America’s Worst Winter

It was the beginning of the worst winter in recorded history when General George Washington arrived on the doorstep of Theodosia Ford on December 1, 1779. The family had agreed to quarter Washington in Morristown NJ as the Continental Army went into encampment in nearby Jockey Hollow. Today we walked in the footsteps of Washington’s entourage as we followed Ranger Nick Cahill at the Morristown National Historical Park and learned how the family of five lived in just two rooms while General and Mrs Washington, his aides-de-camp, visiting dignitaries, and servants occupied the house. The house was preserved for posterity when the last of the Ford descendants sold to a group of men who were interested in saving this bit of history. So now folks like us can peer into the rooms and imagine Washington entertaining the Marquis de Lafayette or up to thirty servants occupying a rather small kitchen trying to prepare meals for the family as well as for Washington and his party.