The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1917-08-09
RED HILL.

ton river, ut the dividing line
of Campbell and Charlotte
counties, is a splendid colonial
mansion, g~reen-blinded and with a
brass-knockered doorway that opens on
q formal box-hedged pathway flanked
by a sun dial at the end of the walk.
1t 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 Virginian and is also regard
ed as a shrine by all patriotic Ameri-
cans from coast to coast.
The Red Fill of yesterday consisted
Of a 2,000-acre plantation, thus named
because of the red-brown 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
ingly removed there In 1895, making
no changes In the architecture Of the
old revolutionary house except to add
a shed in order that he might hear the
patter of the rain on the roof, writes
Louise r. Dew, In Grit.
The Red Hill of today has been re-
Gently remodeled along colonial lines,
but adjacent to the house stands the
same little hip-roofed "cookhouse" or
kitchen. always a feature of the ante
bellum home, and over which presided
red-turbanned, white-haired aunt
Becky and her kinky-headed minions,
all Of whom loved and reverenced the
'marster" with all his kith and kin.
His Office and Tomb.
Nearby, stands the diminutive "of-
fee" In which Patrick Henry transact
ed all the plantation affairs. Further
on, at the end Of the old-fashioned gar
den inclosed by a lockwood hedge so
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 I:
Ellis Name Is His Best Epitaph."
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 at and adjoining my dwelling
place called Red Hill. 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 Hill 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 is
white; tall mantels and big fireplaces
add to Its quaint character. The brass
locks represent part Of the fee In the
famous Randolph case when Patrick
Henry saved the life Of Richard, broth.
err OF that eccentric genius John RAN
dolph OF Roanoke. The old-fashioned
garden has been restocked with shrubs
from Mount Vernon and the landscap-
ing done by the brother of the gar
dener at Mount Vernon who was his In
structor.
Has a Beautiful Location.
Red Hill is superbly situated. On
the north II looks out upon the Blue
Ridge with the lofty peaks of the Otter
plainly visible although 60 miles dis.
tant; ON the south a ~serpentine stretch
OF the Staunton valley, varying In
width from q quarter Of q mile to 9
mile, the banks Of tine river cleaning
with giant oaks and holly trees from
which the Spanish moss trails and gar.
lands like fantastic Druidical boards
1t was recently my privilege to visit
In Richmond, Va, at Rosecroft, the
home of Mrs. Elizabeth Henry Lyons
great-granddaughter of Patrick Henry
who inherited with her brothers Red
Hill, and to see there many relics OF
her famous ancestor besides numerous
letters and documents yellowed with
age and creased by times fingers.
There stands In bas-relfef q day
spent In visiting the historic spots OF
Richmond. One incident particularly
Is recalled with peculiar significance
at this crisis In our world affairs Rev
erently sitting In the cathedraltwilight
Of old st. Johns church. In the very
pew where Patrick Henry stood whes
he delivered his famous speech before
the second Virginia convention. March
20. IT'S. / closed my eyes. picturing thu
scene rs 1t must have appeared TIM
dny SO long ago. There were all ths
great men Of the day. including Georg,
Washington, Jefferson and many 9th
ers. some Of whom had travelled Ions
distances to be present. fillIng the pew'
10 o~verlowing. eve to the window
lodges outside. and In their midst nj
orator delivering himself of words o
fire, even ns did ST. Paul at Athens Of
old. Suddenly a voice broke my reveri'
and the stiffness OF the church. It wa
our old guide repeating the words Pat
rick Henry uttered a century and