The Portland daily press., 1896-06-15
At RIYERTON.
The New Resort VIII Be Open to All
Corners Next Saturday.

y PIey Ground OnSurpSSsSu III Now
England-some Of the Attractions at
the Portland Railroad Co.'s. New Park.
A view of the Presumpsoot winding
between the rows of trees which fringe
its waters, with Yistas Of the pleasant
farm lands stretching away on the OPP
posite side and glimpses of the hills
purple in the distance, is enough to re-
pay the visitor for a trip to Riverton,
the new resort of the Portland Railway
Company at Pride's bridge.
Many are more or less familiar with
these beautiful views, but few know how
the art of the landscape gardener and
the architect, backed by enterprise and
capital, has contributed to mako this
charming spot one of the most attractive
pleasure grounds in New England. 1t
was only on the tenth of April last that
the work was begun, but it has since
then been carried forward by force of
200 men working every secular day when
weather permitted, and they have
done wonders, for next Saturday River
ton will be ready to extend hearty well
come to the crowds who will go there.
Saturday a party of gentlemen by
invitation of the Company, paid visit TO
Riyerton and were shown about the
grounds. The party left Portland at
2. As on special car which covered the
| distance in half an hour. AS you ap-
proaoh this pl easure ground of 20 acres.
you first realize it's beauty as you get
view of 1t while the car descends the hi II
leading to the bridge. At the foot of this
hill, the track turns to the right and
enters the grounds, passing along a
broad avenue in front of the Casino and,
making loop, re-entering the highway
| at the top Of the hill. The Casino, itself,
with Its roomy restaurant on the ground
| floor and the pretty dance hall above
stands well up the bank SO that from it's
piazza the visitor can overlook the coun-
try for miles around. These broad piazzas,
By the way. will be just the place to
enjoy supper in the cool of summer
evening, while inside, the great fireplace
made of stone gathered on the premises,
bespeaks oheerfulness in the October
days when Jack Frost is painting the
foliage. Below the Casino winding
walk follows the river bank and rs one
passes along this pleasant path, he sees
everywhere the evidences Of the skill OF
Mr.. Blaisdell of ths firm of Gray &
Blaisdell, civil engineer, of Boston.
who laid out the grounds and
| planned their many attractive
features. First there is the pond, in
a deep glen, where the waters of never
failing spring will. when the work is
completed, fall over a dam and escape
into the river. An hydraulic ram placed
here forces the water Of the spring up to
the Casino so that en- abundance Of pure
water will be available for use there.
Above the pond are granite steps in the
rerraoed bank leading to the lawn on
the uplands. 1t is beyond the pond
that in natural amphitherate is the
rustic theatre, stage supported or
walls of the rough saplings cut
on the spot and to be covered with roof
made in Chinese fashion. Rustic bench
es rising row above row on the s'oping
hillside afford room for hundreds Of
spectators. Still farther down the stream,
for this walk, extending as it does the
length Of the property, is a pretty long
one, are two lookouts built over the wat
er and from these points are obtained
charming views of the river scenery.
Here and there on the wooded slopes are
little rustic shelters which look SO fnyit
ing that they remind one Of that famous
little song Of Della Fox's
"a Summer hight, Shady Nook"
Above the river bank and around til.
Casino. men are busily at work laying ou1
lawns and flower beds. The band stand op
posite the Casino, in the level land, Is near
ly completed. 1t will be reached by broad
flight of steps, with buttrosses of rough
stone in which will blossom many fra
grant flowers. A newspaper column il
not long enough to haId full desorip
ton of the beauties Of RivertoD, neither
does it permit of an account Of the plea
sure of a sail down the river, pleasure
which General Manager Goodrich of thu
Presumpscot River Steamboat Compan.
made possible for yesterdays visitors
But next Saturday if you join tn
throngs there you may see 1T all for your
self and beside that hear the band con
/ certs, attend the performances Of the Ala
bama troubadeurs Ia the rustic theatre
and stop to refresh the inner man at thu
Casino, where Ian dlord Smith vii
serve appetizing lunches.
To accommodate their increased traffic
the company is laying double track OF
Stevens Plains avenue, using q 60-foot
9-inch girder rail, the longest and hoavi
est rail erar used ON a street. rsilwa,