The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-03-31
A revolutionary Raiic.

The estate which Col. Morris purchased
on New York Island, and upon which he
erected the mansion known in Revolution
airy history as the Roger Morris house, and
TO New Workers of latter day as the Jumel
house. Is situated at the upper end of MAN.
haitian Island. The house, which stands
unchanged, a noble specimen of the homes
OF the colonial gen try, is almost opposite to
the intersection of Tenth avenue and Ono
Hundred and Sixty-tirst Street with the
old Kings Bridge road. 1t fronts to the
southward, and it's eastern portico and bal
cony overlook from its precipiious loight
the Harlem river, Wostchester, and the
Sound, and command 4 view of the Har
lem Plains to the Southerly limit of Nc
| Gowan's Pass, Notwithstanding the vari-
GUS uses to which the building had been
subjected by the exigencies OF war, it still
remained desirable residence. For time
afterlho Revolution it was occupied by DR..
Isaac Lcdyard, distinguished patriot, but
iii June, 1856, it passed into other hands,
and became u house of Public entertain
mcIt. Talmage Hall, who the samo year
| undertook the eastern line Of stages from
New York to Boston, starting from the
old City Tavern, at the corner Of Broad
way and Thames street, opened the Morris
Housc as the tilst stopping place on the
| route, and asked besides for tho patronage
OF parties from town. he describes the
building rs al elegant house, and dwclls
particularly Oh the advantages Of the octa-
gon room, rear extension, which still re-
mains, AZ Every happily calculated for a
turtle party" and otherwise desirable for
transient visitors, as well as permanent
boarders The main features of Manhat-
I8l1OI "a a Jnl1
to great extent unchanged by tho march
Of improvement, that modern iconocast
which ruthlcssly sweeps from its path all
things, however venerable by time or as
sociation, which have ceased to be avail
able Tor uli,arian purposes. The project
| ing extremity of the Point Of Rocks, where
the Continental advanced guard kept watch
and ward over the smiling plaln ben ath,
has vanished before the potent breath OF
giant powder a stately boulevard passes
over its former site. Where the Kings
Bridge road climbed the long hill from the
plains beneath, the serDentine course OF st.
Nicholas avenue gives easy access to the
plateau above. Yet the lnquiring eye Of
the lover Of history, verscd in local lore,
may still discern seme of the outlines of
the breasLworks at which their fathers toiled
in that long ago Autumn; and the elcva-
ted railroad, last and most au6acious feat
OF the modern engineer, newest harbingcr
Of New York growth, to. day carries it's
thousand visitors, who tomorrow will be
daily passengers to the very foot of the
lawn which was once trod by the majestic
form of Washington. Above Tubby Hook
there is even less change; with the cxcop-
ton Of few residences along tho front
overlooking the Hudson, the country pre-
sents the same features now as then. The
Blue Bel! Tavern, the roadside inn where
town from his country home, first heard or
the suicide of Sir Danvcrs Osborne but a
fow hours arrived to his new Government
where Hesslan soldiers caro,lsed for many
weary year; to which Washington turn
cd his longing eye from the heights OF
Wcstchcstcr on his famous reconnaissance
in the Summer OF 1881, and at whose
homely door he is reported to have halted
Oh his triumphal entry into New York in
1888, stood until May, 1876, on tho west
side Of the road, near the lane which leads
into the Bennett grounds. A little build
ing, known AZ the Century House, the front
of which, the Kings Bridge road once pass
cd. may now be found some distance to the
eastward Of it's present line near Harlem
Creek, and is used as a riverside hosiery.
At the foot Of blind wood road, which
winds through the valley that intcrsccts In
wood Heights is a very old wooden build
ing, which local tradition dates back to tho
Revou,ion, called the Spring House. from
the clear stream Of water which bubbles
up from the foot Of the hill, under the
shadow of which 1t is situated. Banks of
oyslcr-shclls bear witness toithe good taste
Of the ilcssians who camped in the vicini-
ty. Bullets, grapc-shot, time-worn belt
plates, buttons, and rusty bayonets may
still be found by tho careful cocker of such
relics. Kuowlton, LciLch and Henley, all
of whom gave their lives for their country
III this memorable campaign, sleep in un-
known and unmarked graves upon this his
| toric ground, while the grand highway of
the statcliest pleasure ground Of tho world
s grimly guarded by the colossal images
| ot alien forms monstrous In perennial
bronze; gaunt shapes haunt the pathways
and peer through the vistas Of the shrub
| berry, and high above all towers the apoc-
| ryphal form Of al epiccne angel. A care
| less people forgcts it's heroes and martyrs.
and over the very ground which holds the
sacred dust raises images to CRAFTY ephc-
neral vanity, satisfy vaulting ambition,
and pandcr to tho lust Of greed.
|