River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-11-16
SEA GROVE.
A SEASIDE HOME-A CHRIS
TIAN'S SUMMER RESORT.
An Interesting Epistie from
Miss y. j. Coe.

I
hausted, and will therefore say some
thing in regard to the new Ocean Re-
sort at Sea Grove, New Jersey.
After spending a week at the exhi-
bitiOn, we wished to refresh ourselves
by taking few breaths of sea air be-
| fore returning to our home, so we pur-
chased tickets for the last steamer (of
the season. going down the Delaware
to Cape May. Our party, numbering
six, seated themselves on the front
deck, with opera and field glasses con-
venient so that every object of inter-
est on either shore might he fully TAX
en- in. While passing out of the river
into the bay, we passed two or three
| forts, fully equipped. with cannOnS upon
their walls pointing directly at MS in
whichever way we turned. We were
not afraid, however. As we neared
the Atlantic, the bay became wider
and wider, until the eye could only dis
Germ little line of shore on the Jersey
side, the bay being forty miles in
width. About five o'clock we were
landed ut Cape May, with burned and
blistered faces. The tide was just GO
ing out. leaving the beach covered
with shells and beautiful pebbles.
AbOut one-half of the passengers took
the horse cars for Cape May, one-fourth
for Sea Grove, while the remaining
fourth chose to walk over on the beach
and gather shells. One lady picked up
set of false teeth, probably lost by an
unfortunate bather. To many of us.
it was the first time we had looked ont
over such 4 broad expanse of water.
After securing ROOMS at the Sea Grove
House, right on the beach, we went
forth again to see what is called the
the peculiar beauty of Sea Grove--its
sunsets on the water-visible as at no
other place on the Jersey coast. Here
''Old SOL sets behind watery wall.
and crowns the wave crests to your
very feet with his golden corOnets.
After a supper of oysters and most
excellent blue-ish, we sauntered forth
into the beautiful moonlight to gath
er waye-washed pebbles and Cape May
diamonds, stopping often to view the
revolving lights in the lighthouses of
Cape May and Cape Henlopen.
Only one year ago, this locality was
part and parcel of a sandy wilder
ness with its splendid possibilities
undiscovered. or at least uninterrupted.
To the public spirit and enterprise
of Philadelphia merchant, Alexander
Whilldin, whose early days were spent
on farm near the point, and to whose
family estate the land belonged, Sea
Grove owes its existence. Percelving
its rare advantages rs a seaside re-
sort, this gentleman. joining with 9TH
erS of like mind, formed the Sea Grove
Association. which was duly incOrpO-
rated with the DECLARED object to fur
nish a seaside home, where its
jewellers may he refreshed and invig-
| GRATED in body and soul, and better fit
ted for the highest and hottest duties
of life In other words. their object
was to establish a seaside resOrt:where
those who seek quiet recreation and
comfort, with the attendant health and
| enjoyment, rather than the eXtrava-
CANT living, dissipation and show gen
BILE watering places. could find sum-
| mer home for themselves and families
at reasonable expense. Some 2G6
acres of land were bought and charter
obtained from the New Jersey Legis-
lature. The sale of liquor is forever
prohibited within the precincts, and
the early occupancy of 50 many of the
lots by sensible set of people from
| Baltimore, Washington, pittsburg.i.
Philadelphia and other cities-people
/ who are not slaves of Mrs. Grundy, nor
/ fatally afflicted with Miss McFlimsyism
is an assurance that the condition
Of social life there. will be the most
happy and attractive sort.
one of the first improvements decid-
ed on was the building of Pavilion
suitable for religious and other meet
| ings. Ii is of OctagOnal shape, 100 feet
in diameter. built in the rustic style,
open at the side SO as To be perfectly
/ cool in the hottest weather, and To
maintain perfect circulation of air.
10 is So arranged that il can he clos
al up in cool or stormy weather, by
heavy rolling curtains. 1t will seat
comfortably 1900 persons on benches
arranged in amphitheater style. \
very beautiful effect is produced by
| the introduction of stained windows in
the upper part of the tower (which
rises 81 feet above the ground) repre-
Senting the four seasons, looking
through which the visitor sees before
him the whole panorama collected i'm
the dress peculiar to each season.
That representing Winter is SO perfect
that many have declared that they see
the snow falling although in midsum-
mer. Already the Sea Grove move
ment has been signalized by an impor-
tant Christian convention of Evangelic-
al ministers and laymen, and r large
Sunday school convention anda branch
Of the Worlds Evangelical Alliance
held their session here on the 25th OF
August.
This Pavilion forms the central plot
and circle from which the city is laid
ont. The main avenues radiate from