about half a mile from Union Valley is situated another
Magruder home. Old Orchard. The house is old in architecture and
material, with dormer windows and a porch with white columns
stretching all across its front. Off from one comer of the house is
one of those old bells perched on a post, which long ago, and is now
used to bring the hands in from the fields at dinner time. The place
is still in the Magruder family, being owned by Mrs. James Rea of
Hyattsville, who was Hattie Magruder. It is managed by Mr. Brook
Shaw.