New-York tribune., 1879-09-30
A FAMOUS OLD RESORT
LETTER FROM GENERAL wILsoN


RESORT OF SIXTY YEARS AGO-NAMEs FROM AN
OLD REGI,TER,
To the Edftor OF The Tribune
SIR The following statements are given as nearly
as possible in tho words of worthy gentleman with
whom the writer has just had an hours conversa-
tion seated, on this sunny September afternoon, on
the south porch of the Heath House, situated IN
Norris County, sixty-one miles from New-York and
some l 200 feet above the level of the sea
"Been at ScLooley's Mountains before 7" Yes.
sir, sixty years ago, when 1t was wider known ana
a more fashionable resort than either Newport OF
Saratoga ssorings were them In those days. when
was young remember meeting on the mountains
the Crugers. Draytons and Poinsets, of South Car
DINA; the Cadwaaders, Bayards, Biddles, Rawles
and Rushes. of Philadelphia the Frelinghuysens,
Dckensons. Penningtons, Rutherfords and Stock
tons. of New-Jersey; and the Ogdens, Clarksons,
Perreponts. RooseveltS, and Van Renssclaers, OF
your own state. Here. too, sir. first saw four OF
your New-York poets. who became my personal
frends-F1rz Greene Haeck, Hoffman, MOITls, and
Willis. Merrer and more genial gentlemen than
Halleck and Hoffman l never met. Poor Charles
Hoffman, the only survivor, is living I'D retirement
somewhere in Pennsylvania, hut not III good mental
health. lie came here in company with Washing
ton Irving, who. rs you are aware was engaged 20
his sister. Kemble, who owned 'Cockloft Hail.
at Newark, accompanied them. Mrs. Rush, Of Phil
alelphia, Mrs. Gracle, of New-York, and General
Talnadge's queenly daughter. one of the handsom-
est women in the country, who afterward married
Phil Van Rensselaer,, of Albany, and many other
celebrated beauties OF hygone days, were habitues
of Schooley's Mountains"
"Poliricians resort here p Certainly they did.
MANY OF the leading Wings and Democrats were 10
be found at the Heath House and Belmont Hall,
Just as nowadays they hold their meetings at the
Saratoga hotels The Wings generally came to THE
house, and the Democratic crowd patronized Bel
mont Hail. SchOoloN's Mountain was called the
Presidcnt-makng waterlng-place."
How did we got here in those early daysF'
"Why, some people, and youngsters like myself,
came by the daily New-York and Philadelphia four
horse coaches while tine majority of the grandees
came in their own carriages. BY Jovc, sr, the dis
play Of private establishments. with their spirited
horses and liyerod servants to be in those good
old times on these grounds. beat anything YOU have
in these days at Newport NewYorkl ! Have i
seen Delaney Kane's four-in-handi No; but l
saw his fathers establishment here on this very
spot forty years ago. and I'll be bowed If his sons
can equal IT."
"How long has this been place of resort y For
more than a hundred years. 1t is the Oldest water
ing-place in tins country. l saw lady in this
house last Month who visited the mountains
1917 ana she sdlu some OF Iaully NcIc ucIc
about the close of the last century" (The writer
happens to know a lady stil living, who was here
as child of eight years of age in 1902, with her
| father Judge K who became Chief-Justice OF
New-Jels sew. ''The mountains were named III colo
NAL davs after the of the property and this
| house was called in honor Of the farmer who first
opened the hotel Belmont Hall. believe, was so
named by Its literary landlord, who was a great
admirer OF Shakespeare, from the Merchant of
Venice"
"Do / find any benefit from the chalybeate
waterf Well Icannot say that do or ever did, for
] don't drink it, | am content TO swallow heavy
doses Of this crisp and bracing mountain air. Many
persons. however. are benefited by its use. DR..
sam. Mitchell. Of New-York said, sixty years
ago. that il there was anything in this world that
deserved tho name of pure chalybe water, the
Schooley's Mountain springs would seem to be such
a composition"
Schooley's Mountains ore one Of the series Of
sharp granite ridges which constitute the so.caled
Highland Range Of New-Jersey. While the sides
are steep and covered with wood. the summit
broadens into a fertile table-land from one TO two
miles wide. extending from Bqdd's Lake toward
tho Delaware. On the high land well-kept
roads, and on either side OF the mountains many
magnificent views. To the east flows branch Of
the beautiful Rartan, furnishing wster-power TO
numerous mills. and on its bank Is situated German
Valley among the earliest settlements IN the State.
There | few Oays since colonial stone church.
and surrounding the ancient ruin many tombstones
bearing German inscriptions Persons are sIll hv-
ing who remember when that was the language
used in the pulpit of German Valley. On the west
lies the lovely valley through which the Musconet-
cong passes to join Its clear waters with those OF
the Delaware, and the Wayayanda Mountains and
beyOnd fhe dim distance are seen the outlines or
the Blue Ridge.
Gordon in his History of New-Jersey remarks that
" the mineral spring near the top OF the mountain
lSohooleysJ has gVon nuch celebrity 10 this region
Ii IL said 10 have been known 10 the lndans and 10
have been employed by them as remedy for GER
tain diseases, which with characteristic selushnsss
they would have concealed from the whites The
latter however, have resOrted to IL since the fret
settlement of the country. To this spring many OF
the visitors who still linger on the mountains en-
jOyIng the delicious Autumn days. frequently walk
drive, and there are various charming excursions
10 Budd's Lake, the Delaware Water Gap, and
other attractive resorts III the neghbOrhood.
An old Heath House register now before me
enables the writer 10 verify 10 some extent the
statement ia regard to the aristocratc character of
lts visitors with which this communication began.
The first arrival OF the season OF 1888, with which
the well-thumbed folio opens was DAVID Is.
dated June n joel L. Pomsett and Mrs. Poinsett.
of Charleston, s. c., followed by David ClaTkson,
Ncw-IOrk; Joan rutherford. Bolevllle, y. j.; MI.
Willis. y. VI MI hidgway and family, Fhiiadel-
pima; Samuel SouthaTd kew-Jcrsey; +. j. hoose-
welt and family, New-lOrk; Robert Naux, wife and
two children, Philadelphia GaITct ID. Wall wife
and daughter New-Jerseyj Clement Barclay and
Miss Barclay, Philadelphia; Governor Coles and
family, PenDsylvania; samuel ekinson, Trenton,
N j.; NolOncl ah0 Sil,s Didg t"h, SyutA ,"i'iitA'
General Cadwalader. Philsde phiaj r. A. Magruder,
L. ;. Navy. aud lady; Harrison Gray Gus and
family Boston Mrs. Andrew Fitzpatrick, l.ittleton
Fitzpatrick and lady, New-Brunswlok, n. j.; Alex
ander J. Dallas and family. Aew7JeIsey. aud John
Sergeant, OF Philadelphia, 40 ANNUALLY camf mere
during tie long period of half "A century. These
are portion of tho prominent names that appear
on the first few pagcs OF his interesting relic OF the
pas, visitors nearly hfiy years ago al the oldest
watering-pace in tire United states. J. @. w
SckO0ttys Mountain Springs, y. j., sept. Is, 1879
"Moike, phat's ifgy ~ asked Milesian
m4tron a., Otcr morning ln san Francisco looking up
from The Post. "sorra bit do ! Know" replied her
- - ~ --.L-lu Il.