Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-01
WHERE BURR WAS MARRIED
An Interesting Historical spot washing
tons Old ucadquartsrs.


York Sun. Hopperstown was the name
that HohOkus bore in Revolutionary
times. BY his marriage he lost the
presidency in 1900, as records in exist
ence here prove.
The old Hoboken and Albany post
road which runs through here was the
only route from New York to Albany
on the west side Of the Hudson river.
In the winter the road on the east side
was abandoned for general travel, and
the one on the west side used alto
gether, for the reason that it was most
apt to be open. Snow blocked the
other road. The Holland Dutch settled
the road thickly enough to keep it clear
Of Instructions from Hoboken as far up
as the Ramapo mountains. The noun
tains on either side protected the road
through the Ramapo valley.
Colonel Burr was the autocrat Of the
post-road for a time. When George
Washington moved from the scene Of
the battle Of Trenton to Newburgh, on
the Hudson, he halted number of
times. For seven weeks he tarried
with his forces two and one half miles
from the village of Mahwah, which is
six and one half miles above llohokus.
The tents were pitched on land which
is now part of Mountainside farm, be-
longing to Theodore A. Hayemeyer, of
New York. A fence encloses the old
camp-ground, which comprises seventy
FIVE acres. At the back Of it is Mr..
Havemeyer's mammoth barn. In the
centre Of the field is a spreading yellow
pine. The tree is over two hundred
years old.
Under this tree was pitched the tent
Of the commandant. 1t was the only
official headquarters on the camp
ground. Andrew Hopper, one of the
Holland-Dutch settlers, owned all the
country for miles around, and his house
was just on the edge Of the camp. In
it General Washington took up his
quarters, and here he wrote all his let
tiers, beginning " Headquarters, Bergen
county" Part of the Hopper house,
as it was designated, is preserved in the
south wing Of Mr.. Hayemeyer's modern
mansion. The end wall Is in plain sight,
although covered with cement to hold It
intact. Before going to Virginia Gems
eral Washington presented a dlnner-set
TO Mr.. Hopper. The set descended to
Andrew Hopper Hagerman, grandson
who is now living in Mahwah. lie gave
It TO Hon. Abram s. Hewitt, who in
turn sent it to the Washington head
quarters at Newburgh.
Suflern's Glove was the name given
to the narrow, rocky pass afording the
only entrance to the Ramapo valley.
When General Washington reached it
his practiced eye told him that it was
important underground. A handful
of men at this point could keep back
an army. To the northeast General
Washington beheld towering noun
tain with a huge, rocky dome which
overlooked everything. He clambered
to the top Of it and swept the country
with his glass. New York harbor vas
revealed to him. lie was able to dis
tinguish the strength Of the British fleet
and obtain a valuable observation. The
mountain is called the Torne. It's top
is $50 feet above the post-road and
I,0S7 feet above the sea.
The regiment known as Malcom's
was stationed In the Glove to guard the
route to Newburgh. The year was
l777, and Burr, who had just been ap-
pointed Northumberland, was left in
command of the force. EarthwOrks
were thrown up across the pass, and
cannon were mounted on top Of them.
Portions Of the old works still remain.
Trees are growing on top Of them.
When the Erie railway was built, an
opening was cut through the works for
It's tracks. Besides being in a position
to beat back the British if they should
attempt to follow General Washington,
Colonel Burr performed the duty Of
securing from intrusion an important
undertaking. A few miles back in the
mountains were the Sterling iron-mines.
They derived their names from the fact
that they were originally opened by
Lord Sterling, who obtained a grant Of
an enormous tract of land under royal
letters. The ore was taken out Of the
mines for tie great chain which was
constructed to stretch across the Hul-
son river at West Point and obstruct
tic passage Of the British war-ships.
Some Of the old furnace where the ore
was reduced to iron is still standing
near Sterling lake. 1t was built against
the side Of hill. What is left looks
Ike a stone wall covered with iron rust.
Cannon-balls were cast here, and now
and then one is uncovered.
The links for the chain were fash
toned at 4 forge about eight miles above
the Glove. One of the end walls Of the
forge yet remains in an upright posi-
ton. Ivy thickly oyergrows it. It is
a short distance above Lorillard's sta
ton, and the Erie railways tracks run
within a few feet Of it. The shop Vas
directly on the bank Of the Ramapo
river. There was a spy in Colonel
Burr's lines. he was a noted Tory
named ClaudiuS Smith. lie supplied
British recommending parties with
horses and information. He had
cave in the mountain side across the
river from the forge. 1t was a deep
indentation in the rocks. 4 thick
growth hides it now, and it is almost
impossible to reach it. Smith was
caught, and hanged for his work.
Mrs. Philip de Yismes lived in the
Hermitage at HopperstOwn. The house
was fine one. 1t set back from the
post-road and was surrounded by trees.
Ii was built of the red sandstone un-
deriving the country. The present
owner Of the place is Mr.. Elijah Roscn-
crantz. lie built a new part on, and
the old part serves as wing. The
new part was, however, made to con-
form with the old, and the whole is
picture of the Tudor style Of architec-
ture. The roofs are peaked, and many
of the windows are diamond-shaped.
Mr.. Rosencrantz's name for the place Is
Waldwick, a light in the wood"
With Mrs. de Vismes lived a daugh-
ter who was alludel@to by everybody
&c - tho Widow Provost - She was a