Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-01-03
STILL STANDING.
The House in Which Washington
Wrote His Farewell Address.
Some Interesting Facts About the His-
tortc Structure Once Occupied by
the First President of the
United States.

The state of New Jersey, as every
schoolboy knows, was the scene of
many stirring events during the revolu-
tion, and almost every city, town and
hamlet has, or claims to have. land
mark of which It's inhabitants are very
proud and delight to point out to Wis
itors. As in many other parts of the
country, however, soiae of these monu-
ments, which should have the greatest
claim on the American people from
historical point Of view. have been neg
lected, apparently forgotten and al
lowed to 20 to decay and ruin. One Of
these is the old Berrian house at Rocky
Hill. 1t was in this house tina: Wash
ington resided for many months. and
among other acts wrote his farewell
address to the continental army. The
house, says the New York Tribune, is
an old fashioned structure, with large,
square rooms aud low ceilings to re-
tain the heat from the hickory and
oak logs burned in the big, open fire.
places At the time that Gen. Wash
ington occupied the house il -=Ss~the
homestead Of th%-<a--1ii7T-T7 OF Judge John
Ber-i--1r,1 one of the Oldest families in the
state, which at that time owned vast
tracts of land, obtained by grants from
the crown. Judge Berrian, when the
clash came, remained loyal to the
American cause. and his house became
q refuge for Gen. Washington on more
than one occasion. The old Berrian
mansion is located about Il quarter of a
mile from the village, 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 county it was unknown to
CORVALLIS or his soldiers, and after the
battles of Trenton and Princeton was
Just the place for Washington and his
handful of contineptals to retire to for
rest and refuge.
Washington afterward returned at
different periods to Rocky Hill during
the progress of the war, but the longest
time he resided in the Berrian house
was from June, 17S3, to the following
November. This was just after con-
gress had adjourned at Trenton to meet
at Princeton in the old college build
ings, and here Washington was sum-
noned to meet them Accompanied by
Mrs. Washington and n part of his mil
itary family, Washington took up his
residence in the old Berrian house. The
general and his staff rode daily over
the seven miles of road to Princeton,
where congress was in session. Gen.
Washington evidently found life ex-
eeedingly restful and pleasant in the
Berrian house. and found time to in
dulge in the simple social recrcations
of the neighborhood. Among the peo-
pie he called upon was the family OF
John Van Horn, wealthy farmer,
with whom was staying at the time the
noted painter, John Dunlap. The lat
ter, In his "reminiscences of Washing
ton. mentions the agreeable surprise
among the people over the pleasant
discovery that the great general pos
sessed liking for social pleasures and
could appreciate joke by laughing as
heartily as other men. 1t was supposed
that Washington was always serious
and 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 prob
able that he never returned to the old
Rerrian 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 were purchased by David FL.
Mount, wealthy miller in the village.
Later it was sold to Martin A Howell,
of New Brunswick, n. j. Mr.. Howell
made many necessary repairs 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 colonial houses of pre-
tensions, by large, round pillars, it
lost its characteristic picturesqueness-
The architectural beauty of the old
colonial style of house, with its COM
Portable, hospitable look, has been en-
tirely lost and the house looks to-day
like many other fa- mhouses, built for
use only. 1t is now occupied by
Michael Hines, boss quarryman, and
his family. They revere the memory
of Washington even more than others
that have lived in the house since he
occupied it, and delight to show visit
ors through it.