George Washington's Gardener Slept Here

Plantation records show that the building was later used to support spinning operations, as a house for one of Washington's estate managers and as a residence for the head gardener.

The first gardener to live in the house was a German, John Christian Ehlers. Spence, who came from Scotland, became head gardener in 1799 after Ehlers was dismissed. Little is known about the men, though Washington once described the bachelor Spence as "industrious sober and orderly -- and understands his business -- In short I never had a hired servant that pleased me better."

"The gardener was extremely important to George Washington," said Carol Borchert Cadou, senior curator. "The gardener helped George Washington see his vision of Mount Vernon," which included a working farm of wheat, corn, buckwheat, oats and rye; fields of plants and flowers; and groves of hybrid boxwoods and tulip poplars.

Cadou said Washington selected a Scottish gardener because he considered the landscape of Mount Vernon similar to Scotland's.

From historical records, it appears that the house was later occupied by Nathan Johnson and his family. Johnson was a slave who worked as a chief house servant at the estate for George Washington's relative John Augustine Washington III, the nephew of a nephew.

Preservationists found two pieces of wood that confirmed the Johnsons probably lived there: a section of door frame and a modillion from the exterior cornice, both marked in pencil with the date 1856 and the words "Nathan house."

"At Mount Vernon, we typically have documentation," Pogue said. "In this case, it was kind of sketchy. There wasn't a whole lot of documentation. But we had the physical investigation."

The Ladies' Association bought the estate in 1858 but did not begin restoring structures until the 20th century. The effort began with Washington's old tomb in 1938, then moved to such structures as the storehouse, the smokehouse and others in ensuing decades.

Before the gardener's house, the last building restored was the spinning house in 2004.

While other buildings were being renovated, the gardener's house was modified to add a restroom and first-aid room.

The house also served as a security control room until 2005. All modern equipment, including utilities, was removed before the restoration.

"We're just really thrilled," Cadou said. "The restoration of this structure represents a huge leap for Mount Vernon and the ability to convey the historical interest of George Washington."