Evening star., 1934-07-08


at the left shows a glimpse of the forI
oldest house at Yorktown, Va. a qua
as the historic area described In the
son for a room and three meals.
Higher rates prevail. of course, in
the rooms overlooking the water. The
stay at the Chamberlin is made pleas
ant by salt water bathing from the
hostelry itself on the private beach
at its doorstep, by its indoor SWIM
ming pool and other recreational fa-
cilities including its roof garden with
nightly dances.
Ancient PhoebuS.
And the Colonial National Monu-
ment is close at hand to Old Point.
Just % miles of good roads lead the
way to Yorktown from the curWng
thoroughfareS of Fort Monroe on
through Phoebus to Hampton-the
oldest English settlement in the
United States in continuous existence
where the route swings right onto
the Virginia State Highway No. II.
Nine miles out this road. the course
Joins the Tidewater Trail just 10
miles south of yorktown. That last
10 miles runs through delightful farm
country and dense forest Of tall trees
and ends in the midst of quaint
houses that bear the unmistakable
stamp of the Colonial era.
Entering Yorktown from this angle,
the visitor passes down Main street
and if he's curious he'll ask about the
gnarled trees that stand as twisted
sentinels along the curb. He'll learn
that they are the remnants of the
mulberry trees that marked futile
effort at silkworm culture in Tide
water Virginia. The culture was too
tedious for a people accustomed to
life of plenty that fairly burst from
the great tobacco fields and the in
dustry died before it was even fairly
launched.
Now all that is Yorktown Is not
dangling there along the roadside Tor
the hasty visitor to enjoy. II this
correspondent may be permitted to
give one bit of advice it is this: Don't
breeze into any portion OF the Co.
lonial National Monument with ex-
pectations of seeing the points OF
interest in a few minutes or an
hour. Please take time There's real
spirit to be absorbed in these tnree
places, so park your automoolle, get
out of it and walk the ground lived
upon by your United States founders,
touch the houses they built; breathe
the very atmosphere they created.
Services Are Free.
The National Park Service has Jur-
isdiction over yorktown and II pro-
vides every service which the VISITOR
might ask. Go to the headquarters
there at Main and Church streets,
You'll be made welcome and you II
find no fees or charges OF any Klno.
You'll be given a mimeograpned SIX
page guide circular which lists Tor
YOU every place you should see ana
which gives you information about
the Colonial National Monument
itself. Anything further you want:
ASK a ranger that's the printed
advice Of the Ne tional Park Service
and it's we'll wor h following. because
these rangers are most obl1ging
gentlemen.
While at the monument head
quarters, look at the little oulldlng
that headquarters occupies. The front
portion of the Structure-of brlck-
was built in l706 and was for many
wears before the Revolution occupied
by the Lightfoot family. Antique
lovers will tread with delight the old
random width board floors under the
low ceilings. The rear portion, look
ing now almost as old, dates from the
Civil War period and is an out
growth" of wooden buildings erected
by Union soldiers during the Civil
War. In a rear room of this head
quarters building, stop and examine
the relief model of the yorktown
sector. 1t is a skillfully executed
map" of the country you're visiting:
Tiny ships maintain their historic
positions of battle in the painted
York River, and, with the help of one
of the obliging rangers, you can trace
on the minute hills and through the
wee forests the full drama of the
end of the Revolutionary War.
Where the Surrender Was Arranged.
And after that go over the very
ground on which the great drama was
enacted. Without fail go out to the
Moore House at the end of State
highway No. ITO, which branches of
the Tidewater Trail (No. I'D just be-
low the earth works at the outskirts
of town. It was in this house that
the terms of CORVALLIS surrender to
Washington we're drawn up. Neither
of the generals was present at the
time, but officers representing both
forces conferred there IN the 4.rst-foor
room on the northwest corner OF the
house. Your ranger at headquarters
probably showed you the single piece
of furniture which is definitely known
to have been in the room at the time
of the momentous conference-an old
wood chair that now is preserved In
the museum in the headquarters
building
Then see the old Colonial Custom
House, built in 1705. Now owned by
the Comte de Grasse Chapver of the
Daughters OF tne American HeV0lu-
ton, it can be inspected on payment
of an entrance fee of IS cents. Then
look at the Digges House on Main
street. 1t is one of the best examples
of colonial dwellings intact and takes
its name from the old Digges family
which occupied it for many years
Then there's the Grace Episcopal
Church on Church street, just above
Main street 1t was built in 1897
The oldest house In Yorktown Is the
quaint little Shield House at the cor
ner OF Nelson and Main streets. 1t
was erected in 1899 and its name Is
taken from its present owner-occu-
pants.
This reporter is attempting here
merely TO cite the main points of in
terest and cam OF cover" the whole
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