The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-07-15
A Ridgway Ramble.
AN ERIE GENTLEMAN OF KEEN oBsER-
WALTON TELLS WHAT HE NOTICED
IN A VISIT TO THE LITTLE TOWN.

1
IN VISIT TO THE LITTLE TOWN.
erie Dispatch.)
Having little business matter to at.
tend to, took occasion to visit the
town of Ridgway, Elk county, few
days and after spending the day there,
returned satisfied that a prettier
town or a more hospitable people
could not be found.
Ridgway is situated 123 miles from
Erie, on the Clarion River, is the
county seat of Elk county, and con-
tains about 1000 inhabitants. The
new court house which is nearly COM
pleted will cost S75, 900 and is indeed a
splendid structure, and when finished
Twill add greatly to the appearance of
| the town. There is also several very
fine and costly private dwellings,
among which can be mentioned the
elegant residence of Jerome Powell
Horace Little, Mr.. Schnning, Mr..
Osterhout, Mr.. Hyde, DR. Farley and
many others. My attention was
called to the former residence of our
citizen Judge Souther, who made
Ridgway his home for many years.
Mr.. Powell has been resident of the
town for nearly 40 years. He was the
AdUocote for nearly half a century. 1t
was a successful, popular, spicy sheet.
There are two weekly papers published
in the town at present, both doing
WELL Ridgway has the motive power
necessary to build and keep up town
namely, capital. Few places of its
size can boast of a millionaire, but Mr..
Hyde is reported to be worth at least
Sl,000,0 900, and although nearly 40
years of age, is still vigorous and en-
gagged in active business. He was the
builder of the Hyde House, and he
and his son have at present q monster
store in full blast, which would do
credit to much larger town. He is
also owner of great amount of real
estate in thas and other regions. There
are several other wealthy men engaged
in business there. Among them is
the firm of Powell g. Kline, who keep
general assortment of all kind of
goods, and are very heavy lumber
dealers. In addition to all of this the
tanning business alone in Ridgway is
quite sufficient to keep up good
sized town, and as the hemlock barks
are almost ineXhaustable, it is bound
to be Il permanent and lasting invest
ment. ] was greatly surprised to find
so much good farming land abut this
town. On the road running from
Ridgway to Warren, six miles from
town, | passed u beautiful farm con-
tanning eleven hundred acres, four
hundred cleared and not a stump left
on it, board fen 'e and shade trees the
whole length ON the road and in one
orchard saw two thousand fine apple
trees. The farm is quite level it is
owned by the Wilcox Tanning Com
pany, and is called Montmorency.
1t is certainly a beautiful farm.
The people here have one of the
greatest luXrries that can be given to
many and that is pure cold spring
water in abundance, brought from the
surrounding hills into the dwellings
and fountains in the yards, the pres
sure being sufficient to CARRY it to any
part of the houses.
To get good view of Ridway one
wants to go to the hills west of the
town and there you have a real birds
eye view of Il lovely village nesting
among the green hills, while the gentle
Clarion is rolling quietly 500 feet be-
low. The cemetery is situated Oh one
of these hills overlooking the town
and is a well selected quiet resting
place, where sleep the silent dead.
In addition to all the other attrac-
tions about this region, by driving out
ten miles from Ridgway, those who
delight in trout fishing can have all
thesport they desire, as the streams
that flow from town are full Of the
speckled beauties. Taking it all
together 1 know of no place that
would as soon choose for good visit
and days sport as l would this ro-
mantle town of Ridgway, S.