Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-30
DAUGHTERS FAVOR BILL
YORKTOWN TO JAMESTOWN
HIGHWAY PROPOSED.
Patriotic Women Would Open His
toric Section to Tourists by Pro.
viding Good Roads.

viding Good Roads.
The National Society of the Daughters
of the American Revolution is greatly
interested in the passage of the bill re-
Gently presented to Congress which pro
vides for an appropriation to build a
military highway from Yorktown 20
Jamestown. via Williamsburg, Va, ac-
cording to Mrs. George Thomas Small
wood state regent of the District Chapter.
The Daughters believe that, as the gov
eminent has erected monuments at both
yorktown and jamestown, thereby show
ing appreciation of these historic spots, it
should complete the work by making
them readily accessible.
The present road, twelve miles in
length, is bad. transportation expensive
and SLOW and accommodations nil. \
good macadam road from Yorktown TO
Jamestown would enable the tourist of
average means to see all these points OF
interest in one day, with comfort. at an
expense of not over 81. ~ present II
costs several times this sum and takes
the best part of three days,
1t is said to be. impossible tor the coun-
ties of York aid James City to main
tain road of this character, 10 say
nothing of building it.
Historic Interest in Section.
In 1907 the first English-speaking COM
pany came to make d permanent settle
ment in this country, sailing up the James
river and finally landing at jamestown
Island. 1t was here the nation was born.
The government has built sea wall
around the western end of the island to
protect it from encroachng tides. which
have washed away no little part of this
historic landmark. 1t has further en-
HANGED the sentiment attached to the
spot by erecting the monument commem-
orative of the birth of the nation.
Many changes occurred as the years
passed. BY 1889 Williamsburg. previously
known as THE Middle Plantation" be-
came the seat of government. Today
one can see in Williamsburg many his
toric buildings in the best state of pres
ervation which have been in constant use
since their erection in old colonial times.
A brick capitol was built here. This
old building unquestionably figured largely
in the creation of the United States of
America.
Here. too. is the site of the famous
Raleigh Tavern, where Washington. JEFF
ferson Patrick Henry, Peyton Randolph,
first president of the Continental Con-
gress and many others met and started
the flame that finally ended in the Amer
lean revolution. Many homes of these
historic people are still standing, includ-
ing those of several of the signers of
the Declaration of Independence
The courthouse. designed by Sir Chris
topher Wren and built in 1863. has been
in constant use since that date. The
house of the first Masonic lodge. at which
George Washington frequently presided, is
still standing.
The second Oldest institution of learn
ing ID America, William and Mary Col
lege. is here. Among its alumni were
Richard Bland. Dabney Carr. Peyton
Randolph, Thomas Jefferson, John Tyler,
Edmund Randolph, James Monroe and
John Marshall.
Bruton Parish Church.
OF all the buildings Bruton Parish
Church perhaps excels in interest. This
ancient house of worship succeeded the
church at jamestown and is probably the
oldest church standing in America. 1t
was organized in 1882. The church was
built some time between then and 1865.
The present brick church was built in
11l5. The walls of the church are still
standing in their original state. The in
terror and the roof have been repaired
from time to time.
In May, 1905, the work of restoring the
old church to its original form was he
gun and finished for The jamestown Ex-
position in 1907. a bronze lecturn was
Roosevelt. then President of the United
States. King Edward of England sent a
Bible.
The church is also the possessor of
three old communion services-the James
town service pres anteG in 1f1i1, the George
Lady Gooch, which bears the date of
1856.
The bell in the tower bears the date
1861. The parish register has for the
date of it's first entry, 1914.
There are many old tombstones in the
churchyard. The Oldest to be seen now
is of the year 1878
The Old Virginia Gazette.
Williamsburg has also a newspa per
called the Virginia Gazette, founded
in 1886 by William Parks. 1t was the
first paper to publish the Declaration of
Independence and the account Of the sur
render Of Lord iCornWallis at Yorktown.
The paper is stff published.
On the road to Yorktown one passes
through Fort Magruder, a fertilization
built during McClellan's peninsular cam
paign.
In early DAYS Yorktown was an i'm
portant port of entry. 1t boasts of the
first custom house. still i'll a good state
of preservation. Many fortifcat ions may
yet be seen.
The field where CORVALLIS surrendered
is about half mile east of Yorktown.
The Moore house, where the capitulatlon
papers Of surrender were drawn UP, is a
little farther east, and in going there one
passes the National cemetery.
In 1881 the government erected a nonu-
ment to commemorate the victory of
the American army over the British
forces and the beginning of the independ-
ence of the nation
SI.25 Baltimore and Return
Baltimore and Ohio r. r.