The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-07-25
1T STILL STANDS.

FROM the New Nork Tribute.
The little state of New Jersey, as
every schoolboy knows, was the scene
OF many stirring events during the
revolution, and almost every city,
town and hamlet has. or claims to
have, a landmark of which its inhabit-
ants are very proud and delight to
point out to visitors. As in many other
parts of the country, however, some Of
these monuments, which should have
the greatest claims on the American
people from historical point of view,
have been neglected, apparently for
gotten and allowed to go to decay and
ruin.
One of these is the old Berriau house,
at Rocky Hill. 1t was in this house
that Washington resided for many
months, and among other acts wrote
his farewell address to the Continental
army. The 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 big, open firep:aces. At the time
that Gen. Washington occupied the
house it 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 Bcrrian, when the clash came.
remained loyal to the American cause,
and his house became the refuge for
Gen. Washington on more than one oc.
casion.
The old Berrian mansion is located
about quarter of mile from the vii
lage, on a 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 or
his soldiers, and after the battles o!
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 10 Rocky Hill during
the progress of the war. but the long
est time he resided in the Berrian house
was from June, 1888. 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 tomeet them. Accompanied
by Mrs. Washington and part Of his
military family. Washington took up
his residence IN the old Berrian house.
The general and his staff rode daily
over the seven miles of road 10 Prince
ton, where 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 peo-
pie he called upon was the family OF
John Van Horn, a wealthy farmer.
with whom was staying a. 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 q liking fGf
social pleasures and could appreciate
a joke by laughing as heartily as other
nh - 80 AAAaA " ~t.A4ls
ton was always serious and grave.
Gen Washington and Mrs. Washing
ton were stiu living in the BerriaD
house on November ., 17s3. and while
there The general wrote his farewell
address 70 the little army Of patriots.
Washington left Rocky Hill al the ead
OF November and went 20 Nevburg e
prepare for his triumphant entry with [
his army into New York u i proba- .
Die that he never returned % the Old
Rerrian house on Rocky Hi, although
he left behind hira many interesting /
"reminiscences q lis prolonged stay
there.
About ffteeu years ago the land ard i
house was purchased By David II .
Mount. wealthy miller IA the village 1
Later i was sold % Martin A. HoreIl. /
q New brunswick. y J. Mr.
Ho-e}I Elade alzny necessary ~
pairs to the old Berrisa hose. J