Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-10-07
A Delightful Trip.

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ant visit than one that we took yester.
day-a drive from Shepherdstown tc
Middletown by carriage and a ride
from Middletown to Frederick on the
electric car, and return. The distance
from Shepherdstown to Middletown is
seventeen miles, and the roads are
frst-class. From this place to Ante
tam station, about two miles, is dirt
road. Then you strike the splendid
avenue built by the government,
through Sharpsburg and on to the far
thest limit of Antietam National Gem
etery, two miles of perfectly macad-
amized road Another six miles of good
pike leads through Keedysville and
Boonsboro, and at the latter place the
route leads on to the famous old ma
tional turnpike, among the first of in
ternal improvements undertaken by
the national government.
This pike strikes eastward for Mid
dletown, eight miles distant. 1t crosses
the mountain by very easy grade by
way of a gap, and from the eastern
slope, where the Middletown Valley
spreads itself before the eye, the scene
is one of superb beauty. This valley
seems to be worthy of all that has ever
been said of it. Rich farms are there,
highly cultivated and well kept, with
substantial brick houses and big bank
barns that betoken solid comfort and
great thrift. 1t is like great piano.
rama of living beauty, the mountains
surroundingit as walls enclose lovely
garden. No one could fail to be i'm
pressed by the wonderfully beautiful
scene that is stretched out before the
beholder.
Middletown itself is just what one
would suppose it to be, located in such
communicable and substantial,
where the gayeties of life need not be
sought or desired, good place to live
and die and thrifty to an unusual de-
gree. 1t has comfortable homes, in
Guiding some very handsome resi-
dences of modern design. One of the
features of the place is THE Valley
Register, published by Mr.. G. G. Rho
derrick and his two sons, local paper
of unusual merit and phenomenal pop
ularity and circulation. Mlddletown
is noted for its excellent churches, the
Lutherans and Reformers being the
leading denominations. Both have
very large and handsome houses Of
worship, the Lutheran church having
a membership of about 900 and a seat
ing capacity of nearly 1900. The
Valley Hotel is the well-kept hostelry
Of the town.
An electric railroad connects Mid
dletown with Frederick-that is, it
nearly does it, for, from some unex-
planned reason, travellers have to go to
the farthest edge Of the town to meet
the cars, an inconvenience that causes
the people to do some quite justifable
kicking. The trolley company ought
to move its depot into town, by all
means. A ride over this line was one
of the enjoyable events of the day to
the Shepherdstown party. The dis
lance to Frederick is about ten miles,
but slow schedule prevents the mo-
torman from letting her out, and an
hour is consumed by the trip. The
scenery is very beautiful and inspir-
ing, and the resort at Braddock
Heights is charmingly located and
must become very popular, especially
to Frederick people.
At Frederick we devoted two hours
to sightseeing and meeting various
friends, not forgetting to stow away
good dinner at the City Hotel. The
return trip was made over the same
route, which is equally beautiful go
ing and coming" and after a supper
at Middletown our faces were turned
homeward. The drive home in the
evening by way of "Gapland," where
George Alfred Townsend has his beau
tiful home and where the war CORE
spondents' memorial arch stands out a
thing OF classic beauty, was one full Of
pleasure, as that section is as noted for
it's historic interest as for its sublime
scenery. Good company, good roads
a charming moonlight evening, made
the drive one long to be remembered,
and we advise all our readers who wish
pleasant days jaunt to go and do
likewise.
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