Arthur Pierce
- Thread starter Teegate
- Start date
yea, yea, George Washington slept here... Maybe?
Furball1,
George Washington’s Batsto Cypher is about an iron casting commissioned at Batsto for use at Mt. Vernon. In her Masters Thesis, Megan Giordano (2005: 30-36, Artistry and Industry in Cast Iron: Batsto Furnace, 1766-1840) presented a good account of Washington’s order of hearths and firebacks designed for fireplace remodeling projects during 1787. I believe two of four firebacks are still in place.
I’ve heard multiple anecdotal accounts that the at-the-time President Washington once returned to Mt. Vernon from New York (then the Capitol) via the port of Greenwich, NJ. It is alleged that his route cut across the Pine Barrens, some say by way of Horse Bridge Trail (Main Road – Route 555) or Mattox Road/Shamong Trail (roughly Route 54/206). Local lore suggests the final leg to Greenwich was by the Cohansey Trail (roughly Wheat Road – Route 619 today, to Parvins Mill, then southwest through Bridgeton).
This legend was also relayed by a well-known George Washington portrayer and scholar, and by another credible New Jersey historian who works for the State. Supposedly there is an account within the Washington achieves of this trip, and of Washington’s purchase of a particularly fine cigar en route through South Jersey. I make no claim for its truthfulness, but suggest the legend is worth looking into. I know of a reputed cigar shed that once was located along the early Mattox Road that today is used a farm outbuilding on a very old Buena Vista Township farm (i.e., the farmhouse is timber-framed).
A quirky Washington read is George Washington's Expense Account: Gen. George Washington and Marvin Kitman, Pfc. (Ret.).
Best,
Spung-Man
Furball1,
George Washington’s Batsto Cypher is about an iron casting commissioned at Batsto for use at Mt. Vernon. In her Masters Thesis, Megan Giordano (2005: 30-36, Artistry and Industry in Cast Iron: Batsto Furnace, 1766-1840) presented a good account of Washington’s order of hearths and firebacks designed for fireplace remodeling projects during 1787. I believe two of four firebacks are still in place.
I’ve heard multiple anecdotal accounts that the at-the-time President Washington once returned to Mt. Vernon from New York (then the Capitol) via the port of Greenwich, NJ. It is alleged that his route cut across the Pine Barrens, some say by way of Horse Bridge Trail (Main Road – Route 555) or Mattox Road/Shamong Trail (roughly Route 54/206). Local lore suggests the final leg to Greenwich was by the Cohansey Trail (roughly Wheat Road – Route 619 today, to Parvins Mill, then southwest through Bridgeton).
This legend was also relayed by a well-known George Washington portrayer and scholar, and by another credible New Jersey historian who works for the State. Supposedly there is an account within the Washington achieves of this trip, and of Washington’s purchase of a particularly fine cigar en route through South Jersey. I make no claim for its truthfulness, but suggest the legend is worth looking into. I know of a reputed cigar shed that once was located along the early Mattox Road that today is used a farm outbuilding on a very old Buena Vista Township farm (i.e., the farmhouse is timber-framed).
A quirky Washington read is George Washington's Expense Account: Gen. George Washington and Marvin Kitman, Pfc. (Ret.).
Best,
Spung-Man
The George Washington Cypher booklet by Arthur Pierce is still available at the Batsto Visitor Center.
Mount Vernon's west parlor has a fireback with the G.W.Cypher. On a class trip my superintendent told the guide that our Folsom School was very close to Batsto where the fireback was made. The guide then let us go beyond the ropes to get a good look at it.
Mount Vernon's publication "Mount Vernon, an illustrated handbook" explains that Washington bought four firebacks in Philadelphia in 1787. He sent a letter to Charles Petit ordering four firebacks. At that time the Richards family sold their products through their Philadelphia agent Charles Petit. The appendix of Family Empire in Iron explains how the Mount Vernon firebacks did go from Batsto to Philadelphia to Mt.Vernon.
I am sure that the above info was used by Megan Giordano. I hope that Batsto has a copy of her thesis.
Janet
Mount Vernon's west parlor has a fireback with the G.W.Cypher. On a class trip my superintendent told the guide that our Folsom School was very close to Batsto where the fireback was made. The guide then let us go beyond the ropes to get a good look at it.
Mount Vernon's publication "Mount Vernon, an illustrated handbook" explains that Washington bought four firebacks in Philadelphia in 1787. He sent a letter to Charles Petit ordering four firebacks. At that time the Richards family sold their products through their Philadelphia agent Charles Petit. The appendix of Family Empire in Iron explains how the Mount Vernon firebacks did go from Batsto to Philadelphia to Mt.Vernon.
I am sure that the above info was used by Megan Giordano. I hope that Batsto has a copy of her thesis.
Janet
G.W. & Olde Daytona Beache
Thank-you all ! I must admit, however, that I expected Jerseyman to add his 4 pence, so to speak, however, perhaps the topic has been throughly expounded on ! Did y'all know that when G.W. was in his retirement years he came to Daytona Beach ? Farquahr Snerdfoot, PhD, submitted his research thesis and the evidence recently at the Old Fountain Motel, where it is said GW kicked back and sucked some suds with the locals! LOL !
Thank-you all ! I must admit, however, that I expected Jerseyman to add his 4 pence, so to speak, however, perhaps the topic has been throughly expounded on ! Did y'all know that when G.W. was in his retirement years he came to Daytona Beach ? Farquahr Snerdfoot, PhD, submitted his research thesis and the evidence recently at the Old Fountain Motel, where it is said GW kicked back and sucked some suds with the locals! LOL !