Raynham Hall Museum is reaching up into the heady stratosphere of being a first class museum. Board President Frances Mortati described the recent discovery of an original George Washington letter in the collection as very exciting. "The museum is going to get more prominence, especially when we let the Library of Congress know of the find because they have two letters that were written - all as a part of a series as is this one. They are all relevant to getting more troops during the Revolutionary War," said Ms. Mortati.

Sarah Abruzzi, Raynham Hall Museum director explained the importance further. "Most of the George Washington letters are in the Library of Congress. Very few are in other museums or in private hands. Having a George Washington letter is really cool. And, no one before, knew it existed," she said.

"The find should bring some national attention, based on this find, since most of his letters are not really accessible, as this one is. People can come and see an original George Washington letter that was written at the height of the American Revolution, a really important time," said the director.

The letter is written in beautiful penmanship. "We were told he wrote the letter himself, according to the appraiser. It sounds as if as he was writing the letter he was pretty desperate and not sure how the war was going to shake out. He had written a letter to Governor Clinton the day before so he was probably up all night and so worked up and concerned about it, that he tried to make every contact he possibly could," said Ms. Abruzzi.

The letter was recently discovered inside a scrapbook donated to the museum in 1981. The 1874 scrapbook was presented to Alice D. Weeks by her mother Alice Delano. It contains various letters and autographs from famous people and sketches and drawings, some by the famous artist Bierstadt, some pressed flowers and also, a letter from General George Washington.

The donation of the scrapbook was accepted and it was put into the museum's collection. When archival consultant Ani Rivera was going through the scrapbook, he wondered about the letter.

Ms. Abruzzi said, "Ani questioned the document when he first saw it. It didn't make sense to have an original George Washington letter in a scrapbook. Still they thought they had to find out if it was authentic and took it to a document appraiser. When the document appraiser saw the letter his immediate estimation, on first glance was that he was 80 percent certain it was real."

The scrapbook, put together about 100 years ago, contained other letters from people who were somewhat famous, she said.

The original document will be on display on Thursdays from 1 to 5 p.m. A guard will be on watch whenever the original letter is on view. The rest of the time a scanned reproduction letter that Program Director Lisa Como called "incredible" will be on exhibit.

Since the discovery of the letter, Ms. Como said, "We've got a lot of good recognition." Attending the reception on Friday, Sept. 10 was Cathy Koch, who is aware of the museum's fine collection and the dedication of the board members to their cause of preservation. She said, "Good things come to those who deserve it."

The two ladies mentioned that the windowpane scratched with a diamond during the Revolutionary War, during the occupation of Raynham Hall Museum by British troops, is once again on display. The museum also has George Washington's false teeth, which are on display.

The museum is already getting calls from schools as the September 2004 term begins. Teachers are already booking school trips and asking to see the newly discovered letter from then General George Washington.

The letter will be on exhibit for a year, from September 10, 2004 through the summer of 2005. Friends of Raynham Hall Museum celebrated the find as they opened the exhibit on Friday, Sept. 10. A tent was set up in the Victorian garden and tables were set with buffet items. Guests visited the exhibit in the gallery and left to enjoy the cooling breezes in the garden.

Dr. Donald Gromisch was especially proud of his wife, the Friends past president, Alice Gromisch. "I think she pulled this off beautifully," he said. "And I worked all afternoon doing my thing." "That was helping to chop up cheese cubes," said Ms. Abruzzi. "They are such good sports."

Accompanying this story is a copy of the text of the letter sent by Mr. Washington. "This is the very same letter, whose existence was never before known that is on display at Raynham Hall Museum," said Ms. Abruzzi.

There are other exhibits in the gallery on loan from the collection of Fraunces Tavern Museum in NYC that relates to President Washington.

(The following is the letter General George Washington sent to Governor George Clinton from Philadelphia on Aug. 1, 1777.)

Sir:

I had the honor of writing to you last night by express, informing you of the enemy's fleet having sailed out of the Capes the day before at eight o'clock in the morning, steering towards the eastward and requesting you to use every exertion in your power to bring out the militia of your state to reinforce General Putnam, with all speed. I repeat this, lest that express should be delayed as it was charged with other dispatches, which were swift to be delivered. I need to make use of no arguments to impress on you, the necessity of making every effort to prevent General Howe's carrying the Highlands by a sudden and rapid impression. You are as sensible of the importance of guarding against this misfortune as I can be, and I am convinced you will exert your utmost influence to strengthen the opposition which will be given him in that quarter. I have desired General Putnam to make a similar application to Governor Trumball, General Sullivan and the troops coming after him are ordered to return, and other reinforcements will follow, as expeditiously as circumstances will permit.

I have the honor to be

With great respect,

Sir

Your most obed servant

George Washington