Omaha daily bee., 1911-03-25
NO CHANGE IN VALLEY FORGE
washinEton's Famous Camp Attracts
Thousands OF visitors
Annually.

Between 10000 and 10000 persons visit
valley Forge every year. Everything
possible has been done to attract them
on the hills where Washington's
army suffered and bled there are now
beautifully kept macadam roads and
bride paths that meander through the
trees. by train. motor. bicycle, motorcycle
and afoot the crowds come-but always
in the spring. summer and autumn When
snow falls. fresh mRrvels OF beauty are
revealed Only few, save the fox hunters,
ever sec them.
Winter changes everything. Autumn
leaves the hills and the trees gaunt and
bare. But when the first fall Of snow
covers the country like a fresh, clean gar
ment, there r. no season OF the year when
the landscape beauties are eclipsed Every
few steps new nature pictures are long
vealed. while from the hills are long
vistas OF rolling farm country. immacu-
lately white.
In many places the views do not differ
greatly from those of that winter OF 11l1-
177s, when Washington and his men fought
against cold and starvation. An army of
ragamufflns. many of the troops even
without Shoes poorly and insufficientiy
nourshed. It was almost a miracle that
any OF those patriots survived.
And today the mill in the background Of
the picture showing Valley creek as It
emptes into the Schuylkill takes the
place Of the old Potts mill, built before
the revolution. In 1757 John Potts, a
Quaker, built the Mount Joy forge, an
iron plant that gave employment to many
men and teams. Back Of the mill, almost
quarter OF a mile or so, was this original
old forge, which gave the place it's name.
When the revolution broke out, the prop
erty, including a stone house near the
creeks mouth, had passed into the posses
sion Of Isaac Potts, a son of the pur-
chaser, and General Washington used this
house for his headquarters.
Valley creek, with it's beautiful refleo-
tons. runs through the grounds of the
country home Of Secretary Of State Knox.
near here was the headquarters of
General Knox in revolutionary times. Val
! ley creek is especially prolific of fine
views both in winter and summer, and
none is prettier than those through the
trees Of the roadway where It curves at
right angle from the direction of Secre-
tary Knox's home toward the Schuylkill
river. Here the effect is not unlike that
of the Delaware water gap
! For miles, literally, along roads and
pathways one may wander in the snow,
either afoot or on horseback, winding
through old forts. intrenchments and the
like Along the Schuylkill runs one road
which is particularly lovely, both in win
ter and summer, It threads its way along
the sides OF the hills until It reaches Fort
Washington, which overlooks one OF the
| finest views in Chester county.
There is no more historic grounds in the
country than this The very mention OF
the revolution suggests Valley Forge, the
scene Of it's greatest crisis. And the work
Of identifying ana improving It is con-
tinually progressing. But recently It was
that congress was urged to pass a bill
granting $4,000 for the erection of suit
able chapel and a museum are under
| way. in addition to historic buildings that
are maintained as nearly as possible In
their original condition.-Boston Post.