The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1909-11-05


ed on Mount McGregor ana
- now known as the Grant cot
tage, has been open to the pub
lie. 1t remains to-day as when last
occupied by this illustrious chieftaln.
The bed where the last few hours OF
his life were spent and on which ne
died; the chairs in which, owing to
his inability to lie down, he passed so
many weary hours and in which ne
slept, are all left as they were when
last occupied by him. There are 1our
rooms now open to the publlc-wnal
might be called the reception room,
the dining room Immediately adJolh-
ing, the sick room," where he Slept
in the chairs above mentioned ard
where he received the ministrations Oh
his physicians, and the room occupied
by his secretary as an office, writes H.
F. Knapp, trustee of the Mount NC
Gregor Memorial association, in the
Troy IN. ~ Times.
Since the death of Gen. Grant this
cottage has been visited by many
thousand people. 1t is safe to say
that they number at least 100000, and
they have come from every state In
our union and every civilized country
on the face of the globe. During the
present year it has been visited by
persons from California, Missouri.
North Dakota, Washington, Oregon.
Mississippi, Texas, Illinois, Indiana,
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Delaware. Mary
land, Virginia, South Carolina. Geor-
gia, Florida, New Jersey, Connecticut,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New
Hampshire, Maine and Iowa, and by
parties representing every locality in
our own state of New York. People
have also visited this cottage from
England, Denmark, Sweden. Germany,
Canada, Cuba, Porto Rico and Bermu-
d. Judging from the comments made
by these many thousands of visitors it
is doubtful if any other historic shrine
in this country holds closer place in
the affections of the people at large.
1t is probably well known that this
cottage was originally owned by Jo-
seph w. Drexel of New York. and 1t
was owing to his generosity that Gen.
Grant occupied it for several weeks
previous to his death. 1t is equally
we'll known that after the death OF
Gen. Grant this property was trans
ferred as a gift, reciting the words OF
the act incorporating the Mount Nc
Gregor Memorial association, in
trust, in behalf of the surviving COM
rades in arms of Gen. Grant and the
whole American people"
In the year 1889 bill was passed
by the New York legislature and ap-
proved by the governor Incorporating
the Mount McGregor Memorial asso-
citation. and to this association this
property was transferred by Mr.. Drex-
ell. This act, as subsequently amend
ed. provides for a board of trustees
consisting of five members. This board
is now composed of the following
named gentlemen: William ]. Arkell
of New York. president; Hon. w. T.
Dunmore of Utica; the adjutant gen.
eral of the state of New York, and the
commander of the department of New
York, Grand Army of the Republic, by
virtue of their respective offices, and
r. F. Knapp of Saratoga Springs.
The property owned by the Mount
McGregor Memorial association, how
ever, comprises but small plat of
land. about $50 feet square, upon
which the Grant cottage stands. All of
the surrounding land is owned by
other parties. In November last
sale was made by William Courtney
of New York to Mr.. Johnson of 800
acres of land on Mount McGregor.
This sale includes nearly all of the
land on three sides Of the Grant cot
tage property. Mr.. Johnson made the
purchase for the purpose OF cutting
the wood and timber, and, under the
terms of his contract, there is nothing
to prevent him from cutting all of the
forest away within 30 feet of the cot
.tage wall and leaving the mountain
barren waste. He is reluctant to do
this, but as some of the most valuable
timber in his purchase is within the
immediate vicinity of the cottage he