The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-24


ways and ever 1t will smile fair as
the garden of the Lord" and always
its name will be the synonym of rest
and peace and delight. For the benefit
of the many VINO have no conception o,
the wild and indescribable charms TO
be found far up among the mountains
of our neighbor county, Wayne, this
tribute to a rare treasure casket of ma
ture's lovehness is written.
Preston township has made record
for itself in the quiet repressed history
of lives led in the simplicity of early
traditions and hard conditions that sur
rounded them. The earliest settler was
a Quaker and legends still remain Of
the antagonsm and the triumph
through which his faith passed, and
which left his name and the memory
of his unEemitting toll upon the rocky
hilsides
James d. StoclSer, q prominent resi-
dent OF JeTmyn. and one of the fore
most representatives of Lackawanna
county, may be called the discoverer
of Preston Park, so far as It's present
relation to civilization Is concerned.
Eighteen years ago standing at the
door of a little farm house and facing
the noble slope above a sparkling lake
he said: what place for hunting
lodge, or a country club"
The idea remained in his mind, and
years afterward as he guided one
friend after another to this spot, un-
rivaned in its natural features, he i'm
bued with enthusiasm those who, with
him, gazed upon the fascinating possi-
bilities.
PRESTON PARK ASSOCIATION.
When the Ontario and Western rail-
road was laid through this region pos
sibilties became certainties.
Mr. StoCl1er went about quietly and
bought up the land surrounding the
two lakes. Plot AFTER plot was added
until a tract of 400 acres was secured.
The original plan of the gentlemen in
terested was to form an extensive deer
park and hunting and fish preserve,
This was in 1891. A charter was OBJ
tanned and the following officers and
board Of directors were elected for the
first year: President, J. G. Stocker,
Jermyn; secretary, John W. Aitken.
Carbondale; treasurer, A. w. Dickson;
board of directors, J. D. Stocker, J. w.
Aitken, A. w. Dickson, William S.
Hutchins, Moosic, c. II. Pond, q. S.
Kimball Carbondale; j. j. Williams.
Messrs. Stocker, Aitken and S. P. Hull
constituted the house cor1mittee, with
MeSSfS. StOCKer, MdtIleWS anu fOHu as
committee on grounds.
The list of members besides those
named were: J.'E. Burr, Mrs. Mary La
thrope Crane, e. E. Hendrick, Carbon
dale; S. w. Cook, Jermyn; DR.. Thomas
Canning Church, Valley Falls, N. j..
c. A. Clearwater f.. A. Clark A. W.
Dickson, Joseph Il. Dickson, New
York; Jesse l.. Eddy, New York; I. A.
Finch, S. p. Hull, j. l.. Hull, Frank
lin Howell. c. w. Jenkins, j. B. Kerr,
New York; c. p. Matthews. ]. d. Ma
son, Walter Matthews w. w. Phillips
J. H. Rittenhouse. DR.. j. L. Rea, A. s.
Roe, Z. b. Sturges, George Sanderson,
j. j. Williams w. w. Watson, T. F.
Welles, A. b. Williams.
II soon became the united object of
the stockholders to make the spot a
resort where their families and friends
could withdraw whenever 1t so pleased
them, and. accordingly plans for club
house were made by Architect Brown,
WhIch resulted in the present struc-
ture built on majestic emincnce ris-
ing high between two lakes and slop-
ing in beautiful curves in either di-
rection. where the wooded hills beyond
undulate TO encircle this lovely vale.
One of the great advantages of the
location is the stretch of forest that
can be seen. While there is much open
country the presence OF the woodland
and mountain casting deep shadows
into lake and stream renders the vista
extraordinarily attractive.
LODGE AT THE PARK.
The Lodge is a large and commodlous
building, elegant and picturesque in
architecture, a combination of rich
browns and reds in tone, and surround
ed with deep generous porches. The
first view of it coming around the
curve in driving in from the station is
always a surprise to the newcomer
so imposing is its appearance on the
lovely hill set against another greater
rise for a background.
From it the views are a never ending
source of delight. One lake ripping
against the lawn at the right, another
at the left glimmering through the
trees at the foot OF the orchard
while In front, rising far and
stretching afar to the horizon is
what seems to be the abrupt spur OF
a mountain in the breaks OIL which car
be caught cleaning lines of distant
blue of mountains hundreds of mile.
away.
o.. The Lodge occupies the site Of an ole
farm house, the ruined chimney OF
which forms an Interesting and pic
turesque object close by the northern
Veranda, where vine wreathed and en-
lcircled by sumach. 1t is surmounted BY
granite tablet erected by the presen
proprietors to the memory of a Pres
ton, the Oldest settler and a forme
owner, together with the appropriate
and kindly sentiment "We ar
Friends" no less a tribute to tha
early and sturdy believer in the simpl
Quaker faith than to the pleasant!
associated company that gathers be
meath this roof In the summer tide.
The Lodge and it's furnishings repre-
sent about $4,000 in value. It 4
spacious and pleasing in its interio
arrangements, and is so constructs
that every lower room as well as ey
cry chamber looks out upon a fin
view. Rattan furniture, rugs, daint
portieres and wide entrances are fea
lures In tho great hall. parlors, loung
ing and smoking rooms. There are n
rectangular apartments on the lowe
floor. and all with their odd corner
and unexpected windows and door
open upon the great porches as a
many ot the sleeping rooms.
THE SECOND FLOOR.
That second floor is an institutio
the like of which was never beheld out
side a labyrinth of olden days. TIL
average new visitor, not endowed wit
the gift OF prescienee, and not havin
carefully tabulated the number of hi
sleeping apartment together with