June 4, 2008 -it actually is Wed June 4th! The website says 5th

After Washington successfully beat the British at the Battle of Trenton, he soon followed up with victory at the Battle of Princeton. These victories served to boost morale and encourage extensions on enlistments. They also highlighted Washington’s stealthy ability to move and men quickly, quietly and gain the advantage.  Washington himself led the battle at Princeton, and though he was feared dead, when the smoke cleared he was alive and well.  This was a tremendous psychological boost to the American cause. This kitchen is in the Clarke farmhouse right in the heart of the battlefield.  The house was used for treating the wounded from both sides of the battle.  

The chapel at Princeton University was breathtaking, with freshly restored stained glass, and beautiful gothic architecture.  Originally students’ weekly, and for the most part daily, attendance at services was mandatory but this changed during the 20th century with the hope that students would attend because they wanted to, not because they were forced to.  Princeton had under 200 students when it opened and today has approximately 4,000.  It is known by some as the University of the Founding Fathers.  It was originally founded as a school to train Presbyterian ministers.

Princeton, NJ 08544 … Expenses. Tuition and fees: $33000; Room/board: $10980

U.S. News ranking:

National Universities, 1

Endowment:

$13,458,440,000

 

Although the day was cloudy and rainy, the flowers were magnificent .  It was a great umbrella-day filled with quiet visits to battlefields, cemeteries, pizza from Conti’s-yum! and a visit to the Princeton bookstore.

 

 

 

Left to Right: Memorial to Mother Jones and the Mill Children, Einstein’s Home, Princeton Chapel, Pink Peony, Princeton Battlefield Farmhouse Kitchen

June 3, 2008

Valley Forge

Today we visited Valley Forge.  It was interesting to see what the winter quarters were like.  They were cozy, and well-built, with large fireplaces.  They slept anywhere from 1-12 men depending on rank.  The soldiers built their own quarters to army specifications.  

 

Why is Valley Forge so notable?

• Disease and general exhaustion and weariness from traipsing all over the place throughout the damp, cold fall of 1777 on reconnaissance missions were main factors that had to be contended with here as the third winter of the war set in. 1700 of 12,000 died in four months from typhus, dissentery, pneumonia etc. 
• Washington sought this area that was bordered by high ground and the Schuylkill river and easy to defend.  It also appealed because it could block the British from moving westward toward the frontier of Pittsburgh and yet it was just far enough out of reach from Philadelphia that it would take a huge effort on behalf of the British to attack. 
• French officers announced an alliance with the Americans here with the Marquis de Lafayette commanding troops here and we paraded about and this was celebrated with a feu de joie. 
• Von Steuben arrives with the intent to pad his resume’ and winds up writing the first official military manual for our military and whipping our lads into shape.
• The mercantile system is bypassed earlier on by those rebellious colonists here as superior iron ore is forged here between Mt. Misery and Mt. Joy instead of back in England .

It was interesting today to note differences of opinion from one tour guide to the next ( one tour guide said over 1,000 cabins were built for 10,000 men another said for 12,000 men and the Park Service Website says 2,000 cabins were built) , variances from tour guide to the written displays (8-12 soldiers fit in winter quarters according to one guide, 1-12 according to the display in the visitor center), differences of perspectives of tour guides and professors (only married women followed encampments, vs  married women and girlfriends and prostitutes followed encampments).  It’s amazing that we can be accurate at all with so many different facts, ideas and opinions floating around just within one location some 240 years after the event.  

 

 

June 2, 2008

Today was an exciting look at where the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were crafted and signed.  Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the Betsy Ross House, a Quaker Hall, and Christchurch were highlights our costumed guide/professor/ teacher Pat took us through. She shared stories and took us to places not seen by most tourists, such as the only original cobblestone street remaining.  

It was moving to imagine the incredible shifts in government that took place here as the British Coat of Arms was removed and burned after the Declaration was publicly read on July 8th 1776 and replaced by the Pennsylvania Coat of Arms.  Imagine the risks that this declaration entailed and how this declaration was a model for 20 countries to declare similar independence over the next 25 years.

 

Pennsylvania truly is the Keystone State with 6 colonies to the north and 6 to the south, and with Philadelphia housing the best deep water port in the colonies, it is fitting that Philadelphia became the 2nd largest English speaking city in the world and home of the second location of the US capitol until construction in Washington DC was completed. 

My favorite part of the day was learning about Benjamin Franklin.  His abilities as a scientist, scholar, diplomat, inventor were magnificent.  I appreciated hearing about his accomplishments as well as the human side of his private life.  A brilliant man, but human and not perfect.  

June 1, 2008

We have arrived!  Philadelphia was beautiful this evening and a group of us strolled the campus of the University of Pennsylvania.  The architecture on the older part of the campus was beautiful and Lauren Gonzales’ mom, who attended the University years ago,  narrated a campus tour and described the buildings, statues and the stories behind them. She pointed out the building which the Addams Family TV show house was based on.  The creator of the show was a University of Pennsylvania grad.

Dinner tonight:Philly Cheesesteak and fries. 

Fact: 

University of Pennsylvania.  3451 Walnut Street Tuition and fees: $35916; Room/board: $10208

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