Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-03-15
VALLEY EorRe

Valley Forge is manufacturing
place, aud there is a constant hum OF
machinery from the paper, -four and
wooden mills. The neat little houses OF
the factory hands are gay with flowers
and vines, while the handsome resi-
dence Of the mill owner towers castle
like above them. Past all these dwell
ings, at the end OF the street, stands the
old fashioned stone edifce hallowed by
Washington's presence.
II is plain, somewhat contracted
looking house, this Valley Forge shrine,
after the usual type OF ancient Penn
sylvania homes, with q queer roof over
the door, without either posts or pillars,
shaped like the sounding boards In old
time churches. The small paned win
dows are hong, and end in low, deep win
dow seats that could be sat in with ease;
but they are not cushioned, or made the
most OF in any way. The entrance
door opens by halves, and two broad,
Hat stones lead to 1t.
Nothing has been'changed in the old
house since Washington left it, with the
exception OF paper and paint; but 1t
strikes the visitor As decidedly bare-look-
ing, and by no means attractive As a
place OF residence. The admission lee
OF ten cents is appropriated by the Gen.
tennial Committee for the furnishing
fund, their intention being to furnish the
back room on the ground floor, known
as Washington's private Office, with ar
ticles gathered here and there Of the
date OF Washington's residence, and as
nearly as possible a fac-simile OF those
in use at that period, the original furni-
ture having slipped away down the
back stairs OF time without leaving a
trace behind.
As yet, however, nothing has been
accomplished, and very little Of interest
is to be seen in the way OF relics. The
room is the chief point OF interest; and
one OF the deep window seats is box,
the iii OF which is labeled Washing
tons private papers, III" this re-
ceptacle having probably been made to
avoid surprises.
We are also shown Revolutionary
cannon bail, the old anvil used IN shoe
ing the horses vi Washington and his
troops, and an ancient Fireplace with
backs aud jambs.' The iron back OF
another fireplace Is unexpectedly dis
played outside OF an entrance door
which opens into narrow passage.
This back, OF German manufacture, il
quite a. work OF art, aud evidently in
tended rs u representation OF the mira
Gle in Cana Oi GalIlee, the queer figures
and water jars being supplemented by a
German inscription, in which the words
"Wasser" and "Wein' are quite dis
tinct, also the reference to John, II. J.
IL.
The most noticeable art Gle OF iurnl-
ture in the room is an "old clock on the
stair" which seems its legitimate place.
Ii was not used, however, by Washing
ton, having been imported from Eng
land by the grandfather oi the present
venerable occupant in 1884.
The old Potts mansion has been pur-
chased by the Centennial and Memoir
ial Association, and in the deed OF
trust the ground belonging to it is caro-
fully estimated at two acres and eight
perches. The long low stone barn that
stretches across large portion oi ono
side is rough and plain-the same in
appearance as when Wa hington stablI d
hls horses there. Art ras done little
Tor the immediate surroundings, except
to introduce the impertinent whiz Of
the factory opposite.
A portion Of the old Entertainments,
which are some little distance oil, still
remains, and in the woods near by were
the miserable barracks where the Con-
tinental army nearly iroze and starved
during the hard winter OF l177-'IS.--
ELLA RoDMAS CHURCn, in Harpcr's Nag
ann for IpuH