Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-09-01

| City Railway COmpany---The New
| Pavilion at Shellpot Parl---Suggestions
for "a Skating Pond--The Monolith Ia
| Mark the division Point of the 12-mile
Circlo--The Surroundings at Gordon
Heights.
A trio Of gentlemen took advantage
of Sunday afternoons delightful
weather to take stroll through Brandy.
wine hundred to see what was to be
seen and to satisfy themselves on the
actual condition Of things in that ancient
historic territory which now is threat
ened with invasion by all sorts oil
modern ideas such rs an electric railway,
a peoples park, a big band pavilion
and other modern ideas such as would
make the eyes of those patriots of 100
years ago who fought with Washington
and whipped the British, almost pop out
of their heads with wonder.
A delightful ride in that pleasantest
Of carriages the Wilmington City Rail
way Company's summer car brought the
trio to the place of investigation in 10
minutes ride all too short for the pleasure
| it gave.
In another 10 minutes the party was
strolllng through the woods ON the north
side of the turnpike.
What genuine delight there is in a
two hours walk through the woods.
Ones old acquaintance of flower and
tree with indescribable aroma of forest,
earth and woods, the silence, and the
varied sunlight and shadow, tho open
glade and then the solemn darkness nf
the timber-are all renewed again.
Majors run, a tributary of the Shell
| pot was reached
AT this moment one of the party
recollected that a certain Wilmington
surveyor, if memory serves Alright,
William A. KINNEY, who Lad been
| professionally engaged by property
owners in that locality, had made some
reference to the fact Of the feasibility of
a dam being built at certain point on
the run by which an excellent skating
pond of very large Dimensions could be
| built.
The land, ii is understood, is the
property of Preston Lea, and adjoins,
or Is part OF the proposed Shcllpot Park
The available point on the run referred
to IS about 200 yards from the Shellpot
electric railway extension. There would
not be more than 60 feet of u dam wall
required. And by this structure a pond
possibly half mile long would be sc
| quired. In parts, of course, as il would
have to follow the deprcSs:ons and the
sinuosities of the run it might not be
more than 300 feet wide. But the, in
other parts ID would widen ont three
times that distance. There would be
two or three turns also before the high
land was reached. But this short dam
| Is all that Is necessary 10 afford a
splendid skating pond The average de.
preston on either bank is six or seven
feet. All the expense in connection
with the idea would be the building OF
the dam and the clearing out OF the
trees and brush-wood in the creek
bottom.
Now the advantage of it is seen in its
close proximity, hardly 100 feet distant
from Shellpot park, and the easy access
for city people by the electric railway.
| On unanimous vote of the three
promoters" of outdoor advantages fol
hardworked city people, it was deter.
mined to make public protfer of the
skating pond idea to the enterprsng
manager of the City Railway Company
and to Mr.. Lea in particular.
Following the course of the run
towards its junction with the Sbellpot
several hundred feet below, an old dam
was discovered, and stile further along,
the remainder of the old mill-racc
which carried the water to Webster's
mill. Reaching the mill itself, which is
close at hand, the big new dancing
pavilion, just erected on the banks OF
the Shellpot by the railway company
came into view.
IL Is all immense structure, 00x40 feet
and most solidly and substantially pui
up. Its immense roof, entirely covered
by sheet tin, glinted and shone like
silver Numbers of visitors by buggy
and electric car were inspecting it. II
isquite handsome structure. Evidently
no expense has been spared in its cree
ton. A new wooden bridge, at the
roadway leading to the pavilion, has
been thrown over Majors run, which
joins the Shellpot at this point.
Following the pike the party strolled
past Tyres quarry, up the Edge Mool
road, where large heaps of Belgian
blocks lie ready for use in the paving OF
city streets. Farther on the woods and
the mass of high, timbered ground which
finds its apex in Gordon Heights, were
reached.
Here there is Il magnificent view
Four states, Pennsylvania, Maryland
New jersey and Delaware are obsery.
able. The Delaware stretches right and
left for distance of 80 miles. To the
left is Point Breeze and the public
buildings and to the right Fort Delaware
and Delaware City, Looking out in
front the Delaware river seems to BE-
down in pit and not more than Il milo
wide. An expanse of country can bt
seen from the near Jersey shore to the
distant horizon said To be 30 miles
This would be about half way acros.
the Jersey peninsula, for another &C
miles straight east would reach Atlantic
City.
The big flag pole of Gordon Heip hts
is planted al this point of high ground.
Through vista of woods, down the
slope towards the river is perceived the
big red brick club house. This vista is
Lore avenue. Stately timber and not
stately residences border its course at
the present moment.
To the south IS seen the narrow silver
line of the Christiana stretching back
from the Delaware, meandcring its
crooked course westward 10 where the
spires of Wilmington crown nearer
ridge. To the south and relatively near
are the tall smoking stacks Of Taskers
mills at New Castle. And westerly,
farther along beyond the distant lines
Of rolling woodland, is Maryland, My
Maryland"
There certainly is some justice in the
| claim that at this point can be gained
the finest view in Delaware. There is
equally little doubt that no more attrac-
tive sylvan beauty can be found any