Evening journal., 1911-04-24
VALLEY FORGE
The SAME TOWN
No More Historic Ground in
the COuEtry Than
This

Between 100000 and 100000 persons
visit Valley Forge every year, SAYS
the Boston Post. Everything possible
has been done TO attract them. On
the hills where Washingtons army
suffered and bled there are now beau
tifully kept macadam roads and bride
paths that meander through the trees.
BY train. motor bicycle. motorcycle
and afoot the crowds come-but al
ways in the spring lsummer or
autumn. When snow falls fresh mar
vels of beauty are revealed. Only
few, save the fox hunters, ever see
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 garment there is no season of
I the year when the landscape beauties
are eclipsed. Every few steps news
nature pictures are revealed. while
from the hills are long vistas Of roll
ing farm country, Immediately white.
In many places the views do not
| differ greatly from those of that Win-
/ ter Of 1777-7S, when Washington and
his men fought against cold and star
vation. An army of ragamuiins
many Of the troops even without
shoes, poorly and insuficiently nour-
ished, II was almost at miracle that
any Of those patriots survived.
And today the mill in the back
ground of the picture showing Valley
Creek as it emptles into the schuylkln
takes the places Of the old Potts mill,
built before the Revolution. In 1857
John Potts, a Quaker built the Mount
Joy forge, an iron plant that gave en-
ployment TO many men and teams.
Back Of the mill, almost a quarter Of
a mile or so. was this original old
forge, which gave the place its name.
When the Revolution broke out the
property. including a stone house near
the creeks mouth, had passed into
the possession OF Isaac Potts. a son Of
the purchaser, and General Washing
ton used this house for his head
quarters.
Valley creek. with its beautiful re-
Elections, runs through the grounds Of
the country home of Secretary OF
State Knox Near here was the head.
/ quarters of General Knox in Revolu-
| tionary times. Valley creek is especi-
lly prolific Of fine views both In win
ter and summer. and none is prettier
/ than those through the trees Of the
roadway where II curves at right
angles from the direction Of Secre-
/ tary KnoX's home toward the Schuyl-
kill river. Here the effect Is not uu-
/ like 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 intrench-
/ ments and the like. Along the Schuyl-
kill runs one road which is particu-
larly lovely, both in winter and sum
mer Il threads its way along the
| sides Of the hills until II reaches Fort
Washington. which overlooks one II
the finest views in Chester county.
There is no moro historic ground IN
I the country than this. The very
1 mention OF the Revolution suggests
( Valley Forge the scene Of its greatest
crisis And the work Of beautifying
and improving It is continually pro-
! crossing. But recently il was that
! Congress was urged to pass a bill
granting 100000 for the erection Of
! suitable memorial arches. Already
memorial chapel and a museum are
under way, IN addition to historic
buildings that are maintained as
nearly as possible in their original
condition