The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-11-11
THE DEMOCRATIC PRESS.
GlImpses of NEW England.

lmpSeb Oh New Eng lamds ,u
September 80. left Ravenna, with some of 9
le Olin Excursionists. in car attached to II
'gular passenger train, for bennington. vt, a
eaving Ravenna about II a. M; we passed a
amestown. N. Y, just as the sun was shedding [
er last golden rays on the placid waters of the ;,
oted Lake Chautauqua. On, on we sped. and
s the gray light of morning broke. we realized
hat we were in a different country from which
We were few hours before. We were in a
ountry of mountains and valleys. We arrived I
n Bennington, VT, about noons Thursday. oct l
st. Saw nothing of note, except the new Ben
lIngton Monument on the famous battle ground.
there about an hour, and then con-
Inued our journey to Berkshire county. Mass.
Arriving at Great harrington, on the Housa-
ionic railroad. about 10 p. M. we passed the
night at the Berkshire House." On entering
the sitting and dining rooms. we were convinc-
ed by the large open wood freplaces and brass
that we we're in New England, and
my Imagination pictured rings Of golden pump
kins hanging on rods. drying. in the kitchen
Great Darlington is a very pleasant old town |
Here is situated the palace built by Mrs. Hop |
ins-Searles, This property, with the rest eff
the estate, is valued at more than fifty millions.
The palace is built of blue Dolonnite stone. |
taken from quarries near here; the roof, broken
by many towers and gables, is covered with red
and black slate in tasty patterns, with copper
caps and bronze weather vanes' The effect is a
combination Of many different styles of archi-
lecture, in which the old French style predom-
mates. In front of the mansion is built a wall
of stone. about ten feet high. surmounted by an
iron railing. about two feet high; with massive
gateways, iron gates. and high board fences.
with double row of fast growing trees inside
the wall. it will soon be obscured from all view
of the outside world. Vines of ivy Chamber
over the walls unframed everywhere She no
doubt thought the outside world should be sat
isfed in looking at the Congregational Parson-
age. which she furnished means to build. and
which cost 800, ,0O0 1t was built to the memory
of her first husband. Mark Hopkins. and is very
grand and beautiful. built of the same kind of
stone as her own palatial home. and the lovely
Annpelopsis vine, which is beautiful in summer
with its green foliage. changing to rich shades
of red in autumn, and even when shorn of all
foliage, in winter. leaves a delicate tracery of
vine clinging to the wall. and greatly enhances
its beauty, But Mrs. Hopkins -Searles' body
lies in vault at Methune. and her husband Mr..
searles. who was her junior by many years. and
other heirs are in litigation over her accumu-
lated millions.
harrington heights" is high elevation oi
land above the town, commands fine view OF
the mountains and surrounding country. here
is q well founded rumor that stock company
is to be formed to build an elegant hotel here
for the accommodation of summer boarders.
The town has large. commodious HOSES. sug
gestive of great wealth This, as well as many
other towns in Berkshire county, is frequented
in summer by city people. who either OWE
country houses or board. Here William Cullen
Bryant wrote his Thanatopsis.
Usage Homestead my home during my stay
in New Englard. and which was the home o.
the mother and grandparents of l. H. Phelps
of Ravenna. and which is now owned and oc
cupied by his cousin. Miss Alice B. Sage. has
been in the Sage family for more than ninety
years, and is very dear to the hearts of the
grandchildren 1t is in Sheffield township
about six miles from Sheffield village. on the
line between Connecticut and Massachusetts
II is situated on the " Under Mountain Road.'
which runs north and south. parallel with and
few rods from the lofty Taconic range Of
mountains. Away of to the east of us, across
a valley, stretch the mountains of Canaan
There are many fine farms on the mountain side
Terrace above terrace, formed by stone walls
are every where. Where the land IS cultivated
it is cultivated to perfection, and yields bounti
full harvests There is much fine grazing and
meadow land. watered by numerous mountain
streams and springs. Fruit of all kinds is very
abundant. Ryeis the principal grain raised il
is much used for brown bread. while the straw
finds ready sale. at from $12 to $i5 a ton. Buck
wheat. oats and rye usually threshed will
fall during the winter. A very primltiv,
horsepower is used by some. The white fou
for bread comes from Minnesota. while st Loui
flour is used for pastry,
never saw such large maple and elm tree
as are here. In Sheffield village Is the larges
tree in the State, the Historic Elm," The mex
in size, think, is an apple tree on Sage
farm, which is go years old or more. and which
by actual measurement. is 109 inches around thu
base. "The Willows on the same farm. hay,
been considered so beautiful that they wer,
painted by David johnson, New York artist
and the picture is valued at ST ,0C0.
Away up in the Taconic range of mountain
is the beginning of "Sage's Ravine - where tn,
waters start from, and flow over rocks ant
boulders, forming many beautiful cascade
The upper falls are. properly, two falls. as tn
first is perhaps thirty feet high. falling into
basin of rock few feet in diameter. then will
sharp turn. falls over great boulder, dis
tance CT about fifty feet. The sides of the ravin
at this place are lined with trees Of hemlock ant
pine and the rocks everywhere are coyere'
with a beautiful green moss. Down. down, tn
waters of the ravine rush. and gurgle over moss
rocks, forming pools of the purest water. clea
as crystal, lnnumerable small falls are alon
its course. The last. large fall is immediatel
under the bridge, which crosses the '' Unde
Mountain roads few rods from the house. an
whose waters have, from time unknown. sun
sweet songs for the living or requiems for th
dead.
It would be presumptuous for me to attemL
to describe what many an artist has failed t
paint perfectly. or Bard portray in song Q
story. For picturesqueness. the Ravine is un
surpassed.
few hours ride en- the railroad finds me
Hampshire Co.. Mass, Hampshire County ri
walls Berkshire County in beauty Of scenery
One fine morning. after drive of eight mile
brings us to the foot of Nonotuck Mountain.
guideboard reads. .'One mile to the Eyri
house, We turn and comm ence the ascent
After many twist and turn we reach tn
.ssheds. few rods from the summit. Havin
tied and blanketed our horses. fine team whic
are dripping wet. we go up rocks and Stair
and finally reach the top. and here we are ss
feet in air. We have fine view OF mountain
valleys, rivers and villages. Holyeke Seminar,
Amherst college, mount OolJokcs omItn1 vi
lege for Women, are few points of interest
Northampton meadows. containing hundreds {
acres of land lie before US. while the Connect
cut river which is very low at this season. an
is in some places filed with logs some of whic
lie HI gh and dry on the river bank. and will re
main there until high water floats them away
winds and turns, forming the wonderful g Ok
Row. within the confines of which the Con
necticut River Lumber Co. have one of thei
mills. At present they have fifty acres of Ian
covered with piles of sawed wood. But loo
throush the telescope at clock in Holyok
village. eight miles away. admonished us tina
we must hasten. SO with parting glance at tn
hu0e rettlesnake, who bids us good bye with
rriend,y tPl rattle we hurry down the mountain
Two miles from the base of the Nonotuc
Afonntain is Northampton where Jenny Lin
.nent her honeymoon. ana called it 1.-THE Par
a5ise Of America % A drive through the tow
oo,,1inced us that it was indeed very beautiful
Nortbamuton owes J.k kG. Holland heI fines
tribnte in " Kathrina.' but space forbids men
tionipg many places of note. Through East
hamuten. which was . built on button.'' s.
called because the business interests were com