The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-22
LIFE AT WILSON'S SPRING.
One Of The Old Time Virginia Re-
sorts.
ENDEzYOUS FOR ALL ROCKBRlDGE.
ro1 More Than Century 1t Has Been
Sought for Rest, Recreation, and
Comfort by Quiet
People.

WILSON'S SPRINGS. VA. August a.
Spectator more than one hundred
years-to be exact. ono hundred and lf-
teen years-WllsOn's sulphur Springs, u
miles north Of Lexington, have been the
pleasure resort Tor the people OF Rock
bridge county
Mr.. Daniel Strickler. grandfather Of the
noted Presbyterian divine. Rev. c. b.
Stricken -. D.. OF Atlanta. Ca. was pro-
prieior here for hfty-eight years. The
spring was not on bis original property,
but on an island in the North river and
was public land. belonging 90 the Stale
This parcel OF land ten acres were
bought by Mr.. Strickcr, the lines being
located by Major John Alexander, who
was county surveyor
The only change Major Alexander made
for his services was that Mr.. Strickler
should incorporate into his deed that the
people Of Rockbrdgc should have unmo-
tested right Of ingress and cgress. thus en-
Joying oil the privileges OF the spring.
This was done. ana since that time the
number ~ visitors has largely increased.
10 CHANGE FOR FIFTY YEARS.
The property has been under the pres
ent management tho Wilson's. for nifty
seven years Squire William A. Wilson
was proprietor until his death I'm 1852
since which time his widow. Mrs. Mary 4.
Wilson. now in her cighty-frst year. has
controlled affairs.
Here the county people can come UNI
hampcrcd by the cOnvcntOnaNtics Of
fashionable summer resorts. II IS a kind
Of free and easy life charming I'm the
extreme. because everybody knows every
body else aud the spirit OF rivalry and
attempt 60 Outshino IS conspicuous for
its absence.
The long summer days are spent I'm So
cial intercourse. fishing. rolling ten pins.
excursions into the mountain. bathing.
etc. I'm the evening. dancing. not the
fashionable kind but the ploasurable sort
Of the long ago is INDUCED in. The mu-
sic Is furnished on these occasions by TIE
banjo and violin
Near here IS the Justly famed Goshen
Pass. where the mountain rolls back from
mountain. giving an enchanting view even
IN this region Of magnificent mountain
scenery
WHEN THE LAUREL BLOOMS.
When The laurel IS i'm bloom. far up tho
mountain side IS picture Of gorgeous
magnifccncc that IS simply indescribalbc.
Impressed with IT'S beauty. that lover or
nature. Commodore NJ. T. Maury. request
ed that his body after death should be
taken through Goshen Pass while the
laurel was IN bloom.
There are at present nearly two hun
bred people here. Among Tie families I'm
cabins on the green are the following
from the county and town.
Mesdames Irwin and Terrell. Misses
Kirkpatrick and Mr.. Patterson. OF
Brownsburg; Mcssrs Hart. Engleman,
Beard. Miller and Teaford. of Alone Mills:
Messrs. Stuart. Clemmer and Wilson. of
Fairfield. Dr. Hyde. Of Decatur; Mr.. Nc
Cormick. Of Davis. Mr.. Berry of New
port: Mesdames. Black and Rowan. Of
old Providence. Mrs. Rust and Miss car
son. Of Steele's Tavern; Captain w. +.
Pierson and Mrs. J. +. Wilson, of LcXing-
ton.
THE GUESTS.
At the hotel are the following guests:
Mrs Smith and Miss Carlisle. of Ohio; j.
l.. Kirkpatrick Of Missouri: Miss Lula
Kregloe, DR.. and Mrs. Merriweather-
Mrs. r. i. Amole. Mr.. and Mrs. J. r. Nc
Kee. OF Bucna Vista: r. j. Anderson. J.
II. Brown. r. L. Patterson. of Browns
burg: william Patton, =. Templeton, J.
r. Patton. OF Fairfield: w II. AgnOr. II.
e Hutton and w. r.. Kennedy of Lex
ington and others.
Last Saturday was the date for the re-
union Of the Rockbridge Rifles. Captain
Currys company and one that drilled
three months here at Wilson's Springs be-
fore entering the war. There are pos
siblv forty survivors of this company now
living in this county. They were adj
dressed I'm a short and appropriate speech
by Mr. T. II. Barclay, OF the Lexington
Gazette.