The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-11
One of the Features of the Willow
Grove Meet.

Grove Meet.
Visitors to the national meet who desire
to participate in one of the most interest
ing runs of the week-that to Valley Forge
should make 1t point to arrive in Philadel-
phia not later than Tuesday night for the
ride to this spot Qamous in Revolutionary
annals for having Witnessed the terrible
privations of Washington's army during
the winter encampment of 1777-7S) is sched-
uled for Wednesday morning, Aug. 4, the
first day Of the meet.
Not only will the Surroundings at Valley
Forge interest the visitor, but all along the
route. in both directions (the outward trip
will be made via ,Berwyn and Cassatt's
hill, and the return by way OF Gulf Mlls),
many places Of historic and scenic interest
will be passed. and strangers will besides,
be afforded an opportunity of testing the
pike" the oldest stone road in the country.
The round trip distance to Valley Forge
is a trifie over forty miles, and the commit
tee has decided to take all day to 1t. dinner
being eaten at the Forge The start will
be made at about $50 a. M, from head
quarters. and the route will lay directly out
the Lancaster pike. which can be reached
over asphalt-payed streets from any section
of the city.
Overlook, Ardmore Haverford and Bryn
Mawr follow each other in quick succession;
after which come Rosemont. Villa Nova,
Radnor St. David's and Wayne, the latter
a model suburban town. about fifteen miles
from the starting point. Mad Anthony
born in this vicinity. from which fact
the place received its historic name. Con-
tinuing. the run will take the visitors
through Stafford and Devon to Berwyn, eigh-
teen miles; where the famous old highway
must be left to pursue its course to Paoli
and Malvern, while the run turns right
through the charming little village of Ber-
wyn. In a few minutes everyone will be en-
joying the fine view of the fertile Chester
valley he-or she-speeds down a two
mile-long descent of Cassatt's hill. Near
here is the Chesterbrook stock farm famous
the country over for its fine bred horses A
ride of two miles will bring the run to its
objective point. While the midday luncheon
is being discussed the time NAV be profitabIy
employed listening to what Route Man A.
Estocet has to say about Valley Forge than
which few localities are more intimately con-
nected with the existence of the country
Besides. his description contains many
pointers which are invaluable to the
stranger visitor, as they will enable him to
quickly recognize the many places of inter
what tales these woods could tell Ameri
cans about the days when their liberty was
bled for and won! sttT
ct was III their solitude that cd Isaac
Potts heard Washington praying aloud one
day; it was here our forefathers 'rambled for
food with the beasts, of the wood, because
they should not, they would not be slaves.
''See that little spring On your right? II
is usually noticeable by the remnants OF
newspapers and wrapping paper left on the
buff above it by transient lunchers. Tradi-
ton says that Washington. and his starving
men drank Of its waters, and a small sign
once stood here, with the, inscription: Wash
ington Spring. .,R -
"Here on the left stood the old forge, at
one time the only fore in the Sckuylkll val
ley above Philadelphia; and hence known as
the Valley Forge; it was burned by party
of Hessians shortly before, our army encamped
here.
lon the left, across the creek, is the road
to Phoenixville; on the right is our road
home; a few whirls of wheels straight
bring us to Washingtonls. headquarters.
cat the top of the zhillaby the side of the
Washington inn is Mount JOY, that on the
other side of the creek is Mount Misery. A
local legend tells US tfat3Y in his trip to the
Susauehanna in the summer of 17O1, William
Penn lost his way on the height southwest
of the stream, and having recovered it on the
hill we have just climbed he named the one
Mount Misery and the other Mount Joy.
''Of greater interest to us are the scenes
that were enacted here seventy-six years
later ..-@''. ....
Near the summit of the next rise stood
Fort Huntingdon, and the remains of it to
this day will repay visit.
"Three miles southwest of this stood Fort
Washington. Yonder. OH your right, a resi-
dent might show you the old camp school
house.
This grassy lane leading to the left is
Washington lane; 1t goes to the schuylkill,
and was trodden- by our continentalsi 1t
would not take you very long to follow 1t to
the river A few yards to the, right OF where
It It terminates you IN may see a stone mafk k
stone on the northernD bank, that is where
they crossed the srjyer. --i-i.'
''1n those woods away ono the left of the
road before us the alignment of the sol
diers' huts Isl still discernible. Huts they
were, not tents; for the poor fellows who
might have been tracked by the blood Of
their feet as they marched overt the hard,
frozen ground from White Marsh to this
winter quarters, were too ill-clothed to bear
exposure to the inclemency of the weather
under mere tents; and even in these cabins of
logs filled in with mortar they were frequent
ly compelled to sit up huddled close together,
all night long, by the fireside, to keep them
selves warm.
''What think you of the fact that out of
a total of II, coo starving men that Washington
brought here to winter, only 5000 were on
the effective list, and almost 1900 were unfit
for service by reason of their nakedness!
Was there ever a more heroic struggle for
right than the one that was endured on this
spot?"
Although there is a more direct road from
Valley Forge to King-of-PrusSia, the home
change affording not only a charming view
of the picturesque Schuylkill valley, but
better going well-considerations which
will undoubtedly amply repay the rider for
the additional time expended. King-of-
Prussia is a somewhat antiquated hamlet
the old inn having been built in 1853. Three
miles further on the village of Gulf Mills
is reached. A large stone standing by the
roadside bears mute evidence to- the fact
that the main body of Washington's CONT
going into winter quarters at Valley Forge.
1t is but three miles from Gulf Mills to
Bryn Mawr on the Montgomery Pike, which
runs practically parallel to the Lancaster
pike all the way back to the city, and affords
excellent views of the eastern portions of
the many pretty suburban villages which
line the aforementioned highway. The famous
old General Wayne inn is also located on
the visitors will pass through the prettiest
portions of West and East Paramount park.