Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-11-06
WHERE BURR WAS MARRIED
An Interesting Rhetorical Spot-Wash-
inxton,s Old Headquarters on the
Farm-Aaron Barr's NightRsde to
Sec the widow Provost.


New York Sun.
Col. Aaron Burr wood aud won
his bride in Hopperstown. HoEpers-
town was the name that Hohokus
bore in Revolutionary times. By his
marriage he lost the presidency in
1920, as records in existence here
prove.
The old Hoboken and Albany post
road which runs through here was
the only route from New York to All
bany Oh 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 altogether, for the reason that it
was most apt to be opel. Snow block
ed the other road. The Holland
Dutch settled the road thickly enough
to keep it clear of distractions from
Hoboken as Hfar up as the Ramapo
mountains. The mountains on sith-
er side protected the road through the
Ramapo valley.
Col. Burr was the autocrat of the
post road for time. When George
Washington moved from the scene
of the battle of Trenton to Newburgh
on the Hudsoa, he halted number of
times. For seven weeks nc tarried
with his forces two and one half
miles from the village of Mahwah,
which is SIX and one half miles above
Hohokus. The tents were pitched on
land which is now part of Mountain
side farm, belonging to Theodore A.
Havemeyer, of New York. A fence
incloses the old camp ground which
comprises seventy five acres. At the
back of it Is Mr.. Havemeyer's nam.
moth barn. In the center 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 Gen. Washington took
up his quarters and there he wrote
all his letters, beginning "Headquart-
ers, Bergen County" Part of the
Hopper house, as it was designed, is
preserved in the south wing of Mr..
Havemeyer's modern mansion. The
end wall is in plain sight, although
covered with cement TO hold it intact.
Before going to Virginia Gan. WASH
ington presented dinner set to Mr..
Hopper. The set descended to And
rev Hopper Hagerman, grandson,
who is now living in Mahwah. He
gave it to Hon. Abram S. Hewitt,
who in turn gave it to the Washing
ton headquarters at Newburgh.
Suffern's Glove was the name given
to the narrow, rocky pass atfording
the only entrance to the Ramapo val.
ley. When Gen. Washington reach
ed it, his practiced eye told him that
it was an important vantage ground.
A handful of men at this point could
keep back an army. To the northeast
Gen. Washington beheld a towering
mountain with huge, rocky dome
which overlooked everything. He
clambered to the top Of it, and swept
the country with his glass, New
York harbor was revealed to HIM. He
was able to distinguish the strength
of the British fleet and obtain val
liable observation. The mountain is
called the Tore. Its top is $50 feet
above the post road, and 1,0S7 feet
above the sea.
The regiment known as Malcom's
was stationed in the Glove to guard
the route to Newburgh. The year
was 1777, and Burr, who had just
been appointed lieutenant colonel,
was left IN command of the force.
Earthworks awere thrown up across
on top of them. Portions of the old
works still remain. Trees are grow
ing on top of them. When tae Erie
railway was built, an opening was
cut through the works for its track.
Besides being in a position to bsat
back the British if they should at.
tempt to follow Gen. Washington,
Col. Burr performed the duty of Sc
curing 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 original.
ly opened by Lord Sterling, who OBJ
tanned a grant of an enormous tract OF
laRA.under royal letters. The ore was
taken out sats the mines for the great
chain which was constructed to stretch
across the Hudson river at West Point
and obstrHst the passage OF the British
war ships. Some of the old furnaces
where the ore was reduced to iron il
still standing near Sterling lake. II
was built against the side OF hill.
What is left looks like a stone wal
GOV cred with iron rust. Cannon balls
were cast here, and now and then one
is uncovered.
The links of the chain were FASH
toned at forge about eight miles
above the Glove One of the end walls
of the forge yet remains in an up
right position. Ivy thickly over.
grows it. 1t is short distance above
Lolillard's Station, and the Erie rail-
ways, tracks run within a few feet oil
it. The shop was directly on the
bend of the river There was spy
in Col. Burr's lines. He was no
ted tory named Smith He supplied
British accommodating parties with
horses and information. He had a
cave in the mountainside across the
river from the forge. 1t was deep ia
dentation in the rocks. A thick
growth hides it nov, it is almost i'm
possible to reach it. Smith was caught
and hanged for his work.
Mrs. Philip de Vismes lived in the
Hermitage at Hopperstown. The
house was fine one. 1t set back from
the post road and was surrounded by
trees. 1t was built of red sandstone
underlying the country. The present
owner of the place is Mr.. Elijah Ros,
encrantz He 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 q
picture Of the Tudor style of architect
ure. The roofs are peaked, and many
of the roofs are diamond, shaped. Mr.
Rosencrantz name for the place is
Waldwick, "a light in the wood"
With Mrs. de Vlsmes lived a daugh-
ter who was alluded to by everybody
as ''the Widow Provost"
She was charming woman, and
hermitage was visited by all the beaus.
British as well as American officers
were guests at different times. Such
social gayety did not prevail any
where else in this region. The Wild
ow Prevost's name WAS Theodosis Pre-.
vost. Her husband was Capt. Fred
L r. A. II.