In a message dated 9/17/2004 12:00:10 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
I also recall that it gained great importance since the Arsenal was there in
order that it be a great distance from any invader from the sea.
And some (cynics?) have said that it was placed there at the behest of
President George Washington in order to open up that remote country to further
settlement to enhance the value of the large property holdings in the area of
Charles Washington and the rest of the Washington family.  (There are far more
Washingtons in the cemetery in Charlestown than at Mt. Vernon.)  The water power
available at the convergence of the two rivers was the ostensible reason for
its siting, though it later proved to be very susceptible to disastrous floods
from those rivers.

John

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