Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-10
Written FOR TIE EVENING STAR
VIRGINIA LANDMARKS.
Interesting Antiquities I'm Historic Clark
County.

Interesting Antiquities I'm Historic Clark
County.
GENERAL MoRoAN's HosPIrABLE HoAE-wAsH-
ISeroSs sPRrNe-HoUsE-LoRD FAIRFAX BROAD
AcREs-AS OLD cHURcH-JoHN EsrES COOKE Is
GRAVE.
The historic little town now called Berryville
was built in 1928, on twenty acres of land be-
longing 70 Benjamin Berry, after whom it
was named. To its older inhabitants. however,
it was known by the appropriate soubriquet of
Battletovn, it having been the scene OF so many
Of those pugilistic encounters Of which Gen.
Daniel Morgan, one Of its founders. Is said to
have been so fond This officer lived. for a
time, Just north of the town. at his place,
SOLDIERS REST.
The dwellirg-house was built at the time
when neighbors lived miles apart, and gene
rally remained several days when they came
on a visit In those days hospitality was the
foremost thought in mems minds, and each
tried to Guido his neighbor as host. though
always in a spirit of friendly rivalry. Gen.
Morgan no exception to this rule. as the
rooms Of his old mansion proclaim, for they
even now have the appearance of old entertain
ers. The main building on the lower floor con-
sists of two large rooms, divided by wide
which leads into an immense apartment with
many windows, several doors, and huge old
fashioned chimney place. This the dining
room in which many a grand dinner was
served These dinners were generally fol-
lowed by a night of dancing. and the grand
parents Of the present generation danced
to 1.-The Snowbird on the Ash-bank," or
some other equally inspiring breakdown
which one of the plantation darkies 'drawed
OUT Of his fiddle. The hall. parlor, and din
fr,rxr e. fl,a La;ox -
three feet from the floor, and, except for mod
ern coats of paint, are just left by the old
revolutionary hero. feature of the dining
room too prominent to be overlooked is its
mantel. which was brought from England by
Gen Morgan and was probably the first of its
kind ever seen in the valley; certainly it was
the subject of much curiosity, for the neigh
bors from miles around focked to see it,
although il is Of simple pine wood and almost
devoid OF ornamentation.
From the front porch beautiful view of the
surrounding country is obtained, and about a
hundred yards from the house is q magnificent
weeping willow that has every appearance of
great age, and under its branches is
A sPRING-HoUsE WITH A HISTORY.
It is a mere cabin of logs, built and occupied
before the revolutionary war By George Wash
ihgton, who was then surveying land for Lord
Fairfax, and had as his only companion George
William. the eldest son of his EMPLOYER Gen
Morgan, alter the war used this cabin for a
spr1ng-house, and as such it still does duty.
Irving, IN his Life of Washington" describes
1t as "a kind of lodge in the wilderness" and
says: 1T was situated not far from the Shenan-
coah, and about twelve miles from the town of
Winchester" This house, the present owner
declares, is. with the exception of a new roof
fTol a few new logs, Just as Washington left it.
Going south from Berryville the Milwood
pike descends a steep hill and the little town is
soon lost to view. On the left the Blue Ridge
mountains majestically rear their lofty crests;
each is more beautiful than his neighbor, re-
sembling great hills of smoke. whose misty out
lines IN the distance grow more shadowy and
underlined until at last they disappear in the
blue haze OF the horizon.
Distance lends enchantment even to a turn
pike, especially good one that must be ADAM
doned for that uncertain quantity which Vir-
ginians call "a back road" Four miles ride
over such road leads from the pike, across
farms, through mud, and over rock brakes. to
THE BsIARs."
This beautiful place was the home of John
Esten Cooke. The house is of limestone, plas-
tered on the outside and whitewashed. You
enter broad hall and ON either side is large
room. The one on the south side Mr.. Cooke
used as study. 1t contains, beside his favor
lite chair, several family portraits and the map
OF Virginia (Lloyd's). which he used constantly
for reference. On the other side is the parlor,
now used by the present tenants, and contain
ing nothing that belonged to Mr.. Cooke The
rooms of the second story correspond with
those on the first floor. except for a hall room
which ID used as a library. Its shelves are we'll
stocked. particularly with histories of Virginia
and works on surveying Add to these many
manuscripts and much proof, scattered indis-
eriminateiy In dusty heaps over the floor, and
you know its contents.
"GREESwAY COURT"
Not far from The Briars," near the southern
boundary line of Clarke county, is "Greenway
Court, t" the site selected by Lord Fairfax for his
house. Why his lordship should have built ON
the rockiest land in his possession and far away
from any spring is a mystery. Certainly the
selection was not compulsory, for he was sole
heir to an immense tract of land granted BIZ
Charles III to one Of his ancestors This tract
inciuded all lands lying between the head
waters of the Potomac and Rappahannock
rivers TO the Chesapeake bay. or nearly one
fourth of the present limits of the state of Viz
GINA. The original house was DESTROYED come
time since, and was only the commencement
OF series of buildings that the owner intended
to erect but did not live to finish The house
is described by Irving as, a long stone build
ing, one story in height, with dormer windows,
TWO wooden belfries their bells intended to sum-
mon tenants to his defense in the event of Indian
attacks, chimneys studded with swallow and
martin coops and a roof sloping down in the old
Virginia fashion, into low projecting caves that
formed a yeranda the whole length of the
occupied by his steward or land agent but
now devoted to hospitable purposes and the
reception OF guests. As to his lordship it was
one OF his many eccentricities that ne never
slept in the main ediice, but lodged apart in a
wooden house not much above IL feet square"
This little house deserves more minute de-
scripton. Not nail was used in its construc-
tion, except for the shingles on the roof The
corner posts, four In number. were hewed square
and IN the sides nearest the next post is q
KIND OF tenon which runs the whole length
The logs tor the walls, also square, were NOR
tised and dropped into these lemons and thus
form four wooden walls which have defied the
ravages Of nearly hundred years. Another
peculiar feature of this house is its roof which
instead OF being in the style then usual is cone
shaped and projects some distance beyond the
walls The spectacle OF a round roof on a
square house may be picturesque; vet il strikes
one as being more appropriate for a Chinese
Pagoda than Virginia meat-house for which
homely purpose this building is now used.
WHITE POST
u soon reached. This was originally the place
where two roads intersected, and Lord Fairfax.
Tor the convenience of his visitors, placed there
apost which read: '.Greenway Court one mile.
This post was painted white and hence the
name OF the town. which still has its white post
FROM White Post to Berryviie by the main
turnpike, which runs parallel with the s'back
road, travel Is much easier and more rapid.
Boyce IL soon passed and shortly afte rward tbe
old chapel with its lovely church-yard il in
view. The old chapel was built in i796 and ia
without doubt, the Oldest church in the valley
quiet spot The ''chape" is nearly square and
has the aDpea~anca of great aoa 4, q bill. -