Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-22
OLD-TIME F0UNTS.
SPRINGS THAT DELIGHTED OUR
FOREFATHERS.
Picnic Grounds OF the Long Ago. Win
Some Recoiieotions of Clo-
ri0us Past.

II
ing 10 the soul of an over-worked man or
10 O tired and fatieued body, or to eyes
that have been glazed by the nightly gilt
ter of gas-jets or dulled 10y an oyer-taxed
mind, that thing is the sight OF a bubbling
spring. set in grove Of our native trees,
carpeted with green grass. The silver
thread-like stream that flows from such
source, over such q carpet, is like chord
that connects with the Creator himself,
and the sight or touch OF 1t causes tne
heart 10 vibrate in gratitude 20 music
of its murmur and to awaken every good
and noble impulse in man.
THE FOUNTAINS.
Springs are the direct gift of God to.man
and animals: for their use they were gwen
and man in the very beginning needed no
tutorship TO be directed 70 them To quehcn
his thirst, and the similar instinct OF AMI
mails lead them 90 Quaff the cooling waters
from these fountains.
The Red man saw these springs ana al
once recognized their use, and as near
them as possible he planted his stakes anu
built his wigwam. The white man VINO
followed him also appreciated their I'M
portance. but with a more cultivated IN
stinct recovered them from the primeval
marshes by walling them in with stone or
other material and drained their immediate
vicinity. thus making them IN the hills ana
valleys look like diamonds set IN crown,
with their green fligrec or network OIL
foliage around them.
RIcHMoND's SPRINGS
In the early part Of this century, in the be
ginning of this city. there were many suc1
T.. -, L., 4haf dotted n and
its suburbs, which became famous IN their
day, and to which our citizens repaired on
holidays for social pastime and enloy-
ments. Chief among them were Clarke's
springs, delightful-theme for an ldyl or
fit subject for q painters brush. These
springs are situated on what is known as
the Clarke property, between Hollywood
cemetery and the Old reservoir tall
poplar and gnaTly cedar tree are all tIat
survive the noble grove that shaded TINS
lovely nook ia the hillside, although an
other growth is rearing its head. A hight
of broken stone steps leading To- the springs
and a rude retaining stone wall 10 hold the
embankmcnt out of which its ilmpld water
flows. and the stone slabs that enclose the
springs themselves. are about the only EVIL
denccs Of the former care and attention
paid this lovely spot. But in spite OF the
bad drainage and the resultant marsh
around the springs 1t is still beautiul
spot, and speaks well for the taste OF those
who first cared for il. That 1t should nave
been selected by the Old-timers as the
place 10 hold their barbecucs was the most
natural thing in the world.
OTHER ZINE OLD SPRINGS.
A short distance to the northeast was
the Hermitage farm. Upon 1t, too, were
several eyer-howing springs, shaded latter
" principally by large catalpa trees; One
of these springs flowed out OF the hollow
trunk or gum OF large tree.
These springs were located on the north
side % tie Richmond and Fredcricksbu
railroad. near where now stands the basket
factory and near the head-waters of Ba-
c0u's-Quartor branch. into which Its es-
Gaping water flowed.
There is scarcely vestiCe left Of these
springs and their beautiful surroundings.
Next ia order and a short distance north
east Of these werc the Goddn springs, sit
uatcd in the open space between Goddin's
famous tavern and his old brick row OF
negro quarters.
These springs were shaded by grove Of
sycamore trees. and noble ones they We're,
yeritable mOnarchs Of the forest. A few
Of them still remain muteiy t. tell the tale
OF this Oucc-famOus resort. Between the
Hermitage springs and Goddin's Tavern
springs IN straight line were Buchanan
springs.
These springs more particularly described
were near he corner of Hancock and Clay
streets, and are charmingly noticed IN
Richmond in By-Gone DAYS" They were
shaded bv native oaks and hickOries under
which was built a long shed with open
sides and ends. Nothing remains Of the
surroundings If these springs, but the
springs themselves are still flowing. They
are boarded up, and their waters allowed to
escape from the hillside into q culyeIt
near by.
Still further around but to the cast. on
what is now called tho HenricO turnpike,
about a half mile in the rear of the city
almshouse, were Mitchell's springs, no less
popular than those before described. The
water that flows into the horse-trough
lust beyond the German Catholic cemetery
gate on the turnpike comes from them.
They retain but little of the beauty Of
their former surroundings. They are walled
in with stone slabs and only one CT two Of
the shadc-trees, notably cypress, remain.
An old orchard of few apple-trces. few
scattered bricks, long, straight line Of
bear grass that marked the path in the
middle of the garden probably, and a rank
growth Of yard grass tell the tale of the
hospta6le old house that once graced this
hill. which commands u full Wow of near
Is every portion of Richmond.
These Old-time springs were once famous
resorts, and some Of them are remembered
hy MOrdecai in Richmond IL By-Gone
Days"
cTpOv rTVC-pTACrS