Passaic City record., 1895-07-13

ago Valley. and when -four hoss stages
ran from Utica to Binghamton, and be-
tween Ithaca and Catskill. the house
did thriving buiness from this traffic
alone. In the Spring or Fall, when
merchants were going to New York to
buy goods,-for in those days there
were no commercial travellers on the
road, and merchants went regularly
twice year to New York to get all the
goods they sold,-as many as six and
eight extra d horse coaches, each cap
able of conveying dozen passengers.
comfortably. frequently drew up IN front
of the Chenango House, the merchants
alighting and taking their breakfast
lhere. As there were only IS to 20 min
utes time to spare before the coaches
were off again, there was not much tarry-
ing over the meal and there were hurry
ing times about the Chenango House
on those occasions. Those men came
from the West, and over the old turn
pike route, bound to Catskill, thence by
steamboat on the Hudson river to New
York city.
The displacing of the canal and stage
coaches by the railroad in the COS was
a serious blow to the famous old hostelry,
but during the past 10 or II years 1t has
recovered much of its old time popul-
arity. although its patrons are more es-
pecially families.
In 1877 DR.. Silvernail. the present
proprietor, purchased the property, in
cluding large livery stable and vege-
table garden which front on adjoining
streets. for about ten thousand dol
lars. The Dr. Immediately went to
work to renovate the property and spent
several thousands dollars in improving
and repairing the house. 1t is equipped
with its own gas plant, steam heat, run
ming water from a mountain spring,
sewerage and sanitary closets and bath
rooms Three broad piazzas extend
across the front of the building and many
noted personages have occupied places
upon them.
Besides entertaining many commercial
travellers and others, the house enjoys
liberal patronage from local business
men and families. Greene is town
of considerable wealth; poor people are
the exception, rather than the rule;
there are no tenements; every family has
its lawns, fruit and shade; and many
families, the whole year through, get
their meals at the hotel. except break
fast, and as many as $50 are frequently
fed at one meal The cuisine is the
very best. Owing to impaired health
of its present owner the Chenango
House is for sale and anyone under
standing the business and having the
money could not invest IS to 20 thousand
dollars more advantageously.
But to return to our original narrative:
The day following our arrival our gen
ial host took us on drive over the hills
to Smithville and McDonough Springs.
The party consisted of the Doctor,
his little treasure of wife, the RECORD
MAN and his wife and two children
The day was perfect one and the team
of little bays did not lag in their task of
taking us IL miles in two hours. Smith
Vile is not an attractive place. The
hand of time is clearly discernable on
everything within its limits, and If ever
there was any enterprise there it long
since died out.
McDonough Springs is three or four
miles beyond Smithville in the Genegan-
tslet valley. Only one spring remains
now, or can be found and that is nearly
lost in the rank growth OF weeds. 1t con-
sists of large boulder through the CEN
ter of which is round hole IS inches in
diameter and through which water of a
strong sulphuric odor passes. 1t marks
the site of hotel which early in the
present century was fashionable resort,
| for both health and pleasure seekers.
Close by the springs is the large dairy
| farm of Mr.. Smith Edwards, and as it
was about milking time we concluded
| to sample milk as well as water, and to
investigate the meaning of the word
Baby separator or BABY evaporator"
which two of the party noticed on the
end OF barrel which lay in the open
do;rx houca