Morning journal and courier., 1889-08-21


l Densely Populated and Gay summer
Resort-NOw Mt the Seasons Hei&ns
A Glance Along Shorc-Cottages ana
Cottage Owners-Many New Faces
C0nsta ntly Arriving "A Wondoriui
Change in n Few Years. 4
Merwin's Point Justly claims the honor OF |
being one of the prettiest shore resorts along |
The Connecticut coast. Thirty, or even
twenty years ago, at Savin Rock, Merwin's
Point. the Thimble Islands, Stony Creek,
Madison Beach, Cosey Beach and Short
Beach shore cottages were unknown. Beach
street at Savin Rock and Short Beach were
overrun with tangled forest growths. weeds
and berry bushes. with here and there pas
ture lot. Way down at the Rock was the
famous Savin Rock Hotel, which was burned
to the ground years ago. Ex-members OF
the Grays and of other companies OF the Sec
ond regiment who were camped out twenty
years ago with the regiment on one OF the
large open fields about mile this side OF
savin Rock, which is now occupied by the
Mathushek piano mandatory, reeoileot
awakening the first night Of camp to become
conscious that living objects of some size
were moving about under them amid the
straw upon which they lay. They bestirred
themselves and by the light of burn
ing matches slew three snakes. Their
straw bed was over the snakes
earthly den. Savin Rock shore, now
denseiy studded with cottages for
mile was, except for the one hotel men
toned, lonely sand beach fringed
with rank growth of trees and bushes.
Savin Rock to-day has summer population
q 90
Of the hotels and shore cottage property is
over quarter of million dollars. Short
Beach has a summer population of from 500
TO 1000, and Merwin's Point from 500 to 300.
Merwin's Point now has over 90 cottages and
one hotel of notes.-the Pembroke-and just
now the season is as its height, and the pop
ulation there must be over 800. New Haven,
Derby, Ansonia, Birmingham, waterbury,
Milford, Naugatuck are the places most
numerously represented at this shore resort.
Fifteen years ago Mark Merwin's was the
only shore resort at Merwins Point, and very
popular Marks place was, and visitors came
In carriages from all the surrounding terri
tory. There was not summer cot
tage there then. Now Merwin's Point
presents busy, gay gay. scene sos,,no with .ta
little cottages OF all shapes dotting the
free and easy manner, seemingly devoid of
any order or regularity, but suggestive Of
great deal Of comfort. From every availa-
BE tree near the cottages swings hammock
or two, OF bathing suit, and at high tide
| the beach is alive with merry bathers. Not
| only Is the land at and about the Point pref
| ty we'll occupied with cottages, but on the
| seawsrd sloping land, just northward, there
are now many more. This portion has been
regularly laid out into streets and avenues,
| and the beach here presents straight ses
| as far as Oyster river. The pretty cottage Of
| Rev. DR.. Anderson, of Waterbury, Is the
| first met with. It stands In the midst of a
garden and lawn we'll cultivated and i'm
proved, and the grounds skirt Oyster river
| and the beach.
On the sea avenue Beach avenue) which
borders the beach are quite number of cot
| tages. In this section are the cottages of Mr.
Spencer Of waterbury, Mr.. Little of Meri.
| den, Mr.. Whitlock formerly of the Derby
| railroad), Mr.. Chapman of Wallingford, Olir
| II. Clark of Hartford (who is large owner
| of shore sites here), Rev. Mr.. Calhoun Of
Canandagua, N. Y, late of Milford, Mr.
Gla.ier Of Glastonbury. Up on the grassy
/ slope, commanding fine view of the Sound
are the cottages of Elihu Beckley, the New
Gibbs Smith, the manufacturer or
| Water street, this city, Mr.. Brown
who is with R. B. Bradley, this
| city, and Mr.. Harrison. On Beach avenue
are the cottages of Mr.. Hurlburt, for many
years contractor at the clock shop, THU
| city, Mr.. Butricks, who Is with f. S. Brad
| ley. The next, which is the finest cottage a
| is that of ex-city official, Edward Lawrence
| the coal dealer of this city. 1t was specially
| designed as o shore cottage and is very hand
somely finished In hard woods, oiled-and !
| is roomy, inviting and very tastefully arrang
i ed. From the tower on the south flies tn,
| star spangled banner. The main staircase i
very unique and ornamental. Well KEEP
lawns surrounds the cottage. Mr.. Lawrenc
has ample space, having frontage of eight
feet and depth of 1870. The cottage is o.
corner of Beach avenue and Woodmont ave
nue.. From all along this really fine avenu
| grand expanse of view seward Is pre-
sented. To the left, four miles away,
seen Morris Cove. At prearranget
hour, on favorable evenings, Mr.. Lay
renee signals his friend Alderman Frank c
Bushnell who is stopping at the Cove. N
/ sooner does Mr.. Lawrence's red fire pagean
illumine the face of the Sound than re
sponsive blaze of glory bursts forth at tn
Cove four miles away, casting also luri'
| glare far over the waters. Having In thi
manner with colored fire Examinations de
lighted the cottsgers at the respective shore
and exchanged frsternal greetings, rocket
are sent up adding q further burst of radi
ance over the broad bosom of Long ISLAM
l Sound. Mr.. Lawrence's barn in the rear Q
the cottage 10 we'll fitted up and a ventilato
| was put In last week.
l Further on near the Point proper Is tn
new and handsome cottage of Mr.. Williar
II. Downes, who resides on Whitney avenue
this city, corner of Edwards street. II Is jus
completed and handsome addition to th
shore. Other cottages at and about th
Point are those of Mr.. Cannon, the contrac
tor at @. Cowles Il Co.'s the Palmer cottag,
| new one just completed, where William u
Merwin and family of Edwards street, thi
city, and Mrs. John J. Hart Of Bridgepol
and Walter Davis, president of the Y. P.S.C
Il. Of Humphrey street church, this city, OF
stopping, and about twenty other col
tages, including those of Mr.. Allis of Anst
mia, the Baldwin cottage and about twent
other cottages, mostly belonging to Ansoni'
Waterbury and Naugatuok people. TIL
family of Conductor Bradley of the Derb
| road is stopping in one of the cottage,
. There are also at the Point what are Gale
ebay houses" miniature cottages, which al
occupied by their owners and families fe
hours or more at o time. The owner
} reside In other places and drive to Ii
, Point, returning in the cool evenings. Nj
, Rood, proprietor of the Hotel Pembroke,
doing finely and his house is steadily il
creasing in favor and popularity. Other col
owned by Charles Smith, travelling salesms
of this city, and those of N. ]. Clark
Milford, Mr.. Beach Of Seymour, father
, Superintendent Beach, of the Naugatuc
railroad, the Narramore cottage and the fir
cottage Of Colonel William B. Wooster {
Birmingham. In one of the cottages is
: galaxy Of pretty girls all from Orange. The
| are: Misses Jennie Morse, Sarah Treat, Lo
tie Edmunds, Bertha Stone, May Clark, Fal
ME Russell, Mamie Jennings, Sadie Jer
nings, Mamie Alling, Jennie Russell on
Daisy Clark, and are chaperoned by Mr.
Charles Hins. They arrived In high spiri
last Thursday or Friday to remain two
| three weeks. Many Orange young gentl
men appear to find Merwin's Point intense
attractive since their arrival
PERSONAL JOTTINGs