The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-09-04
oLD GUrLFoRD DAYS

Hotel-Guilford as a Summer Resort To-
 day.
 Half a century ago, or before most of your readers were born, everybody in New Haven and all along shore as far as New Orleans, and in the Back country as far as Chicago, knew something of this favorite summer resort Not that everybody came here in that primitive age of summer resorting, for in those days the public taste was somewhat di- vided between Santa Cruz rum and the mineral waters, and no matter which they took first, the other was wanted at once to take the taste out of the mouth, and so those who had money to burn visited Saratoga and filled up with a variety of mineral mixtures. and then came with haste to Sachem's Head for the antidote and vice versa No doubt there were exceptional cases where the patient was satisfied with "a hair of the same dog that bit them and most of this class came here early and stayed late for the seaside land lord of that day was hospitable as we'll as jolly old soul, and did not linn 1t his guests as to times and seasons, and was willing to assist them in dis posing of their surplus shekels in the cold of winter as well as the heat of summer. Then, too, there were those who when reckoning day came up be- yant Albany,S' found that their pocket books as we'll as their interior depart ments had been pretty well cleaned out, and they hastened home to recruit in both directions But the wise men of that day, or few of them, did not miss their summer outing in the fa- nous old hotel that stood among the thick trees on this beautiful bluff in the southeastern part of old Guilford town, and no one can criticize their taste who has passed even a day In looking overt this place and it's surrounding. A cas- ual visit of only a few moments in the summer of 1851 fixed in the writer's mind a picture of it's natural beauty. Within stones throw of the waters Of the Sound the easy ascent brought one to an elevation of perhaps seventy-f1ve feet, giving a clear view of the shore points east and west for many miles; of Faulkner's Island and it's lighthouse and Goose Island five to eight miles southeast, and of long stretch of Long Island directly south. The great number of sailing craft of all sorts go- ing to and fro on the Sound broke the monotony in that direction and made ample amends for the lack of railroad trains or stage coaches on the land side with their noise and dust. The facili- ties for boating and fishing on the Sound were ample; the hunting in the forests of Guilford and trout fishing in their brooks were less restricted than to-day, and the whole air of the place was restful and recuperative.
 To-day we look in vain for the old hotel with its tall pillars, its high ceil- ing and general air of solidity. Years ago the fire destroyed all that and the guests who enjoyed those things have gone the way of all flesh. Even the spot where the old building stood needs to be pointed out to the visitor of to- day, and his imagination must supply all the details, for there Is not even an old cellar left upon which to rear in
 
 which we conclude that not even in that somewhat democratic resort was there at that time any underground work
 But the natural beauties of the place are as striking as ever and cannot but be more generally appreciated in the coming days The large number of pleasant cottages shows the good taste and judgment of some of up country people of wealth, and the modest hotel known as the "Sachem's Head House" or "Barkers" opens it's hospitable doors during the season to about forty guests, some of whom have been here regularly for ten or fifteen years. It can feed if required about as many more transient visitors who may come for a day or dinner, or while lodging in the cottages prefer to have no care for a cuisine"
 The writer found it so full in this last find a lodging in cottage near at hand and others in previous weeks had similar experience.
 There are good reasons for calling this a/model resort for families of quiet tastes. The loud and fast element find decided lack of unhealthy enervating excitement, while those who seek rest and recreation combined find it. The facilities for pleasant and absolutely safe sea bathing are ample. A fine sandy beach with bathing-houses are right at hand, and the roaring, tum- bling surf with it's treacherous undertow does not get over the rocks that guard the mouth of this quiet inlet of the sea. Even a southeaster fouls on the rocks.
 Among the hotel guests are MT. and Mrs. Hawkins, Philadelphia; Mir. and Mrs. Clark and Miss Louise Clark, New York; Master Louis Dent, New York; Mrs. Thompson and daughter, Philadelphia; Mrs. Howells, four chill dren and servant, Philadelphia; Rev. William Thomas, Dunkirk, Ind; Mrs. William Thomas, Dunkirk, Ind; MT and Mrs Boyd Waterbury; MT. Theo- dore R.. Peck, Waterbury; MT and Mrs. Follett and mother Hartford; Mrs Miller, Springfield; Miss Miller Springfield MT. w. w Herrick Springfield; M. M. Cover, New Haven; Mrs Babcock and son. Chicago; Miss Peck, Bristol; Miss Merrick Bristol and several others.
 Among the cottagers were families from Bristol, Meriden, Hartford and other inland towns. One lovely cot tage sheltered during the week these New Haven people, mostly or all Da- venporters:
 MT. and Mrs. Isaac Smith and fami-