Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 February 1905 — HOUSE OF WASHINGTON RELICS. [ARTICLE]

HOUSE OF WASHINGTON RELICS.

Hasbrouck Home in Newbnrg, N. Y., Full of Revolution Reminders. The beautiful city of N'ewburg, on the Hudson river, hns honored itself and conferred a priceless boon upon the State by preserving the old llasbrouck house, which served ns Washington's headquarters from April 4. 1782, to Aug. 48, 1183. Built by Jonathan Hasbrouck in 17">0. it has the comfortable look of the unpretentious story-nnd-a-ludf house of the period; and stands finely on the sloping hank of the river, where it may be distinguished by the traveler on the New York Central railroad across the river. The walls of the house are of stone, two feet in thickness. An old-fashioned Dutch stoop or porch opens upon the first floor, with its six rooms in addition to the kitchen. The ceilings are low, with heavy timbers of hewn wood, which support the floors of the upper rooms, originally only four in number. The sloping roof is sustained by long timbers of roughly hewn cedar wood, which still gives out the pleasant odor peculiar to that tree. While some changes have been necessary. the house to-day is very nearly just what it was when Gen. and Mrs. Washington occupied it with their military family, Major Tilghman, Colonel Humphreys and Major or Colonel Benjamin Walker, who now rests in Forest Hill cemetery in Utica. Access to the place is gained through a gateway guarded by cannon, the lawn is bordered with tine elm and chestnut trees, the river dances brightly in front, while the mountains in all their beauty form a striking background. The old stoop, with its dull red settles, opens directly into the large room with its many doors and solitary window. The broad worm-eaten planks of the floor show its age, the rough stones of the large fireplace tell of its constant use, and through the wide throat of the chimney we may gaze up at the open sky. Old kettles, shovels and wattle irons hang by heavy chains to the fireback, and to one old shovel in particular is given the honor of never having left its post of duty during the reigns of the Hasbroucks or Washingtons, but, like a faithful sentinel, was always ready for work. The walls aj-o of plaster, whitewashed, and every room shows the heavy open beams, either in their natural color or painted white. This room, like the others, is now a museum. The glas3 cases hold the huts, vests nnd shoes of the continental soldiers, while the heavy boots of a Hessian cavalry officer excite wonder at their weight and enormous thickness of Role. Framed letters from Aaron Burr, Robert Morris, John Hancock, Washington and Benjamin Franklin line the walls. —Utica Observer.