Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-04-07
Revolutionary Rnlic.

The estate when Col. Morris purchased
on New York Island, and upon which be
erected the mansion known in Revolution.
ary 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, noble specimen Of the homes
of the colonial gentry, Is almost opposite TO
the intersection OF Tenth avenue and One
Hundred and oixty-Arst Street with the
old Kings Bridge road. 1t fronts to the
southwark, and its eastern portico and bal
cony overlook from its precipitous height
the Harlem river, Westchester, and the
Sound, and command 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 atime
after the Revolution it was occupied by DIR.
Isaac Ledyard, distinguished patriot, but
Ia June, 1856, it passed into other hands,
and became a house of Public entertain
mert. Talmage Hall, who the same year
undertook the eastern line Of stages from
New York 10 Boston, starting from the
old City Tavern, al the corner OF Broad
way and Thames street, opened the Morris
House as the first stopping place on the
route, and asked besides for the patronage
of parties from town. He describes the
building as an elegant house, and dwells
particularly on the advantages Of the octa-
gon roOm, a rear extension which still re-
mains, as Every happily calculated for
turtle party" and otherwise desirable for
transient visitors, as well as permanent
boarders. The main features of Manhat-
tan Island above the Hollow Way remain
to a great extent unchanged by the march
of improvement, that modern iconoclast
which ruthlessly sweeps from It's path all
things. however venerable by time or as
sociation, which have ceased TO be avail
able for Unitarian purposes. The project
ing extremity of the Point of Rocks, where
the Continental advanced guard Kept watch
and ward over the smiling plain beneath,
has vanished before the potent breath OF
Qiant powder stately boulevard passes
over its former site. Where the Kings
Bridge road climbed the long hill from the
plains beneath, the serpentine course OF 81
Nicholas avenue gives easy access TO the
plateau above. Yet the lnquiring eye OF
the lover of history, versed in local lore,
may still discern seme Of the outlines OF
the breast works at which their fathers tolled
in that long-ago Autumn; and the eleva-
ted railroad, last and most audacious feat
of the modern engineer, newest harblnger
of New York growth, to. day carries Its
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 excep-
ton of few residences along the front
overlooking the Hudson, the country pre-
sents the same features now as then The
Blue Bel! Tavern, the roadside inn where
Lieut.. Gov. De Lancey, riding into the
town from his country home, first heard OF
the suicide of SIR Danvers Osborne but q
few hours arrived to his new Government;
where Hesslan soldiers carOtIsed for many
a weary year; to which Washington turn
ed his longing eye from the heights OF
WestcheSter on his famous reconnaissance
in the Summer of 1881, and at whose
homely door he is reported TO have halted
on his triumphal entry into New York in
1888, stood until May, 1876, on the west
side of the road, near the lane which leads
into the Bennett grounds. A little build
ing, known as the Century House, the front
of which, the Kings Bridge road once pass
ed. may now be found some distance TO the
eastward of its present line near Harlem
Greek, and is used as a riverside hostlery.
At the foot of blind wood road, which
winds through the valley that intersects In
wood Heights Is q very old wooden build
ing, which Ice Il tradition dates ba K to the
Revo uliOn, called the Spring Ho1se, from
th. clear stream Of water which bubbles
I'D from the foot of the hll!, under the
shadow of which it is situated. Banks of
oyster-shells bear witness toIthe good taste
of the Hessians who camped in the vicini-
ty. Bullets, grape-shot, time-worn belt
plates, bdttOns, and rusty bayonets may
still be found by the careful seeker of such
relics. KnowlIon, Leitch and Henley, all
of whom gave their lives for their country
N this memorable campaign, sleep In un-
known and unmarked graves upon this his
toric ground, while the grand highway of
the statelest pleasure ground Of the world
is grimly guarded by the colossal images
Of alien forms monstrous in perennial
bronze; gaunt shapes haun: the pathways
and peer through the vistas Of the shrub
berry, and high above all towers the apoc,
ryphal form of an epicene angel. A care
less people forgets its heroes and martyrs,
AID over the very ground which holds the
sacred dust raises images TO gratifY ephe-
neral vanity, satisfy vaulting ambition,
and pAnder to the lust uf greed.