Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-02-02
HISTORIC OLD TOWN.

Norfolk, Vs., Feb. 2.-0ne of the
decided points Of interest to visitors to
the Jane stown Exposition which opens
April &c, will be the quaint historic old
town Of Williamsburg, less than an
hours ride by rail and ferry from the
exposition.
Midway between jamestown, on the
James,, and yorktown, on the York,
aud but few miles from either place,
this old town has more historical asso-
Citations clustering about lis old-fsshion-
ed houses, its groves of mulberry and
linden trees and its college, court house
and palace greens, than about any other
in America. 1t received its charter
from The hing and is the Oldest incorpo-
rated town in the United States, its his
tory being almost identical with the his
tory of the nation. 1t has lived TO see
its sister village of jamestown fall into
decay and lie buried beneath the ruins
of two hundred years. 1t was the capi'
tai of the colony OF Virginia for nearly
q century and was the center of the ex-
citing scenes preceding the revolution.
The old town has been the residence
of more persOnages OF worldwide in
terest than any other on earth. Among
these are five presidents of the Uuited
States, four signers or the Declaration
of independence three signers of the
federal constitution, one Chief Justice
of the Uoiled States, one Judge OF the
Supreme Court and long line OF COVER
nors, cabinet officers aud the like. 1t
was really the "Cradle of Liberty" for
here in the old Capitol, or House Of Bur
gesses, gathered Patrick Henry, Wash
ington, Richard Henry Lee, Peyton,
John and Edmund Randolph, Benjamin
Harrison and many other patriots of
colonial fame, who made their pleas for
better treatment from the mother country
and from the old Raleigh tavern which
stood near the capital, was sent out the
call 10 the other colonies which resulted
in the first continental Congress,
The ruins Of the Capitol are at one
end Of Duke OF Gloucester street and
the College of William and Mary is at
the other, and when President Washing
ton planned the present capital city Of
the nation, he had the Duke of Glou-
chester street in old Williamsburg in
mind and the beautiful Pennsylvania
Avenue with the Capitol at one extremity
and the Width House at the other, was
the result.
Williamsburg is very closely connected
with the history of George Washington
aud with the history of the nation
as we'll From here young Washington
set out on that memorable trip through
the wilderness as the special messenger
of Governor Dinwiddie, to the French
on the Ohio; here he came as bashful
young member of the House of Burgess
es; here he brought bis beautiful wife,
the widoR of DaUiel Parke Gusts, and
whose home had also been in Williams
burg, and here also he came with La
fayeIte and rode with that great French
general at the head of the allied armies
of the colonies and of France, from
Williamsburg to Yorktown to capture
COrnwsllis.
The town and community abound ia
romance and history and the many OBJ
jects of antiquity afford themes for days
of study and research. The debtors
prison, the only one Of its kind in exis-
tence in America; the old powder mag
azine, the court house, one hundred and
fifty years old and still in use, the Col.
lege of William and Mary, the Oldest in
the United States, except Harvard, are
all of national interest.
The old Bruton Church is one OF the
most interesting places ofthe old capital.
For two hundred years its bell has tol-
ed the death of the old year and rnng in
the new for the generations as they have
come and gone. Through its ancient
tower entrance passed the court process
si0ns of colonial days, the governors
with emblazoued emblems betokeningth the
authority aud majesty of Old Englsnd's
kings and qneenS Ii has been aplly call
ed the Westminster Abbey OF the New
World, for in the surrounding churchyard |
and under the church as well. not only
do the crude forefalhers OF the hamlet |
sleep" bat long line Of those whose
Dames are known to earthly fame, and as
the visitor reads from marble slab or
memorial tablet, he can well realize that
he is reading from the psges of his coun-
try's history.
The opportunity to visit this historic |
Landmark which will be afforded during !
the jamestown Exposition, will no doubt |
be improved by nearly every visitor, and
a mingling with the historical associations
of Williamsburg, jamestown and York
town, will leud deeper appreciation
aud enchantment to the scenes of splen-
dor and magnifcence OF the greatest of
all naval, military and industrial expo
siticns.
Does Coffee disagree with you Probably |
Il does Then try DR.. Shoop's Health Coffee.
Health Coffee" is q clever combination of
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