The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-09

Oh country 6eatS AZ CnAt time. paGCn OF
sugar-corn in the valley is rustling in the
afternoon breeze. II recalls Barlow's lines
about the stalks that
Shoot the tall top eallants to the sky,
The su kim ears their silky fringes bend:
And, ripening FAST their swelling coats distend.
John Howard Payne as guest strolled
about Kalorama. Jefferson and Madison
rode up under the Kalorama oaks to chat
over a national university, farming, the war
with Frarce and sundry other topics. Rob-
ert Fulton came here to live with Barlow,
and in the winter Of 1907 planned and built
III pretty summer house overlooking the
creek. On the pond back Of the house he
hrst tested his invention. In his velvet
blouse, rufaed shirt and knickerbockers, he
spent many days here trying the first work
ing model of the Clermont. Tradition
speaks positively on this point and declares
that with row-boat on the surface of this
pretty pond. stretching perhaps eighty rods
to the north, nowhere hundred feet wide
or eight feet deep. the first practical DEM
onstration was made Of the mighty power
of steam to sail the earth. Further up-
stream is the spot where John Quincy
Adams used to own and run grist mill.
He bought the place in 1927. paying go, 600
for the twenty-four acres. Then there
stood upon it large stone mill, 6Ox7O. OF
which now there is hardly a, vestige left.
There were also two stone houses, in one OF
which the Old Man Eloquent spent fre-
qpant intervals Of respite from public toll.
Ai.aroup of magnificent beeches. lining the
road to the mill, must have afforded him
fayorite strollinR place. just below the
mill dam is large, deep pool that is now,
AZ it was fifty years ago. favorite bathing
place. The old man here indulged in his
favorite exercise of swimming.
All this ia within the borders OF the new
geological park. The creek describes q
mammoth z in passing, and ID everywhere
very swift. Tho further We 20 the wilder
grows the scenery. The creek tosses itself
back and forth from one rocky side to an
midstream, breaking che elassy current into
snowy spray. Huge oaks tower into the
sky, rock-studded promontories int out in
to the water course, high cliffs rise lichen
covered like the perpendicular walls OF q
mountain canyon. Che road to Pierce's
whore a solid vail stands between x.'es = ssfe
and charming prospect and a chasm eighty
fest down. On the right bank lie the
beautiful country homes built BY Isaac and
Joshua Pierce, ono Of them built hundred
years ago. The younger Of them, known as
tho Klingle place. surmounts q tall, sugar
country seat around Washington. The
stone mansion will be kept By the park
commissioners 40 z resting place for visit
oss to the park. Many trees in this part Of
the valley are foreign to its particular fora.
The miller at Pierce'a mill was soldier in
1612, and whom he came homo from the war
brought in his knapsack seeds OF various
trees, the horse chestnut, purple beech, bal
sam, white pine and holly. These he plant
ed and gave to later generations.
Isaac Pierce settled in this part OF the
valley in 1892, and built what 10 known as
Pieces mill. In those days q grist mill was
. fortune. Farmers came from the rich
sections Of Prince Gearge's Frederick and
Marlborough counties (then all included id
Prince 0eosge's county, even for . distance
ground. Now all that business has van
ished, and while Pierce's mill still rumbles
busily. grinding wheat raised In Minnesota
and Dakota, many an old Rock Greek mill
has orumbled and rotted away until its site
= hardly known; Peters mill seat, three
be found only ON ancient maps. This prop
erty belonged to Robert Peters, General
Washington's nephew. The mill-race. over
grown with laurel and filled mp with huge
masses Of rock cteft by frost, can be traced.
but the mill and milt-dam have utterly dis
Pierce Shoemaker, favosite nephew
and the heir Of lsaac Pisrcs. enjoys the
honor Of being the oldest inhabitant in
this upper section Of Rock Greek valley,
He has seen wonderful changes il his lie
here: Once his estate embraced :. 2.500 acres,
and he could ride horseback half . day
over his own land, and never uae the same
road twice. Tho consuming tooth Of prog
res has Gnawed acre after acre from the
onee large sstate, and the pretty villages Of
BRiRhtwood ard Tsnnallytown have grown
up upon il Mr.. Shoemaker is now fortu- |
nete!y still tho laseest landowner around |
WashtnNtOn. his holdings embracing about |
dsn,aee Indicted by the soldiers during the |
war, his fosssts have been kept as they /
we're IN thsdf psimsyAl wildnees and beauty. |
Nowhere around the capital is there such l
trace suitable for vast park.
built early il ths century - paper mill,
into Rkiet min, and nov With |