Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-11
WHERE WARRINGTON SLEPT.
Centennial Celebration On Re Held In So
lean. n. G., Next Month

centennial Celebration On Re Held In So
lem. n. C., Next Month.
az THE Sisr OF NEXT MONTH THERE
~ VIII be . centennial celebration In the
town Of Salem, n. c.. TO commemorate the one
hundredth anniversary Of the visit 90 that
place Of George Washington. the first President
OF the United States. He remained there bat
one night. but IL event in the history Of
that little town that will never be forgotten and
preparations for the coming celebration are
actively going on.
The old Salem Hotel IL place OF much in
terest 10 strangers by virtue % the fact that
there is a room held sacred where George WASH
ington slept during his stay in Salem. Tho
tavern" il Was Familiarity termed in those
days. was the social center Of the town. II was
the customary resort of the burghers. who reg
ularly congregated about the large fireplace Of
the public room in winter or on the long veranda
in summer TO discuss the affairs Of the place
and gen raj news of the day they smoked.
The parties who leased il were required 20
sign a written document pledging themselves
TO be Agreeable and polite 20 all strangers, 20
keep an entirely clean and inviting house OF
entertainment, 20 watch the domestics carefully
that they may be polite and obiiging and not
demand any extra gratuity, and in case they are
found guilty OF asking for money 10 dismiss
CURED mot to allow gambling. fighting, swear
ing, immoral conduct or the assembling OF
minors on Sundays, or TO permit the use OF
splrituous liquors to persons intoxicated or any
excess OF drinking on the premises.
After the Salem Female Academy became .
success examination day was the great event OF
the year. As there were no railway facilities
ne wealthy southern planters came IN elegant
coaches. with r train Of colored servants and
nne horses. the like OF which has never been
seen since tie civil wa NJ largo hotel ward
was literally packed with carriages IL would
be difficult to describe those times. when south
ern aristocracy was at it's zenith. and nowhere
else at that time could be found so great a cob
lection OF wealth. beauty. all the courtly
graces and chivslric bearing which character
lied southerners in ''ante-bellum days"
wAsHINGroS's ROOM.
The buildings are four in number. The large
red bricks are Of immense size, the walls NJ
thick feudal castle and the queer saddle
roof with dormer windows was then surmounted
by a cupola aud bell. The chimneys have inn
mense freplaces and the kitchen paved with
blocks of stone. The property was afterward
purchased and kept for years as place OF en-
tertainment for man and beast But IL Is now
used a hotel. the rooms being rented IN
suites. The room occupied by George Wash
ington is in the main building on the second
floor and opens on a large square hall which
leads out on the long verRndR IN front. IL is
about eighteen feet square. low pitched ceiling
and the floor made of thick planks twenty
inches wide hewn from forest trees and slick
with the tread OF many feet. The walls are
plastered and kept clean by whitewash. The
small windows four IN number, have deep en-
brasures and are about four feet from the toor.
The large fireplace across one corner OF tie
room has been reduced in size, but the tall.
narrow mantel shelf remains as Il was origin
ally fashioned The room has two doors many
panneled. both opening on the same hall one
of which, however has been temporarily closed
with curtains by the present occupant. Miss
Winters. who Is constantly interrupted by
curious visitors. many from distance. wishing
to see the bed room occupied quite 100 years
ago by the first President of the United States
THE OCCASION on wAsHSGroN's VISIT.
This notable occurrence was on the Slst Of
Nav, 1891. George Washington, accompanied
by his secretary, Major jackson, arrived at
Salem on the afternoon Of that day, and rs he
drove up in front of 1.-The tavern" large and
enthusiastic crowd greeted him with hearty
cheers and shouts of welcome. Alighting from
his coach he removed his three-coruered hat.
and. bowling gracefully. said in response 10
their cordial greeting: after all. kiud people,
am but a citizen of our good republic and
man like you all thank you for the honor
shown me-"
Making a few other pleasant remarks he en-
tered the hotel amidst repeated cheers and en-
| loved the lavish hospitality awaiting 90 dis
| tinguished a guest. During tins trip he rode
| in a large white chariot drawn by four horses.
two-horse baggage wagon followed -Four
sa Idle horses supplied his servants, one al
| them leading horse for the President when he
wished to change. leaf from Mashingtons
diary relative to his yisit TO salem Az interest
ing reading.
ALEAF FROM HIS journal.
1t runs thus: salem is a small but neat VII
lage and like all the rest Of the Morsvian set
Elements is governed by an excellent police,
having within itself all kinds Of artisans. The
number Of souls does not exceed 200.
"Wednesday, June 2, having received infor-
| nation that Gov. Martin was on has way 10 meet
| me and would be at Salem this evening. re-
solved 20 await his arrival at this place instead
| of hating a day at Guilford, AZ had Intended;
spens the forenoon in visiting the shops OF diff
ferent tradesmen. the houses OF acoommods-
ton for the single men and sisters OF the ira
ternitv and their place OF worship; invited six
OF their principal people to dine with me, and
in the evening went TO hear them sing and
perform on a variety of instruments church
music. In the afternoon Gov. Martin and has
secretary arrived
Here the diary ends.
The quaint. old-fashioned spinet or piano
which furnished the music at his reception in
Salem is now in the Salem museum, near the
old tavern" with many other treasured
relics associated with that memorable event.
The presidential party LETT Philadelphia March
81. l79l, and returned far Mount Vernon
June Il, having made the journey Of more than
!, 200 miles in sixty days.
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