Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-08-17
RED HILL


of Campbell and Charlotte
counties, is a splendid colonial
mansion, green-blinded and with a
brass-knockered doorway that opens on
a formal boX-hedged pathway flanked
by 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 Hill Of yesterday consisted
Of a 2000-acre plantation, thus named
because of the red-brown soil. For two
years after Patrick Henry bought the
place he divided his time between it
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 1906, 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 E. 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 hfp-roofed "cookhouse" or
kitchen, always 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
"His Name Is His Best Epitaph."
! Under the adjoining slab rest the re-
mains Of his wife, Dorothea cambridge,
follows:
81 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 fireplace:
add to its quaint character. The bras:
locks represent part of the fee In the
famous Randolph case when Patricl
Henry saved the life of Richard, broth
er of that eccentric genius John Ran
dolph of Roanoke. The old-fashfoneC
garden has been restocked with shrub!
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. o.
the north it looks out upon the Blu
Ridge with the lofty peaks of the Otte
plainly visible although 60 miles dis
tant; on the south a serpentine stretcl
Of the Staunton valley, varying II
width from a quarter of a mile to
mile, the banks of the river gleamin
with giant oaks and holly trees fror
which the Spanish moss trails and gar
lands like fantastic Druidical boards
1t was recently my privilege to visi
in Richmond, Va, at Rosecroft, tn
home Of Mrs. Elizabeth Henry Lyons
great-granddaughte of Patrick Henry
who inherited with her brothers Re
Hill, and to see there many relics Q
her famous ancestor besides numerou
letters and documents yellowed wit
age and creased by times fingers.
There stands in bas-relief a da
spent in visiting the historic spots G
Richmond. One incident particular
Is recalled with peculiar significanc
at this crisis in our world affairs. Rev
, erently sitting in the cathedral-twiligt
Of old st. Johns church, in the yer
! pew where Patrick Henry stood whe
he delivered his famous speech befor