The Wilmingtonian. (Wilmington, Del.) 1882-188?, 1884-05-31
WILMINGTON, DEL, MAY 81, 1854.
OUT OF TOWN RAMBLES.
lettings Antiquarian and Artistic ON
Red Clay Creek.

lettings Antiquarian and Artistic ON
Red Clay Creek.
For THE wILMINGToEIAN.
The line of the Delaware Western Rail
road between Wilmington and Landenberg
passes through region of such varied and
exceptional interest and beauty that it is |
astonishing to find how few of our people |
are acquainted with it. Every point beyond
Brandywine Springs is rich in scenery for
the artist, and abouTtls with ripping
streams shady lanes, old-fashioned farms,
all the attractions that caused the poet
Cowper in IA tribute of passionate devotion
to pen the famous lines:-
"God made the country but made the town"
~ Great as are the attractions of the
Brandywine, there are features about the
scenery of the Red Clay Valley of an even
lovelier type Comparing the two streams
we might say The Brandywine represents a
naughty Sbrunette-wild, passionate, awe
inspiring at 5ianes, magnificent always; while
the Red Clay is more suggestive Of the soft
tender, blonde-someehing that soothes us
and makes us better satisiis with ourselves,
and the world we live in; something that
takes away our cares and gives us the peace
that gold cannot buy or palace bestow.
And this lovely region is not far away-a
moderate drive of six miles will give a
glimpse of many of its attractions. But,
inasmuch as thousand hooks can be
reached on foot for one that is imporfectly
seen from vehicle, it is recommended to
the reader who would wish to see for him
self if this sketch is overdrawn, to take the
early morning train on the Delaware West
ern (nvw the P. & B. and journey out past
Brandywine Springs, Greenbank, Kiamensi
and Falkland to Wood-dale, the best point
to view the scenery of the Red Clay Valley.
The train shoots into the depot through a
steep cutting in the gneiss rock, and if shade
trees, purling brooks, an hours angling or a
profusion of wild flowers are all that is
sought, there is no need of even hundred
yards of tramping. for the whole of these are
on hand at the very point of debarkation
The perfect solitude of the place renders il
difficult to believe that the busy factories
and teeming population of Wilmington are
barely six miles away.
There is splendid fishing in Red Clay
Creek at this point. The stream is crossed
nine times 81 the railroad in the Tourney q
nineteen miles to Landenberg, but the
angler needs go no further than Wooddale tt
commence his sport. There are mountain
mullet suckers, gudgeons, catfish, sunfish
and black-bass, the last named introduced
by Mr.. d. Connell, superintendent of til,
line, about four years ago. Since then they
have increased and multiplied exceedingly
and the original specimens have attained tC
the weight of several pounds. Some Of the
still reaches about the dams are good dea
Melted, but every hole in the pellucid water.
is visibly swarming with fish. The MULE
will not take an ordinary bait but may b.
caught with a small artificial fly sunk a few
inches below the surface aud tipped with
maggot, or ''hunky-dora" as it is classical,
termed.
But the chief attraction to the visitor il
the old Catholic Church at Coffee Run
Creek little above WoOd.dale. Tie dis
lance to the church is about mile and
half, and as the crossroads are numerous ant
bewildering, the following itinerary may b,
of service. Walk down the railroad track il
the direction by which the train has COM
till the Lancaster Pike is reached, at poin
about two hundred yards from the station
Tnrn to the right and ascend the hill 70
three-quarters of a mile, keeping strictly t,
the line of the iEo and disregard crossroads
Arrived ut top of the hill, follow the road Il
the right for another balf-mile till i
descends by steepish deciivity to littl
brook, spanned by stone bridge and shad
owed by magnificent weeping willow
This tree is worth more than pausinj
notice; the artist will certainly not leave
unsketched.
Now ascending the hill on the opposit
side, the visitor sees on the left hand,
couple of hundred yards f, rther up, small
barn-like structure; quite solitary an,
deserted, looking like anything in the worlC
but what it is.-the first Catholic Church il
Delaware.
1t is strange to find so complete solitud
SO near large city. The chances are tina
not single soul will be seen; such, at least
was the writer's experience ON the occasion
of his visit The pathway up to the churc
is closed by gate which is roughly barre
with a log of wood, as if to defend it fror
proclamation by strangers footsteps Ate
getting over the gate, in schoolbOy fashion
the long grass yields to the invading foot
step and the dilapidated structure comes int
view, in the very position which the arts
would select for his sketch book.
Approaching the crumbling edifce, til
shadow of the cross on the west end of tn
roof falls on the Hat slab which covers tn
grave of Father Kenney, for folty-fve year
pastor of the little flock that worshippe
here in the long ago. Gould we interrogat
this venerable sleeper he might tell us tn
curious and interesting history of this reli
of the church of primitive christendon
About the year l74O Jesuit missionary
Father Molyneaux, purchased this plot q
land on behalf Of the Jesuit clergy Of til
diocese of Maryland. His object was t
pursue in the State of Delaware the caus
prohibited in the sister State. A little mis-
sion church, mere log hut-was erecte
and Father Whalen was the first priest
His congregation was largely composed @
Ftench exies and political refugees from III
Island of st. Domingo together with som
Irish emigrants whose descendants still ow
Or occupy tine farms in the neighborhood
In 1895, Father Patrick Kenney succeede,