Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-02
IT SHELTERED WASHINGTON.
A House at Rye Where the President
Slept One Hundred Years Ago.

1T SHELTERED WASHINGTON.
A House at Rye Where the President
Slept One Hundred Years Ago,
There Is a house standing on the post
road, In the village of Rye, that is an object
of special interest. 1t sheltered President
Washington loo years ago. On Oct. Is.
1879, Washington left New York in his
coach, drawn by four fine horses, accom-
panied by his private and official secretaries.
1t wa the beginning of that journey to
New England which the President desired
should be transformations, but which the
people of all ranks made an occasion forthe
expression of the love and reverence thew
deeply felt. He arrived in the village of
bye, a distance Of twenty-six miles from
New York, In the latter part of the day,
and found rest for the night at the inn
kept at that time by Mrs. Haviland. name
not uncommon IN the neighborhood to-
day. This Is the note in Washington's
journal, written at the evening hour:
Thursday. Oct. Is, 17S9.-After dinner.
through frequentlight showers, we proceed
ed to the tavern of Mrs. Haviland, at Rye,
who keeps a very neat and decent inn"
This Is his entry concerning the road and
the impression made upon him by the
country.
The road for the greater part-indeed,
the whole way-was very rough and stony,
but the land strong, well covered with
grass and a luxuriant crop of Indian corn.
The farms are very close together, and
separated, as one Enclosure also is from
another, by fences of stone, which are in
deed easily made, as the country is i'm
mensely stony. After passing Horseneck,
six miles distant (east) from Rye, the road
is hilly and immensely stony, and trying
to wheels and carriages"
On his return, while spending the night
again at Mrs. Haviland's, Washington
writes In his journal:
The badness of these roads having been
described as | went, | shall say nothing of
them now
How different would be his comments
could he ride over the same road today,
which has been macadamized so beauti-
fully.
A few words about this quiet village
may be OF interest to more than local
readers. As one is carried by on the swift
trains of the n. Y. and n. n. r. R. he is
not even aware that he is passing through
whose history is of more than ordinary
LLACC1Cob' L I1CS Olllg dDOuU UNO LII hCII
the boundary separating the states of New
York and Connecticut. The shore of the
Sound, lying not more than a mile from
the center of the village, was a favorite
resort of the Indians, who made an annual
encampment or visit long after the settle
ment of the village.
Evidences that the locality Of Rye Beach
was once inhabited by many Indians
| abound. Warlike and domestic nipple
ments have frequently been unearthed;
skeletons of Indians have been found in
various excavations; while tradition affords
many accounts of their presence and
habits. But the proximity of Rye to the
state boundary line and to the shore
of the Sound rendered the section debatable
ground, armies and ships being the argu-
ments employed in turn by the Dutch, the
British and the Americans. During the
revolution it lay between the o~utposts Of
the opposing forces. Hasty and cruel
incursions were frequent, so that at the
close of the war the desolated homes and
the poverty of the people presented a
pitiable sight. Need we wonder, then,
that the journey of the Great Deliverer
was made the occasion for even the most
extravagant expressions of gratitude and
IcNeIGlICt.
While n~eighboring villages and towns
have been transformed beyond the recog-
milton of returning inhabitants of former
years, Rye has remained a conservative
village. 1t has been improved by the cree
ton of beautiful residences, by the laying
out of attractive grounds, and by the build
ing of excellent roads. But no manufactur-
ing interests have invaded the restful quiet
so inviting to the men who retire to their
homes from the feverish excitement of
daily business in the city. The diversity
and beauty of the country in the vicinity
and the evident thriftiness of the farmers,
add a delightful and unending zest to the
many drives.
Much more might be added of historic
interest and of present attractions, but,
our purpose being simply to present one of
the many places visited by Wash
ington, we have more than fulfilled our in
t%ention. Let not one of these old land
marks be forgotten. If would be well if
every schoolboy might trace at the distance
of a hundred years the footprints of Wash
ington to the end of his life.-Cor. New
York Mail and Express.