The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-05-13
SEA GROVE.

Only one year ago the locality of Sea
Grove was "part and parcel of sandy
wilderness" with its splendid possibilities
undiscovered, or at least uninterrupted. To
the public spirit and enterprise of Phila-
delphia merchant whose early days were
spent on the farm near the point, and to
whose family estate the land belonged, Sea
Grove owes its existence. Perceiving its
rare advantages as a sea side resort, this
gentleman, joining with others of like
mind, formed the Sea Grove Association,
which was duly incorporated with the de
clared object to furnish 60 sea side home,
where its jewellers may be refreshed and
invigorated in body and soul, and better
fitted for the highest and hottest duties of
life" The event has shown that it was a
into the right hands for execution. Some
2G5 acres of land were bought, and char
ter obtained from the New Jersey Legisla-
ture, authorizing the Association to lay
out, develop and improve the property,
and to enforce such rules and regulations
as might be necessary.
I Originally conceived, the idea was to
afford for the Presbyterian church similar
advantages to those becoming so popular
with other denominations. But this limit
ed idea was soon abandoned, and the gates
were thrown wide open to all we'll disposed
comers,-a pleasing fact as to its religious
complexion being that the nearly 800 lot
holders embrace ministers and laymen of
! all the denominations. The sale of liquor
is forever prohibited within the precincts,
and the early occupancy of so many of the
/ lots by a sensible set of people from Pitts
burgh Philadelphia, Baltimore, Whining
ton, and other cities,-people who are not
slaves of Mrs. Grundy, nor fatally afflicted
with McFlimseyism-is an assurance that
the condition of social life there will be of
the most happy and attractive sort.
| Whilst continuous religious services of
the camp meeting sort are not contemplated
and attendance upon religious meetings
will not be at all obligatory, yet frequent
public services will be enjoyed, the means
being provided in the spacious pavilion con-
structed specially for this use. Already
the Sea Grove movement has been signal
lied by an important Christian convention
of evangelical ministers and laymen, and a
large Union Sunday School Convention and
branch of the Worlds Evangelical ALI
ance are expected to hold their sessions
there the coming Summer.
The history of the movement thus far
may, however, be more or less familiar to
many. 1t is not too much to say that this
new place has sprung more suddenly into
popular favor than any similar enterprise.
We are astonished at the growth as by
magic Of Western towns, but here are the
foundations and much of the superstruc-
ture of city built in less than year, and
ready for the reception of its 1000 or 5000
inhabitants.
To get birds eye glance at the new
city, the best point of view is the pavilion.
This is an octagonal structure 100 feet in
diameter, very substantially built, in rus
tic style, with flooring and comfortable
benches, seating at least 1,500 persons.
We look down upon three large hotels,
already erected and capable of accommo-
dating over 1000 guests, and upon fifty
cottages built, with preparations for many
more on every hand. To the north, the
boundary line of the premises is marked
by the old turnpike road, which connects
the Steamboat Landing with Cape Island
City. The northern entrance, with its high
rustic archways, is plainly observable, and
little to the east the gem of the city,
Lake Lily, lying in its blue, tranquil
beauty. This lake is of purest, clearest
water, perennially supplied by springs, and
being at least half mile in length, fur
nishes ample opportunity for the pleasure
of boating and sailing, which ladies and
children who fear the rougher waters of
the bay and ocean, may indulge without
dread of danger. The avenue skirting the
lake, with it's wooded shores, makes a
charming drive, as we'll as evening stroll.
Turning the eye still further east the
towering lighthouse rises nearly 200 feet
before us,-one of the tallest on the Allan
tic coast,-and the spires of churches and
and the tops Of the hotels and dwellings of
Cape Island City are plainly visible, not
two miles away. The eye now follows the
beach line, and wandering far out to the
east and south, takes in a boundless sweep
of sky and waters. Here and there white
sail flecks the blue expanse, and a long
line of dark smoke indicates the presence
of foreign steamer, whilst white. winged
sea gulls dash ceaselessly across the vision.
Looking now to the south and west,
down Cape Avenue and over the waters,
we descry in the dim distance the line of
the Delaware shore and Cape Henlopen
with it's lights at night, guarding the en-.
trance into the bay. Our view curves with
the coast around by the bay side to the
west and northwest opening up piano.
rama of new beauty, especially as the
evening shades fall and the sun drops down
below the horizon lighting up the sky and
waters with most gorgeous tints. This we
take to be the peculiar glory of Sea Grove
its sunsets on the water-visible as at no
other place on the Jersey coast. Here Old
Sol sets behind a watery wall and crowns
the wave crests to your very feet with his
golden coronets. To our mind, the bay
views are most charming of all, and of
themselves stamp the seal of preference for
Sea Grove over any sea side resort we
know. Then, too, in this connection. it
must be noted that the bay, being forty
miles wide, and lying to the due west, the
parching land breeZes that make the sea