The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-09-13
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RED HILL

of Campbell and Charlotte
- counties, Is q splendid colonial
mansion, green-blnded and with n
orass-knockered doorway that opens on
!, formal box-hedged pathway flanked
BY sun dial at the end of the walk.
[t Is only one of hundreds of historic
homes In this beautiful state. but as
"Red HILL" the last home and resting
place of Patrick Henry, It is beloved
by every yirgininn and Is also regard
ed as n shrine by all patriotic Ameri-
cans from coast to coast. 3,
The Red Hlll Of yesterday consisted
Of n 2,000-acre plantation, thus named
because of the red-brcwn soil. For two
years after Patrick Henry bought the
place he divided his time between 1t
and his Long Island plantation 20 miles
further up the river. Meantime, how
ever, he became SO attached to Red
Hill that he decided TO spend the re-
mainder of his days there. and accord
lngly removed there in 1896, making
no changes In the architecture Of the
old revolutionary house except TO add
n shed In order that he might hear the
patter Of the rain on the roof, writes
Louise r.. Dew. I'm Grit.
The Red Hill of today has been re-
Gently remodeled along colonial lines,
but adjacent 10 the house stands the
same little hlp-roofed "cookhouse" or
kitchen, always a feature of the ante
bellum home. and over which presided
red-turbanned. whlte-haired Aunt
Becky" and her klnky-headed minlons,
nll OF whom loved and reverenced the
"marster" with all his kith and kin.
His Office and Tomb.
Nearby, stands the diminutive "of-
Ace" in which Patrick Henry transact
ed all the plantation affairs. Further
on, at the end OF the old-fashioned gar
den inclosed by n lockwood hedge 80
feet square, lie his remains marked by
an oblong slab of marble bearing the
inscription of his name, the date OF his
birth and death, and the simple words :
Ellis Name Is His Best Epltnph."
Under the adjoining slab rest the re-
mains OF his wife, Dorothea cambridge,
TO whom he left his estate for life as
follows:
'T do give to my said wife all my
lands Mt and adjoining my dwelling
place called Red Hlll. to be
held during her life with 20 slaves, her
choice of them all. At her death the
said lands are to be divided at her dis
cretion."
From that day to this the home of
Patrick Henry has been jealousy
guarded by his descendants.
In the restoration of Red Hin the
colonial character of the building has
been preserved and added to without
In any way departing from the lines
which Patrick Henry knew and loved
The woodwork inside the house II
white; tall mantels and big fireplace'
add TO Its quaint character. The bras
locks represent part of the fee In thu
famous Randolph case when Patrlcl
Henry saved the life of Richard, broth
er OF that eccentric genius John Ran
dolph of Roanoke. The old-fnshione,
garden has been restocked with shrub
from Mount Vernon and the landscar
ing done by the brother of the gar
dener at Mount Vernon who was his II
structor.
Has a Beautiful Location.
Red Hill Is superbly situated. q
the north 1t looks out upon the Blu
Ridge with the lofty peaks of the Ottc
plainly visible although 60 miles dl
tant; on the south serpentine stretc
OF the Staunton valley, varying
width from quarter of a mile to
nf l.A nj. .tI. nal In
with giant oaks and holly trees fro
which the Spanish moss trails and ga
lands like fantastic Druidicl beard
1t was recently my privilege to Wis
In Richmond, Va, at Rosecroft, Il
nome of Mrs. Elizabeth Henry Lyon
great-granddaughte of Patrick Iienr
who Inherited with her brothers Re
Hill, and to see there many relies
her famous ancestor besides numero'
letters and documents yellowed Wi
age and creased by times fingers.
There stands In bas-rellef n d,
spent In visiting the historic spots
Richmond. One incident particular
Is recalled with peculiar significant
Mt this crisis In our world affairs. Re
erently sitting In the cathedral-twlllg
of old ST. Johns church. in the We
pew where Patrick Henry stood wh'
he delivered his famous speech hefo
the second Virginia convention, Mare
20, IT'S, closed my eyes, picturing d
scene as 1t must have appeared tn
day so long ago. There were all q
great men Of the day, including Geor
Washington, Jefferson and many ot
ers, some OF whom had travelled lol
distances to be present, filling the peN
20 overfiowing, even to the windo
ledges outside, and In their midst
orator delivering himself OF words
fire. even as did st. Paul ut Athens
old. Suddenly voice broke my revei
and the stiffness of the church. 1t W
our old guide repeating the words Pi
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