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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Washington’s Headquarters, Valley Forge, PA



July 29, 1918
Dear Friend:
I am glad to hear from Mrs. N. that you are all well and hope you will all have a good summer in spite of the heat here.  Well it can’t last forever. 
Yours, Mrs. Hammond
Mrs. Adams
Brookline, N.H.
R.F.D. 40
George Washington’s headquarters has been a tourist attraction since the birth of our country, but this little house, built by Isaac Potts in 1773, didn’t get designated as a National Historic Landmark until 1972, almost 200 years later.   Archeological digs have revealed quite a bit about life during and after the American Revolution- they even have a blog that documents recent activity at this National Park. 
Of course, my focus is on the identities of Mrs. Adams and Mrs. Hammond.  Postal addresses from the early 20th century omit much of the information we take for granted today.  The town of Brookline, New Hampshire and surrounding Hillsborough County have historical societies that link to genealogical information such as marriages through 1912.  Further research shows there was an Alacia Hammond married to a Frank A. Austin in 1907, so perhaps in this small New England town, Alacia had a sister who traveled to Pennsylvania for some patriotic sightseeing. 

The record high for Valley Forge in July was 99 degrees set in 1988. 
As Mrs. Hammond states, “Well, it can’t last forever.”

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