New-York tribune., 1907-01-13

oclastic investors IN real estate, Recently Fort
Johnson, the stone house which he erected two
or three miles west OF Amsterdam on the Mo-
hawk River, through the generosity OF John
Watts de Peyster became the property OF the
Montgomery County Historical Society. 4 few
days ago the state came into possession OF the
old rectangular building erected later by him
In 1853 ten miles away from the fort at the
village in Fulton County which was afterward
named for him. Johnstown. With this building
| IT also secured the old blockhouse built by him
about the time.
On the suggestion OF the American Historic
and Scenic Preservation Society the last session
OF the Legislature authorized tho purchase OF
the property. After considerable discussion as
to whether the blockhouse should be taken also
the commissioners appointed acquire the
property took both from Mrs. Sabra Wells
Burr, Of Fonda. y. Y, a descendant OF the
great Indian pecifer. for $4,000. The place IS
to be cared for by the Johnstown Historical
Society. IN whose custody II has been placed
| the cost OF maintenance TO be betrayed event
ually by the state.
1t is the impression OF some persons that Sir
! William did not intend Johnson Hall to be hts
last home. that he Intended IT to be only a tenn
! porary structure which should serve until he
| could build a manoriel house suited to his
! wealth and influence and his dignity as the
! holder OF more than one hundred thousand acres
| Of land. Johnson Hall was built after the plan
| OF Fort Johnson. but 1t Of wood The clap
| boards cut with beveiled edges in order
TO make them look like stone. There was the
| same wide hall and open staircase; each story
=. vas divided into four rooms two large square
and two long, narrow rooms. The walls were
panelled and wainscoted. although not to the
extent Of those at Fort johnson. The site OF
hl1il linn N.-aS
| creek, and in each the buildings were To-
| Gated on a wide expanse OF meadow land Each
building had its kitchen and servants quar-
ters outside. constructed of stone and In eacb
case the lawn in front was set with locust trees
and lilac bushes
Although In its day johnson Hall was con-
sidered a great house, 1t does not seem so largo
! in these days. 1t has been so changed from
Its original plain design by the addition O., q
! cupola, bay windows and porches that one
| would hardly recognize 1t from the early cuts
| OF IT.
feature OF the house which has a legendary
| interest IS the hatchet Scared banister O, tba
stairs According to the story, II it be true. Sir
William was not always master of the Indians
notwithstanding his reputation In that resnect
at least among those OF his own household On
one occasion Joseph Brant the celebrated Mo-
naWk chieftain and the brother OF Molly Bra n
| the mother of eight Of Sir Williams children.
was at the house While Joseph's chsracter
was such that one would not expect him to
become angry at his benefactor. the man who
had given him an education, yet II is said ths +
on this occasion while at Sir Williams house
he drew his tomahawk. Sir William retreated
UP the stairs and succeeded In placing strong
door between himself and his pursuer There
| being no way OF venting his wrath ON hi, host
Brant strobe down the stairs hewing chips from
| the rail- ~
During the eleven years that Sir William ljvad
there the scenes enacted about Il were pictu
rescue. Here he kept open house" In hsroniaI
style. Notwithstanding the fact that the mistress
OF the house was an unlettared although ar in
| telligent Indian woman. all Of the prominent Wis
itors to America came to Johnson Hall They
were astonished at the quality of the ,ia nd.
served at this wilderness home nv tho bn.. IS
servants at Sir Williams command Az alrnost
any time one might have seen Indiana enca ", Nc
upon his grounds eating their simple food ahout
| their fires and Indian runners coming ana So,n.
The Indians were not confined to the grounds
They were welcomed to the house In Decsmho,
1864, according to letter he wrote ever,, 80"
in his house was filled with Indians ana tSon
was prospect OF visits within few n. -. 20
delegations from the Shawnees and DelaTaro.
The death OF the man who believed that -
square deal was the proper basis for treat
ment of the Indians, and whose results seen,sd
to have proved It, occurred in Johnson Hail az
ter a long and firing speech to six hundred " :
dlans, who had assembled to invoke HIS fnfIu
ence to prevent the invasion Of the Indian com
try on the Ohio. He had long been Ill from a
on July day In 1774 brought on cerebral auo-
piexy. His Oldest son. Sir John Johnson was at
Fort johnson. ten miles away. A half breed son