Daily Republican., 1879-05-28
Valley Forge.
For)the Republican.
VALLEY FORCE, Pa, May 9th, "


Forlthe Republican.
VALLEY FORCE, Pa, May 9th, 10.
MEssRs. EDIroRs:-Believing, as | do,
that few lines from this place Of his
toric interest will not be an affection to
your readers, venture a few items.
Valley Forge is beautifully situated on
the southern bank Of the winding
schuylkill, twenty-threeAmiles from
Phila., on the main line Of the fhila.,
and Reading R. R. Valley creek runs
through the middle of the village and
empties into the river, the creek be-
ing the dividing line between Chester
ard Montgomery counties; the village is
assigned TO Chester county from the
fact of the P. .. being on the other side
Of the creek, but the historically inter-
esting and industrially important
places are in Montgomery Co. As to the
physical geography of the place, a visit
only could convey an adequate impress
sion OF its majestic appearance; suffice
it to say it is rather mountainous, and
looks as though mighty earthquake
had, at some time, cut chasm, with
abrupt declivities between Mount Joy
and Mount Misery, to make room for the
creek, and for short distance back
from the river-say 800 yards-had
moved the hills far enough from either
side OF the creek to make room for the
village; in the corner formed by the
intersection of the creek and river, ars
Washington's old headquarters; and
within the triangle, formed by draw
ing an imaginary line from point on
Valley creek, about ono mile distant
from the headquarters, to APPOINT on the
Schuykill about two miles east from
the place Of beginning, the Continental
army were sntrenehed during the long
and drsary winter Of '77-S. These en-
. trenchments are still preserved with
other sundry relics of the patriot army
Your correspondent resides within that
= triangle, in house, part OF which was
r standing at that time, on farm which
3 includes Sort Huntington and Re-
+. doubts" Washington's Headquarters
have been occupied by Mrs. Hannah
4 Ogden for more than fifty years, but
q about two weeks ago she disposed o
: the property to an association, who viii
:. dedicate it with appropriate ceremonis;
Oh June 10Th, and preserve it in hsno
3 of the "Father Of our Country" 1t il
rather fins iooking-but unimposint
= stone dwelling in very good condition
!. far better than many city man
e traps built less than twenty years ago
v A more thrifty village than thi
l. would bs hard to find; its manutactu
n ring interests consist of the wsolen mill
,r of Mr.. Isaac Smith, who has pala
n tial residence in the place, and the pa
r per mills OF the Messrs. Clugston-
n who also reside hsre-the former mill
, have been in constant operatio
throughout the hard times giving EN-
t ployment to upwards of 100 hands. TIL
ia enterprising proprietors OF the paps
ID mills have found it necessary, OWN
at to the occasionally swollen and mudd
Of condition of the creek, to bore an arti
CO sin well to the depth of moro tina
to 100 feet o obtain supply Of pul
I'd water, sufhclent TO continue thelr maj
" ufacturing interest without interruI
lc ton.
Is, Although nearly all religious demon
III nations are represented in the plac
A. there is but one church i'll the imm
Id diate Observation-Disclosures a Methods
nearly, or quite one half Of tho pop1
it. lace are Catholics, many of whom sho
in their devotion by walking to the
A. church at Phoenixville(four miles) al
Ir. back again before breakfast. OF tt
ss. remaining half, those who are not il
,re different to religious matters, uni
he with the Methodists, who also have q
le. interesting and successful Sabbat
on School. Their church edifice, which
,as a very pleasant and cosy one, has ju
lie. been renovated, and makes a very pre-
3D. entable appearance.