Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-07-19
IT STILL STANDS.
"ose IN which Washington wrot.
His Farewell Addres.

ihe House In Which Washington wroe,
his Farewell Address
Inc little state of New Jersey a.
every schoolboy knows. was the seen,
OF many stirring events during the
revolution, and almost every CITY
town and hamlet has, or claims t.
have, landmark of which its inbab;t
anus are very proud and delight tc
point out 10 visitors. AS in MANY othe,
parts OF the country, however, some OF
these monuments, which should have
the greatest claims on the American
people from historical point of view
nave been neglected, apparently for.
gotten and allowed to go to decay and
ruin.
One OF these is the old Berriap bopse
at Rocky Hill. 1t was in this bouse
that WASH lgton resided for n.nv
months and among other acts wrote
MS farewell address to the Continental
army ihe house is an old-fashioned
structure, with large. square rooms
and low ceilings to retain the heat
from the hickory and oak logs burned
In the nlg, open freplaces. At the time
that ten Washington occupied the
house 1t was the homestead of the fam
lily OF Judge John Berrian. one of the
oldest families in the state. which at
that time owned vast tracts of land. OBJ
tanned by grants from the crown.
Judge Berrian, when the clash came.
remained loyal to the American cause.
and his house became the refuge for
Cen Washington on more than one oc-
cRsion.
The old Berrian mansion is located
about quarter of a mile from the vii
lage. on steep bluff overlooking the
Milestone river. The little village of
Rocky Hill is about six miles from
Princeton as the crow flies. Off the old
post road and located in among the
densely-wOOded hills of Somerset coun-
ty. 1t was known to the CORVALLIS er
his soldiers, and after the battles of
Trenton and Princeton was Just the
place for Washington and his handful
of continentals to retire to for rest and
refuge
Washington afterward returned at
different periods to Rocky Hill during
the progress of the war. but the long
est time he resided in the Berrian house
was from June, 1883. to the following
November. This was just after con-
gress adjourned at Trenton to meet
at Princeton in the old college
buildings. and here Washington was
summoned to meet them. Accompan MED
by Mrs Washington and part of his
military family, Washington took uE
his residence IN the old Berrian house.
The general and his staff rode daily
over the seven miles of road to Prince.
ton, whore congress was in session.
Gen. Washington evidently found life
exceedingly restful and pleasant in the
Berrian house, and found time to in
dulge in the simple social recreations
of the neighborhood. Among the pco-
pie he called upon was the family of
John Van Horn. wealthy farmer,
with whom was staying at that time
the noted painter, Dunlap The latter.
in his "reminiscences of Washington.
mentions the agreeable surprise among
the people over the pleasant discovery
that the general possessed liking for
social pleasures and could appreciate
joke by laughing as heartily as other
men. 1t was supposed that Washing
ton was always serious ana grave.
Gen. Washington and Mrs. Washing
ton were still living in the Berrian
house on November =. 1888. and while
there the general wrote his farewell
address to the little army of patriots.
Washington left Rocky Hill at the end
of November and went to Newburg to
prepare for his triumphant entry with
his army into New York. 1t is proba-
BILE that he never returned to the old
Berrian house on Rocky Hill. although
he left behind him many interesting
"reminiscences of his prolonged stay
there.
About fifteen years ago the land and
house was purchased by David III.
Mount. a wealthy miller in the village.
Later it was sold to Martin A. Howell.
of New Brunswick. n. j.. Mr.
Howell made many necessary re-
pairs to the old Berrian house.
but by the removal of the great two
story veranda in front of it. which was
supported. as were those of most colo
NAL houses of pretensions. by large
round pillars. it lost its characteristic
picturesaueness. The1 architectural
beauty of the old colonial style of
house. with it's comfortable, hospita bic
look. has been entirely lost. and the
house looks to-day like many other
farmhouses. built for use only. 1t is
now occupied by Michael Hines. boss
uuarryman, and his family. They re-
we're the memory of Washington even
more than others that have lived in the
house since he occupied it. and delight
to show visitors through tn. y. Tri-