The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-06-19

In his report, lately issued, Col. Wright Chief Of
the Bureau ol Statistics and Labor gives some inter
esiing statements concerning the work OF Village
Improvement Societies in Massachusetts,, OF which
the Laurel Hl Association at stockbridge Is tn pa
rent The object Of this society set forth in H.
bylaws, Is ~ improve and ornament the streets and
public grounds Of stockbrdge, by planting and cul.
tlyatng trees. cleaning aud repairing the sidewalks
and doing such other acts shall tend 20 bcautify
aud improve said streets and grounds, Its work has
been the subject Of many newspaper articles and its
example has Keen the Incentive for the formation
OF many similar Associations In different parts Of the
country. During is existence 1t has expended the
sum of SluO In carrying forward It's work; planted
than lCiO trees and hedges and built miles Of
side walks aud many foot bridges
After reading the foregoing extract from
the Neio England Farmer, we fell into n pro-
found reverie. We imagined that n similar
society had been formed In Westminster, and
that it had been in operation for quarter or
n half century. The population had inereas.
ed from three to fifteen thousand. The pike,
or Main street, was elegantly and substan.
tally paved, throughout its entire length, and
several well. paved parallel streets had been
opened. Beautiful rows of outrageous trees,
neatly trimmed and kept in superb order,
formed a complete sylvan arch overhead, and
people passed and repassed along the streets
completely embowered in shade. A fine Town
Clock told the passing hours from the stately
spre Of ST. Johns, and large aud beautiful
Park was laid out with serpentlne walks and
rare shrubbery and shade trees, between
Centre and Willis streets, on the east, aud
Elm Avenue, on the west, leading from Main
street northward across Willis street. This
Park was named Carroll Park, in honor Of
Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, after whom
the county was also named. 1t was adorned
with beautiful fountain, in the centre, sup
piled from extensive water works on an ada.
cent height, and embellished with handsome
statue Of the last survivor Of the Signers Of
the Declaration OF Independence. This ex.
quisite piece Of workmanship was from the
chisel Of q talented son Of John Beaver, who
gained some reputation as skillful sculptor
fifty years ago, and whose father pursued the
same business in Westminster. Another very
handsome statue also adorned the Park. Ii
was that Of Francis S. Key, the author Of the
immortal song Of the Star Spangled Banner,
from the skillful hand of the same cunning
workman. A city passenger railway travers-
ed all the principal streets running east and
west and north and south. A magnificent
town hall called the Odeon, was erected on
Main street, corner Of Elm Avenue, adjacent
to tae old Union Bank. This structure was
highly ornamental to that section Of the city
and had been built with an eye to all the mod.
ern appliances and conyenences. The first
floor was occupied by two first class business
stands, the grand entrance leading to a spa.
cious auditorium on the second floor, capable
of seating n thousand persons, with dressing
rooms both for ladies' and gentlemen, and
stage large enough to accommodate one hun.
bred performers. The seats were arranged in
the form Of an amphitheatre, and commo-
dious orchestra provided al the foot of the
stage. The drop curtain and the scenery
was decorated in the highest style OF modern
art. The southern part Of the city had been
changed, as if by magic. On the site of the
old Frizzel mansion n commodious hotel was
erected filled th,guests, attracted thither by
the health-giving qualities OF the celebrated
mineral waters for which il had long been
distinguished, and the beautiful aud ample
grounds studded with grand old shade trees,
which had been extended out to Charles st.
That romantic section Of the city was orua-
menied with some of the finest buildings the
city could boast, not a vestige Of the little
frame buildings erected there fifty years be-
! fore, remaining Beautiful villas crowned all
the hil.tops in what constituted the suburbs
of the city in former days. Trains were des-
! patched hourly between Westminster and
Baltimore, and many OF the business men of
the commercial metropolis resided in West
minister for health and economy, and went
aud returned daily, on the morning and eve.
hing express, which made the transit in Just
forty-ive minutes. Westminster, without any
doubt, was the most attractive rural town in
the statej and just as its citizens were prepar-
| ing 70 erect a handsome monument 10 the
memory Of the improvement committee, q
cloud Of pestilent midges aroused us TO con
seriousness aud despoiled our airy nothngs Of
| their local habitalon and q name,