Morning journal and courier., 1880-07-24
A Beautiful Spot.

To thousands in this section Parlor Rock
 and all it's romantic beauty is unknown. Up
 the Housatonic railroad about eight miles
 from Bridgeport, between the old towns of
 Long Hill and Stepney, this spot of beauty
 lies embowered between verdant wooded hills ] Through it runs lovely streamlet, winding,
 now falling over the steep stone walls of the
 dam, and soon after recovering from the
 foam and eddy and whirl, spreading out into
 it's former glassy smoothness, and then pass
 ing under suspension bridge and down a
 wild, rocky, precipitous gorge, rumbling and
 roaring and passing off out of sight, foamy,
 heaving current, into wild copse far below
 Down at the foot of this second cataract rises
 the steep, bold, overhanging mass of solid
 rock, at the base of which, close by the boil
 ing, rocky y-bedded current of the streamlet,
 lies a large, oblong, fiat surface of rock,
 which is Parlor Rock, and more romantic,
 picturesque, cool and lovely sylvan retreat it would be difficult to name in Connecticut.
 This is but fraction of the attractions. The
 grove Hanks the stream and its cascades, and
 is shady bower thickly studded with tall hemlocks shady and picturesque-a spot which our New Haven friends should see to appreciate. An artist, MT. Sherman, of this city, employed his pencil yesterday in mak-
 ing sketch of one of the various scenes in the grove. Here in tke grove are croquet grounds swings, etc. Wonder, on the messy
 brink of the stream lie fancy boats awaiting the pleasure of whoever would row about, means of access to many rural retreat and pretty bower. No accessory for picnic pleasure is lacking. MT. Geo. H. Beck, a
 Bridgeport man, in the refreshment pavilion,
 furnishes crockery, knives, forks, spoons,
 etc., and ice for the fine spring water free
 to all picnic parties, with no restrictions or
 tax on parties private supplies Nothing
 that will intoxieate is sold on the grounds.
 Wander where you will nature has many charming secrets and romantic situations to
 disclose. Huge boulders, venerable ichen
 covered and gray, stand like aged guardians,
 grim and massive, at many point along the paths. If you choose you can spread the
 tables under the main pavilion, or if it is a family party, seclusion is found at small tables so happily placed as to tempt the eye
 and invite occupation. In many charming spot you can lie of and enjoy the refreshing
 ly cool and vitalizing air, making of seats placed between venerable hemlocks or other shade trees or upon rocky seats as good as easy chairs. It was three years ago that the Housatonic Railroad Company purchased this pretty spot and converted it to it's pres ent use, since which time it has been con- stantly improved, and many thousands of people of Fairfield and Litchfeld counties have spent some day there fraught with pleasure and enjoyment. From 1000 to 10, 900 people have picknicked there this sea- son. Fully 1900 in one party spent the Fourth of July there, and Superintendent Stillson of the Housatonic railroad informs us that he has many engagements more for this season. The whole extent of the 1 Parlor Rock tesritory is six or
 seven acres. Two or three acres are devoted specially to the picnic grounds. Its proximity to New Haven, being I only twenty-six miles distant by rail, makes | it point which will doubtless be the scene of many picnics from this section. Not few of our citizens are aware of the charming di- ! versity of scene which prevails on the Hou- 1 satonic railroad especially and more conspic- \ uously along the upper portion. The Berk- | shire region in the old Bay State, which it penetrates, well deserves the name it has | been given of ''The Switzerland of Ameri- 1 ca." The landscapes are exceedingly beauti- | ful and the eye is constantly surprised
 and delighted with ever varying TO- 1 mantle and picturesque views, scenes which
 have enlisted the muse of Bryant and in- 1 spired the pen of many writer. The Housa- tonic is also a route to Saratoga which is yearly increasing in popularity. Every 1O:1O
 a. m. train out of Bridgeport is bearing it's
 through passengers to that great watering place, and under it's able management the profits of the road for the past nine months
 have exceeded by $1OO,OOO the returns of last l year. We need only refer to the handsome 1 office accommodations of the company in | Bridgeport, mention of which at some length ] was given when they were occupied. Suffice \ it to say that everything is first-class.
 The advantages of Parlor Rock were ap- preciated by New Haven party yesterday The Church of the Messiah, Rev. MT. Tough ] ton pastor. and Sunday school, visited this lovely spot. A pioneer spied out the land in l advance, Mir. Frederick l.. Converse, and
 if he did not bring back the favorable port that the land flowed with milk and l honey like certain persons of old, | his report of the spot and his interview with 1 Superintendent Stillson was so favorable that 1 1t was immediately voted to visit it. The re-
 suit verified every anticipation and a goodly company went, although the skies persisted | ill looking portentous. No rain cames how l ever, and there was no scattering to the pavil~ | ions, while the clouds at times seemed half 1 mind to disperse and let the sun god pour | forth his beams. The half hour ride on the 8 o'clock express brought the company to the l Bridgeport depot, where the able superintend- 1 ent of the Housatonic road, MT. l.. B. Still 1 son, met them, and without change of cars l they went through to the beautiful grove, ar | manner the day was spent, and surfeiGed with enjoyment the party returned to the Elm l City, arriving about half past o'clock.
 The excursion, 1t was the verdict of the entire party, as specially expressed by Rev. Mir. Houghton, MT. Foster the corset manu- 1 facturer, MT. Lamb of the Chapel street | store, Mir. Converse and others, was one not | only of great satisfaction, but pure surprise | and admiration at the romantic beauty of the grove and it's diversity of scene, and of Supt.
 Stillson they speak in glowing words of eulo- l gy, and trust they may have the pleasure of meeting him again and revisiting Parlor Rock when the next years excursion season doth I rive. The representative of this paper pres- I ent with the excursionists would add testi-
 mony to the fame and popularity of Mr.
 Stillson, and acknowledge the receipt of | many courtesies extended by him, also by General Ticket Agent Mir. Averill of Bridge
 port Present also yesterday was repre-
 sentative of the Waterbury American, MT. S.
 M. Stone making flying visit, achiel taking
 notes an faith he'll print them. It may be l furthermore added that the road has many 1 parties at Stadler Park, pretty spot in | North Bridgeport, a favorite resort by the German picnics, and that another pavilion
 for Parlor Rock will have to be added owing
 to the great popularity of the place.
 PRraIyzed by Fall.
 Joseph Black, Canadian, thirty-six years old, working for J. L. $ H. H. Stiles, of
 North Haven, the brick manufacturers, fell 1 from one of the brick sheds yesterday morn ing and was paralyzed from the neck down
 No bones were found broken. He was
 brought to the hospital in this city
 Church Notes.