The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-21
INK OLD HOUSE IN BLOOMFIELD.

N...|.NfAIO uINANN ANNN0 % t
answer to my inquiry confirmed the
thought that had como TO me In some
mysterious way.
1T doesn't look now as il ii ever had
that honor, does ity' asked my infor-
mant.
had 10 confess that it did not. ]
could easily imagine that it might have
sheltered ghosts or that a witch may
have once made 1t her home. l could
almost fancy that 1 saw her lean and
whitened visage peering through the
narrow dormer in the middle of the
LONG. moss covered roof, OF her thin,
bonv hand thrust through one OF the
windows on either side of the old
weather beaten porch.
But there was nothing about it but
the two tall naples in front that sug
rested the dignity and stateliness that
the American always couples with the
name Of Washington. 1t was low, only
q single story in height, and from where
stood. beyond the old trees, 1t looked
small and cramped-
NO. sir; the house is not so small a.
o. think. 1t has a frontage Of nearly
fifty feet, and its depth Is fully thirty
There Is. besides, an annex on the wesl
side in the rear twenty feet square. tn,
roof used TO cover big families in thoss
good old times when a dozen children
gladdened and sometimes saddened the
hearts Of the pioneers. There are q
good many children shouting ane
screaming in the yard and on the wall
now, but they belong to the three fam
lies that now live in the house.
In the days Of the Revolution it wa
"A Of the finest residences IN this pari
Of the country. True enough, there
were not ut that time many houses II
BlOomheld-nOt more than a scOre-bul
most of them were Of logs. This IS,
however, Of stone, as you see; and i
you look at it closely you viii see alst
that the stone in front and on the north
SIDE toward the street are cut and laic
in courses; those on the other two sides
are rough and laid without any regular
ity. The wide hallway that runs from
the front entrance 10 the rear still re-
tains marks of its ancient glory. The
casings and wide window seats in the
two rooms on each side of the hall are
not without marks of a luxury that WA
unusual in a farmhouse a century ago.
THE old freplaces with their man
tells. that have been removed TO MAXI
room for the tenants that o crowd 1t
would have brought JOY TO the heart OF
the Colonial householder could they
have been transferred in their primitive
size and beauty TO his hall and library
The eight or nine rooms up stairs are
not large, it is true, but they are mol
smaller than those Of Washington's
mansion at Mount Vernon. The annex
in the rear is not elegant; but dare say
it was as convenient and useful to it,
Colonial owners as the old kitchen OF
the Potomac. Like the main part OF
the house itself, this part has been cui
up and changed a good deal to suit the
needs Of tenants. We're Washington tC
return l fear that he would recognize
but little that met his eyes when a Mr..
Cadmus, who then owned 1t, welcomed
him to his fireside."
Even had the old house been as dilapi
dated as 1t is now, | do not think thai
Washington would have regarded it as
an unwelcome shelter. However par
tcular he may have been about his sur.
-roundings after he laid down his sword,
be- was not able to give much thought
% them at the time of his visit to Bloom.
field toward the close of 1916. Never
during his life was his mind and body
more severely taxed. "Such is my situ-
alton" he said, "that if l were TO wish
the bitterest curse 10 an enemy on this
side Of the grave, l should put him IN
my stead with my feelings"
ut was at this time" continued my
informant. that Washington stopped
at the old storehouse IN Bloomfield. Ex-
hausted from a hard days riding direct
ing the retreat Of his little army, he rode
up TO an old succeed house that now
stands on Franklin street, near the cen
Ter Of the village. Here he hoped TO
find food and fire and rest for the night
But be was disappointed; the house was
already occupied by General Green and
ms staff. Although some Of the subor-
dinato officers offered 10 withdraw ana
thus make Don for him, no refused 10
accept their self sacrifice.
Continuing along the road TO the
west he came to the old stone house.
The family had eagerly espoused the
cause Of the patriots on the outbreak Of
tho war. Gladly therefore did they well
come the stalwart officer that sought
their hospitality. Thrice welcome did
they make him when they learned that
he was the great general that they had
heard SO much about. Tradition says
that Mr.. CadInus entertained him three
days, but that can hardly be true, for
the British troops were seeking with all
possible haste to overtake and over
"aolm him and his wearied and dis
Hcartened army.
But the great man was not there
iQng enough 10 show a side OF bis heart
mat Is seldom spoken Of. Occupied AZ
10 must have been with the innumera.