Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-01-31
COMMUNICATED.
RESORTS.
January 20, 1850.

The grandeur of nature is displayed
in many wild places of resorts, and OF
such our loved Virginia abounds con
spicuously in sublime scenery. On one
of our marches during the war we as
cended the serpentine road which leads
from Union in Monroe county toward
the Sweet Sulphur Springs. 1t was cold
winter weather-night came OLA halt
for the balance OF the might've camped
on a fat beneath the noted Bald Knob;
q hiuh summit on the mountain. little
north Of Salt Pond, and over looking 1t,
situated in the county OF Giles.
Bald Knob is so high and so cold
that trees are only stunted shrubs; but
in midsummer is a delightful place OF
resort. a large white house stands up
there az place Of entertainment, an
other white house stands on the south
edge of Salt Pond and little below the
Knob. The Pond or Lake is not salt,
as its name indicates, but clean pure
mountain water. The pond is large
and very deep, charmingly edged with
Ivy, Laurel and other altitude ever
greens. A skiff is lying on its placid
waters; sail or row on its smooth sur,
face will discover far beneath the tops
of great pine trees standing as they
grew in the ages past, when the great
concavity in the mountain had III Its
bottom spring where the Deer ana
other ruminauts inhahiting the grand
old solitude Iesorted to Stake their ever
returning thirst. The spring had then
a subterranan escape through the noun
tain to the northward but that escape
Of the waters ceased to find an outlet,
consequently the half mile Lake enSued;
Tradition has it that the trampln9 of
wild animals resorting there to drink
and to lick, caused the closing of the
escape of the water The place, al
though only accessible by wagons, is SO
attractive and charming that it made
place of beautiful resort; but when l
knew the place it was in the sad days
of our homemade war; There are love
ly places much nearer to US OF equal
value.
At Harper's Ferry, where in the pre-
historic period, an inland sea burst thro
it's eastern wall in the blue mountain,
leaving its bed to agriculture, IN the
great valles of Virginia and the oum'
berland. Byrne's Island in the Poto-
mac near Harper's Ferry has been utll-
lied and beautifed by its owner-'he
b. g. o. X. r. Company as an excur-
sion resort. Eastward and in sight Is
Maryland Heights, an elevation on the
MARYLAND side of the Potomac. Here
the Federal army had fertilization
during the late war. A serpentine road
leads up to it, on which beautiful table
land of several acres abounds with shade
trees, good land and clear cold water
An observatory ought to be erected on
the place as lookout for signal service
and TO overlook the beautiful counties
of jefferson, Washington, Loudoun and
Frederick, Md. From the Heights can
be seen into four States-Maryland, Vir-
ginia, Pennsylvania and w. Virginia.
From an observatory at night view
through Telescope would present the
sparkling brilliants above us in all their
stella grandeur. What bank of wealth
is MARYLAND Heights for the enterpriz-
ing to improve on. In connection with !
BVrpes Island, now owned by the b. u
o. Railroad Company, a resort might
be made more valuable than Bald Knob
and Salt Pond; because Of accessibility
and nearness to our large cities. a
house ought to be built on the helgn's
aud opened to summer boarders. Inc
HEIGHTS are for sale, or at least, that
part where the army had Notifications,
as learn, from V. III. Fnor lana
agent at Charlestown, Jefferson county,
W VIRGINIA. LOOK OUT.