Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1922-08-15
BERKELEY COUNTY DAUcH-
TIERS or REVOLUTION MAKE
PILGRIMAGE TO HISTORIC
PLACES In JEFFERSON COUNTY.

rLALES In JET EkSON I0GNt +.
The Shenandoah Valley Chapter,
N. S. D. A. r. Of Aartinsburg. on
August Ord, made a pilgrimage to
various historic homes located in
jefferson County.
At ten o'clock in the morning.
eleven automobiles, holding fifty
one persons, left from the house Of
Mrs G. B. Wiltshire in the Public
Square.
The first stop was made at Trav-
eler's Rest" the house which Major
General Horatio Gates, of Revolu-
tionary fame, built and lived in for
many years but which is now owned
and occupied by the family of Mr..
j. T. Campbell.
The society was cordially received
upon the lawn by Mrs. Campbell and
her sister, Mrs. Willis, then invited
into the house where the whole
building was thrown open for in
spection.
This old house is situated short
distance off the main pike about a
mile from Kearneysville. 1t is a
quaint old structure and very well
preserved, so that one can see it
today much as it was in the time of
General Oates. 1t has an attractive
stairway in the center hall and a
large living room which is paneled
in wood. There is a mysterious
walled up closet which makes one
wonder, and dark and secret passage
ways which run from room to room
in the second story.
The next stop was at 'Lee Hall, -
the old home of Major General
Charles Lee, which is situated at the
southern end of Leetown.
Here, DR.. and Mrs. Hirst, who
have owned and lived in the proper
ty for years, received the society
very graciously and pointed out all
of the attractions of the quaint old
place. This house originally con-
sisted of just one very large room,
and here the general lived with his
dogs and slaves. Now, however, the
house is quite large and both COM
Portable and attractive.
After leaving Leetown the jour-
ney was continued to Smithfield or
Clip" Here the pilgrims enjoyed
a bountiful picnic lunch of fried
chicken, salads, cake and many
other good things, in the well known
priests Field"
The pilgrimage was then contin-
ued and the third old house visited
was HARDWOOD" the house planned
by George Washington and built and
occupied by his brother, Samuel
Washington.
1t is still owned by the Washing
ton family but for many years has
been occupied by tenants.
The paneled drawing room is
beautiful and stately, and upon its
walls still hang four oil portraits.
One of these is of Samuel Wash
ington and shows him to be a most
dashing and gay looking gentleman.
Another is of his son, Steptoe
The third portrait is of
Mrs. Samuel Washington, which one
is not known, as he had five wives
during his life of just little over
fifty years. The fourth portrait is
said to be of Dolly Madison, who
was married there. There is also a
glass and wood cabinet in this room
which is filled with little relics which
belonged to the early members of
the Washington family. At the
huge fireplace is marble mantle
which Lafayette presented to Samuel
after one of his visits
to Hardwood" and which was made
in France.
The stairway is very beautiful.
The panels and ratings for it as well
as the paneling in the drawing
room were all imported from Eng
land.
The last home that was visited by
the chapter was "Claymont Court"
originally owned by Bushrod Wash
ington but later sold several times.
At one time it was owned and oc-
cupied by Frank R. Stockton, the
writer. Now it belongs to Mrs. j.
F. Murphy. This is a beautiful and
imposing place and perfectly kept
up. The gardes are very extensive
and attractive while the lawn is truly
beautiful with it's wide vistas and
huge cd trees. At "Claymont
Court one finds many things both
beautiful and interesting and ro-
nance hovers about the old place
with its dungeon and its walled in
sdeboard.
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