Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-03-02
VALLEY FORGE TO
BE A NATIONAL PARK.

II a national reservation, like many Of
the battleiields OF the Civil war.
The prospectus of the association
having the matter in charge cites as the
organization object the arousing OF
public sentiment In the preservation OF
the historic camp, and explains that a
small portion Of the ground, 2lIl2 acres
in all, has been acquired by Pennsyl-
vania, also that the headquarters OF
Washington are being well cared for by
patriotic body formed at the centen-
NAL Of Valley Forge, but that the real
historic part of the field, on which were
bivouacked the officers and soldiers, is
now In the hands Of private owners.
What this association plans to do.
the prospectus continues lis TO secure
the passage of bill now before Con-
gress which provides for the acquisi-
ton of the entire field, its restoration
to the condition In which 1t was during
the occupancy Of the Continental army
and its construction as a military park,
Under the control Of the war depart
Llent."
Many distinguished citizens were
present at the first meeting of the as
ISOLATION at Independence hall, Phila-
delphIa, on December 10, the anniyer-
sary of the entry of the army under
Washington into encampment at Valley
Forge. Besides distinguished citizens,
there were present representatives Of
the following patriotic orders;
The Cincinnati, Colonial Danes Sons
OF the Revolution, Daughters Of the
Revolution, Sons Of the American
Revolution. Daughters of the American
Revolution, Mayaower Defendants.
New England Society. Patriotic Sons
Of America, Brotherhood Of the Onion,
Junior Order of American Mechanics,
Patriots and Founders. Daughters of
the Cincinnati, Society of the War OF
1872, Society of Colonial Wars, Grand
Army OF the Republic and Daughters
Of Liberty
great demonstration has been plan
ned in this important interest 10 take
pace at Valley Forge on June is next,
at which President Mckinley will de-
liver an grafton. Probably all the gov
errors of the states will be present and
many OF the State militia. A grand re-
enactment of some OF the more thrill
ing of the historic occurrences will also
take place. and in other ways the oc-
casion is to be made one OF absorbing
interest.
Valley Forge IL only twenty-four
miles from Philadelphia. Young trees
have taken the place OF the great for
est giants under which the Continental
soldiers marched, but otherwise the
rolling camp ground, with It's woods
and meadows. its raylnes and natural
observation points. is like IL was In the
days when Washington chose 1t as a
winter camp. Even on the banks Of the
camp-ground, the visitor is impressed
by the antiquity, the ruined condition
OF the place The old mill and the
brick house where the operatives lived
are empty and falling TO pieces. and the
naked window openings look upon the
creek and Mt. Misery which are as
quiet now as in the days Of ~ only
a short distance from the little station
Is Washingtons headquarters, a WE'LL
preserved brick building which bears
the mark OF the days OF the ReVolu-
ton in all its parts,
The antique door. with massive knobs
and locks. and the windows, with small
iuare Eanes. show the antiquity of the
structure before one enters. The main
hall, furnished with ap old settee. leads
to the reception room. and back OF this
Is the room occupied by Washington as
business Offices. These two rooms have
new floors. but the floors in all the
other rooms Of the building are the
same that were there when in Wash
ington's time. a narrow door leads to
a brick -iloored kitchen, with a roomy
fireplace and log wing which was
built after Washington took posses
sion. A steep stone stairway leads
from the kitchen TO a cellar which was
built by the owner Of the place, John
Potts, as place OF refuge for his fam