Morning journal and courier., 1886-07-08
WEST HAVEN SHORE.

Rush To The ShOre-Hundreds Seek
a Cooler AtmOsphere-The Pleasure
Drives ThrOnged-The Summer Pop
ulatIOn of COttages-The Old And
The NeV-The Locomotive Firemen's
First Grand Annual-The Coming
Grand Army Gatherfng-A Gathering
ofFffteen Thousand People Expected.
Savin Rock presented an animated appear
ance yesterday: A tolerably cool breeze was
blowing from off the waters OF Long Island
Sound, causing striking difference between
the temperature at West Haven shore and
that in the heated, dusty city, where the
streets glared in the suns rays and business
at the stores in the center of the city seemed
at complete standstill. The West Haven
horse cars in the afternoon were filled with
people going to the shore to escape from the
heat and find if possible cooler place than
the city afforded. The streets of the city and
at the shore and everywhere wore sharp
glare in the SUMS rays and dust was every
where, and the great need of rain, if only to
lay the dust, was a subject on which all were
unanimous. The farmers rejoiced that the
rainless weather of a week past mad enabled
them to secure large quantities of hay, but
they are now quite ready for rain.
Down along the shore roads the farmers were
to be seen swinging the scythe in the hay
fields and perspiring at every pore. Car
rage after carriage rolled shoreward toward
dusk when the heat of the sun became modi-
fed, and hundreds of ladies and gentlemen
were thus seeking to gain relief from the
torrid heat of midday. At the shore the
amusements there offered were
being extensively patronized. Ha.
gers flying horses revolved and
revolved, carrying happy children delighted
M off ord
ed. Off in the left of Railroad Grove the
swings were in motion, and party of Ger
man picnickers were merry in another Sec
ton. Near the entrance group of forty or
fifty men were swarming about some game of
chance in progress. Far off on the Sound
were the white-winged ships passing, some
bound for distant lands and other elimes,
others coasters. Off at the left was
the old lighthouse and grove near
by, which. Hon. John 81. Starin
endeavored in vain to purchase for $780, 900
or $40, 900 to convert into grand pleasure
resort for the million, and which still re-
mains in it's quietude. Still concerning this
pleasure ground great things are prophesied,
while others hold that with the Starin offer
the chances of this spot becoming noted
pleasure resort are very remote. West Haven
shore grows more popular year by year with
summer cottagers and Fenwick grove the
Hartford resort, has but a mere hand
full of cottages in comparison
with it. The costly character of
some of the summer residence is the won
der of old inhabitants who easily recall the
time when the whole shore and the inland
presented in summer a scene in which
whortleberry, underground and copses and
little forests were about all the eye beheld.
The beach road Tor Beach street, between
Howes' and Kelsey's wharf has been protect
ed from the ravages of the big waves which
break in upon the shore when old ocean is in
a fury, by breastwork of heavy stones
about 100 feet from high water mark. This
barrier breaks the force of the
onrushing waves in storm time and helps
much to keep the road from damage and the
town from expense. Skeeles' new pavilion
is a new feature in the landscape and TANKS
and fronts the entrance to Kelsey's wharf.
Old Savin Rock seems likely to be neglect
ed this year, as the horse cars go no further
than Skeeles', and from there to the Rock is
quite long, hot and generally dusty walk.
The different restaurants are begin
ming to reap their summer har-
vest of patronage. At Howes an i'm
mense throng were fed on the Fourth or
rather the fifth. Some very large throngs
will be seen at the shore this season on
two occasions. One of the big events will be
the first annual afternoon and evening picnic
of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
and gathering of 200 or 500 people is
expected for the occasion. Mr.. Howes will
get them up one of his famous shore dinners. |
The 6remen's organization is a new one, com
parativeIy speaking, not having been organ
lied many months, but is already on a strong
basis and has come to stay. Already over |
l, 200 tickets have been sold for the affair, |
said Mr.. Howe yesterday. All parts of the |
State will be represented and other States |
will be represented. They have engaged |
orchestra for the occasion. Mr.. |
Howes' advantages were never better for ac-
commodatipg large parties than at present, |
owing to his energetic endeavors. His skat- |
ing rink is now booming. Good music is |
furnished every afternoon.
An immense gathering is expected for Au-
gust 5. Mr.. Howes said the gathering then |
would probably number fifteen thousand. |
Chairman Lovejoy of the committee states |
that invitations have been sent to |
every post G. A. r. in the |
State of Connecticut, about seventy five |
in number, and to every camp Sons of Vet |
Grams and every Ladies' Relief corps in the |
State; also to Noah L. Farnham post, New
York city. Sports, games, ETC., will enl1ven
he day and handsome prizes will be award
I'd, including Wilcox & White organ, do /
mated by the Wilcox & White Organ compa-
~ of Meriden, and fine fitting set, donated
oy Hon. Charles L. Mitchell. A number
more prizes will come. The prizes will be
put exhibition in day or two in Arm
,trong's window on Chapel street. 1t will
be the largest Grand Army
gathering ever held in the State.
A Fine Shower Last Evening-Not Here
New Haven people who came down on the
here was a fine thunder shower up the road.
It rained heavily. They met the shower at
simsbury and left it at Mt. Carmel.