The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-12-11


Then say not that friends are forgotten
After they are laid 10 rest;
For such thought would bring fresh sorrow
To many throbbing breast.
ARtiScroS, Mn, Dec. s, 1850.
THE MEMORIAL CHURCH ERECTED
By PENNsYLvANIA's IRON KING.
A new church edifice, the princely
gift Of Pennsylvania iron king, was
consecrated in this quiet back-country
borough to-day. There is quite ro-
mantle chapter Of love and sorrow con-
nected with it. The new edifice cost a
very large sum Of money, and it is gen.
orally known that every dollar was paid
by Mr.. Robert Coleman, one Of the
leading members Of the ''house of Corn
WALL" founded upon three mountains of
iron ore here in Lebanon County, about
I4o miles west Of New York. The church
is in the borough proper. Cornwall, a
few miles distant, is the home of the
Colemans, the richest iron family in the
State. Monday, being the festival of
st. Luke, was chosen for the consecra-
tion Of the magnificent edifice, and it
was dedicated with all the rites and cere-
monies Of the Episcopal Church.
Several years ago Mr.. Robert Cole
man met a young lady Of very prepos-
sessing appearance in tour he made Of
New England. She was the daughter
of respectable family Of Connecticut,
in moderate circumstances. A mutual
attachment followed, and not long after
ward the couple were married. A short
time after the marriage the young bride
was suddenly taken i'll, and trip on
the Continent was arranged by her hus-
band. 1t was thought that the climate
of the south Of France, italy or Spain
would be best for her. All that love
and boundless wealth could give was
furnished with amost liberal hand. The
husband was compelled to remain at
home by business engagements. 1t was
confidently believed that the bride
would soon be restored to.good health,
sS4}v.ry soon after hon departpee-the
hdsband SCI. about prepasing surprise
for her. He supposed that she would
be abroad about year, and he deter
mined to erect one Of the most costly
residence she had ever seen, and have it
all finished and furnished in time for
her arrival home. She was to know
nothing about it until the carriage should
drive her to the door from the railway
station. Mr.. Powell, a Philadelphia
architect, was instructed to prepare the
plans. The structure was to be in the
Scottish baronial style, and Mr.. Cole
man cared very little about the cost
A fine site was chosen, broad and level
and elevated, with commanding view
of along stretch ofthe beautiful Lebanon
Valley.
The Coleman estate comprises about
five thousand acres. In one part Of it
isa brown stable, containing some thirty
thoroughbred horses. The most valua-
BILE animals are quartered in rooms hav
ing mirrors on the walls and Brussels
carpet on portions Of the floor. Five
monstrous furnaces are smelling ore
night and day on the estate. Three hills
contain an inexhaustible supply of ore.
These furnaces have made millionaires
Of q dozen families or more. Robert
Coleman is the youngest Of the iron
kings Of the present line Of owners. In
terested partiesand heirs are scattered in
many climes, but Mr.. Coleman remains
in complete charge Of the vast estate.
Everything is conducted in princely
style. Every employee lives on the
place, rent free. The cottages are mod
els Of neatness, cleanliness and conven-
fence. Achurch, store, Sunday-school,
and other necessary wants are fully sup
piled. The great farm supplies en-
ployees with wheat, corn, potatoes and
vegetables at far below market price
Splendid family mansions occupy prom
inent places. Tally-ho coaches, drawn
by four-in-hands, convey the members
Of the Coleman family and their many
visitors to the neighboring towns and
railway stations. Hence the new man.
sion that was to be erected by Mr.. Robert
Coleman as surprise to his bride, it
can readily be imagined, was TO be some-
thing exceedingly grand. The founda-
tions were massive, and built Of granite
and limestone. The underground divi-
sions were commodious, and finished in
the most modern style. A hard cement
floor was laid. The frames Of the large
bay windows for the first floor weighed
seventy tons apiece. The superstructurc
was to have been Of marble, iron and
granite. The interior was to be finish
ed in hard wood. The work was pro-
ceeding splendidly, and some fifty men
were steadily employed. Car load after
car load Of materiel was arriving and
being put in place. All efforts were
made to rapidly push on the completion
Of the work. Every detail Of furniture
and upholstery had been decided upon.
The gardener had received his special
instructions. In fact, every thing had
been, fully arranged looking to the rapid
completion Of the mansion, when tele-
gram came over the sea that the young
bride was very i'll in Paris. Quickly
followed another dispatch that she was
dead. Every tool in the new house was
dropped. The young husband, stricken
with grief, was for time not to be con-
soled. He ordered the workman on the
new mansion to 60 to the Office and
draw their pay, and then to remove their
tools and other property. In few days