The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1893-01-11
Correspondence Of THE RECORD
A WINTER IN TIE SUNNY SOUTH,
LETTER No. s.
GULF PARK, AReo P. o,

A"'iJ Oh the ioioWlng thursday morn
Ing, we resumed our journey, this time,
however, in fine two horse rig, and ac-
cempanied by Mr.. and Mrs. Rice. Mrs.
Rice is just like young girl-so good
nstured, jolly and full of fun. Yes, for
downright fun and loads Of attention,
just stop at Brooksville, at Rice's Hotel
Eos awhile. Well, we now have the day
before US, in this pleasing journey of FIVE
or six hours. among the inevitable pines,
only here and there broken with a clump
OF clustering vines and over. arching
branches, which occasionally would brush
our faces. 1t is rather long drive from
Brooksville to Gulf Park, but quite an in
teresting and very agreeable one. We
saw birds, quails, &c. Large turkeys are
found along here, and this is also the
range where deer and bear are found, the
FIRST being very plentiful. But the entire
trip was mostly through an unsettled re.
gion, and after passing two negroes in a
two-wheeled cart, we had the road all to
ourselves-no turning to the right, nor
turning to the left, but "keep in de mid
die oh de road All along the road
down here in several places, we saw
''sinks" of the land, usually circular in
form, some of them very deep, but very
seldom containing any, or but very little
water. This indeed is the singular feature
about them, for often they are close to
large lakes whose waters are sometimes
fifty feet above the bottom OF the 'sink, :"
yet there is none in the "stnk." 1t is as
II something had given way underneath,
Ia the earth, aud the soil had fallen in
bat they must all have subterrancan out.
lets, for 10 no other way can the absence
of water be accounted for.
We now drive along the lakes side,
most beautiful body of water, aud then TO
| see the pine trees and the clouds OF fieecy
whiteness reflected in the depths below.
''Novelty hath charms" they say. We
pass few scattered log cabins along the
way. We see all along here the most
beautiful flowers, and we stopped for
awhile and gathered quite handful of
these beauties of nature. We next came
to little house, short distance from the
road. This we heard was the Bachelors
Headquarters. One of the houses, there
are twe), is built of Palmettos, and is the
one in which he lived when he first came
down here, about nine years ago. We
saw just ahead Of us little rustic bridge,
which spans the creek Just below the
bars. These grounds are enclosed with a
neat wire fencing and bars at the en-
trance We let down the bars, drove in
to the grand, beautiful aristocraiic. looking
lane of Gulf Park, and on around the
house to the front veranda, where Mr..
and Mrs. Pine, Owners of this beautiful
place., and the Coleman's, greeted us
heartily. Everywhere we see flowers
blooming, peach trees in blossom, &c.
We pass into the house, and shortly after
we are eating hurried supper, hastily
prepared by good Mrs. Pine, aud then
comes plenty of talk, and a walk around
the grounds, to take view of our sur
roundings. Well, we have indeed, SO 1t
seems, left behind us, the chilling cold
winds aud frosts of Winter for these
Summer skies, and where the songs OF
birds are perennial
In the drive up this lovely lane we
could not help but notice the NJ atuess of
the grounds and the substantial look of
the buildings, and the fences which en-
close these beautiful grounds are all very
neat lin appearance. And now comfort
able chairs are placed on the spacious We
randa and we sit down to rest and thor
oughly enjoy the delightfully."- refreshing
breezes from the great Gulf of Mexico.
Thus far, very little had been said, all
seeming TO be bewildered at the sudden
ness with which we had dropped into
such lovely spot. We whiled away the
remaining hours In easy chairs and ham
mocks, the refreshing sea breeze
rustiing in the palmettos until long after
darkness had stolen over the sea and land.
But how shall describe the features OF
this wonderful place. What kind of
place is ii 2 How does 1t look 2 What does
it produce : How do the people live etc.,
etc., etc. These are only few of the
questions, suppose, that are eagerly
awaiting an answer. Well 10 response to
the first question, might say, that Gulf
Park, or as IL was formerly called, Indian
Creek, is beautiful place. About three
or four years ago 1t was purchased by
former resident of New Jersey, who.
while on visit to Argo, a nearby town,
(and which l will describe at some future
time), was struck with its great natural
beauty and its marvellous facilities for a
Summer and Winter resort. 1t Is situated
IN the northwestern part OF Pasco county,
right on the coast of the great Gulf Of
Mexico. 1t looks like region perpetual
ly breathed upon by airs from Araby the
blest, and as to its produclions-it pro-
duces nearly everything, and with less ex-
penditure OF labor than in many other
portions OF the State, and it has a soil in
which can be grown nearly every variety
Of fruit, flowers, garden vegetables, ETC.. i,
that grows In any temperate or semi
tropical region OF the world. The soil
here is of white sandy nature, quickly
absorbing the moisture, yet most OF the
time it is warm and comparatively dry.
This section OF the gulf coast, as yet but
very little known, contains all the mar
vels and all the excellencles OF the older
and better known portions of the State.
Its latitude is 260 o., just opposite Cape
Canaveral, or midway between the ex-
trem tiles OF Florida's mainland. 1t is