The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1921-11-25
VALLEY FORGE.
One OF Our Residents Writes Inter.
estingly OF Visit To Historic
Place.

IL ndQ D60n the cream OF my llle
to see the old renowned place and
surroundings of Valley Forge. In
my own mind 1 conceived the wild
idea that the place was miles and
miles away in the distance; but I
suddenly awoke to realize that the
noted old place, according to our
fast times, was only a stone-throw
from my own door. And on my
visit at West Collingswood my
friend and lady chauffeur made the
plot to take the trip on Oct. 21st.
We left the home at 1880 a. M,
crossed the river at Camden, and
started on our slow journey through
the crowded streets of Philadelphia.
On our way up Broad street we met,
and took on board "by arrange
ment," Mr.. VIM. Thompson as chief
master of ways and means, who
knew all the turns and corners of
the hilly drive-ways that we all find
who visit the old place. We had a
splendid concrete road all the way
out, and from the city limits to the
top of Mt. Joy we had made the trip
in 46 minutes.
Mt. Joy is the highest point at
Valley Forge. A. steel tower is
erected there. 1t is seventy-five
feet high to the landing, and to any
person who wants to take the eleva-
ted view, will find that the up-jour-
ney is composed of one hundred and
twenty-five steps; but after gaining
the top platform, they will no doubt
think themselves well paid for their
trouble, for they can look back on
the city of Philadelphia, Reading,
and numerous other small towns.
for you will be 500 it. above sea
level. At that point there is one OF
the old log huts,. built at the time
the army was there. 1t has always
been kept in good repair Around
and near it, there are the ruins of
many others that gave shelter to
those brave and noble men who
have long since gone over. An old
gentleman is there as caretaker OF
the cabin and it's surroundings. He
is quite a pleasant fellow, ever ready
and willing to give visitors any in
formation, and direct them to all
points of interest. The old bake
oven on the hillside, and hospital
marks are still there, though in bad
condition. On the hillside is the
unmarked trenches and graves in
which is resting the dust and ashes
OF 5000 brave men who went out in
their effort to give us joy, liberty
and independence Just down at
another point is the old school house
which is built of granite, is 81 #.
wide by 80 IT. long, s 1T. to the
square and was erected by Letitia
Penn in 1908 and was, occupied by
the Continental Army as Hospital
during the winter of 1777-177S.
The building was repaired, they say,
in 1907 and is in fine condition now.
The inside is just as it was in its
school-day times, the old template
stove is standing in the center, the
old desks are located around the
walls of the building just like our
own schoolrooms of We olden times.
The seats are made of an oak slab
with two round legs at each end,
with no back rest. On the old black
board at the back end of the room
are figures and writing too. Placed
there when, and by whom I do not
know. Mr.. John U. Francis, ST., is
caretaker and guardian of this build
ing. He told me that he had gotten
his education in that old school
house. The house is PIG years old
and it is said that it was the first
building erected for educational
purposes in America. Mr.. Francis
gave us fine treatment, lots of in
formation, fine talker. He is a
middle aged man, would say about
seventy-five or eighty. The old
Headquarters of Gen., Washington
is there in good repair, left just in
the same condition as when he oc-
cupied it. The rooms are all lock
ed. and no visitor can gain an en-
trance, but they can from the halls
see through the glass and barred
doors, everything therein. HIS
sword. coat, hat and many other
things are there just as he left them.
In going around the different turns
and corners we can see what was
once the Headquarters of Gems
Lafayette, Maxwell, Knox, Lee,
Scott, Woodford, Sterling, Pulaski.
Greene. Potter, Poor, Sullivan, Nor
gan and Muhlenberg, and, well
down in the valley we stopped at the
Headquarters of Gen. Wayne and
walked over the lawn down beyond
the house to see the large bunch of
lockwood trees, that once upon a |
time no doubt saved Wayne's life.
1t was we'll known fact at that l