Middletown transcript., 1869-07-24
Letter from Berkeley springs.
Correspondence Of the Mdd1etopn Transcript


Correspondence Of the lNddletOpn Transcript.
FLORENCE House, BERKELEY SPRINGS, W. Va.
July 10th, 1869. I
Dear Transcript-I proceed to give you
an account of our trip to this place and
what we do to pass the time while staying
here. We left Baltimore per the B. and
o. Rail Road, Wednesday, July l4th, at
4, p. M. by the fast line, and after de-
lightful ride of five hours arrived at Sir
Johns Run Station at 0 p. NJ. a distance
of 13O miles from Baltimore. At the Sta
tion we found splendid stage with four
horses attached to take us to the Springs,
distance of p miles, although it seemed
that we travelled twice the distance wind
ing about through the mountains. The
scenery here is beautiful. The roads in
some places are cut in the side of the
mountain, with precipice on one side of
200 feet, and the mountain towering far
above on the other. Occasionally you
hear the ladies give slight scream as the
stage runs over stone and reels towards
the precipice. We arrived safe without
any accident, and retired to bed to dream
about railroads, stage coaches, mountains,
precipices, &c.
Next morning we took stroll about the
town to look at the Springs and make some
inquiries respecting the bathing. Our
host being one of the Trustees of the
Springs, we got the following information
from him: The town of Berkeley was
decided to sixteen trustees for the use of the
State of Virginia, by Lord Fairfax, an
English gentleman, in the year 177O.
The State afterwards by an act of the Le-
gislature added eight more to the number,
making twenty-four trustees. As one of
the number died or resigned the balance
were empowered to elect a member in his
place. The trustees sold building lots to
the settlers until they sold all but the
grove adjacent to the Springs, and with
the proceeds they built the large bathing
houses, laid out walks, and in other ways
improved the Springs. There are several
very pretty cottages which were built here
during the last eight or ten years, as sum
mor residences for gentlemen with their
families retiring from business during the
hot summer months. The baths are un-
rlvalled, including every variety, spout,
shower, plunge and swimming baths. r.n rT.nc
gentlemen's pool is &c feet long and con-
ta..2s ABOUT Sc CO.. gallons of water The
ladies' pool is about 40 feet long and con-
tains about 10000 gallons of water. We
have some splendid lady swimmers staying
here. They can dive, float, swim under
the water, and perform various other feats
equal to any of the male swimmers.
The town of Berkeley is the county seat
of Morgan county, and of course there are
the usual number of lawyers, officers of
the court, &c. loafng about. 1t being
very old town, citizens can point out the
site of the old hotel where Gen. Washing
ton put up when visiting the Springs.
There are two hotels here for the accom-
mediation of summer boaldcrs. The Stro-
ther Hotel, j. 7. Trego, proprietor, is
capable of accommodating about 45O
guests. There are about $50 stopping
there now. They have never had a full
house since the war, which is easily ac-
counted for. The Florence House is one
of your old-time Virginia Hotels, two sto-
ries high, and capable of accommodating
about 100 guests. Everything is kept as
clean as water, soap and labor, of our
American citizens Of African descent can
make it, and our worthy host and hostess
seem to be untiring in their efforts to
please and make their guests comfortable.
There are about rs ladies and gentlemen
staying here, and a more pleasant party
for sociability, politeness and fun, it has
never been my good fortune to meet with
before. Major Green, the proprietor of
the Florence House, is genuine Virgin
ian, and one of the old school gentlemen.
A stranger from the north, stopping here,
would suppose the Major was living in
private surrounded by his friends paying
him visit, SO pleasant and agreeable docs
he make himself to his guests. Although
his eye is on everything about the house,
he always finds time to take hand at
euchre, whist, backgammon or ten pins,
which seem to be the prevailing c..--.ccs
here. We have one Or two good chess
players also, but that seems to be too aui
ct for our lively party. AS for the Ma
Jor's table, it would be hard to beat it, in
Delaware or anywhere else. Such excel
lent mountain mutton, tender bcefsteak,
spring chickens, bread of all kinds, even
to the Virginia corn meal pattie. pastry
of all kinds, ice cream, and every other
kind of good thing the ingenuity of his
good lady can devise. Altogether the
Florence House is just the place for any
one to stay at that wants to get away from
the cares of business and have good qui-
ct time
By the way. Mr.. Editor, we have one
of the jolliest old gentlemen staying here
it has ever been my lot to fall in with, and
he is an Editor, at that. He edits the
Virginia Free Press, of Charlestown, and
is the favorite of all about the house, both
large and small. lie is grandfather to all
the children, and uncle to the rest of us.
Whatever he says is law in regard to the
game to be played or the walk to be ia
ken. He is always ready to give a joke
or take one, and can beat the most Of us
at game Of ten pins, although over sixty