KENMORE MANSION IN SPRING. Georgian-style house built by George Washington's only sister Betty and her husband Fielding Lewis, a wealthy local merchant. Betty married Fielding at sixteen and bore him eleven children! (Note outbuildings on right. I'd settle for a house that looked like one of those bldgs. Kenmore is just a few short blocks from the heart of town. A nice residence to have in the 'hood. Just one of the gang.)

During the Revolutionary War, Lewis loaned the State of Virginia (officially, the Commonwealth of Virginia) money to build and operate a gun factory in Fredericksburg, £7000 of which (a LOT of $$$) was never repaid. He died in 1781 nearly broke, borrowing money just to continue financing the war. (Was this man a PATRIOT or what!) I guess this was how Virginia balanced its budget in those days, much like the Federal government does today - ON THE BACKS OF ITS CITIZENS!

(But keep those tax dollars flowing, my annuity check depends on it! My wife divorces herself from this last comment - cluck, cluck, cluck. Hey, you gotta maintain your sense of humor in all this mess we have today.)

P.S. The War wreaked havoc on the financial system, inflation was rampant and currencies plummeted. The "dollar" was a respectable currency when introduced by the Continental Congress, but virtually worthless just three years later when finally eliminated. A number of prominent Colonial figures died mired in debt, near broke or penniless, whether due to their own errors or conditions beyond their management. These include U.S. Presidents Jefferson, Madison and Monroe. Clearly, Presidents were not immune from financial ruin either. Undoubtedly, some were felled by wholly self-inflicted wounds, human nature being what it is.

(My wife toured Kenmore with her brother and his wife when they visited from out of state. Your popularity rises when you live in this area. At least until guests depart.)