Passaic City record., 1898-08-06

Nobody would believe, until they
enjoyed the drive the REcoRDMAN
did one early August day, that in
no part of New Jersey. and per-
haps nowhere else, can there be
seen in a few miles drive such
com bjnation of the picturesque in
nature and art, the historic and the
modern, the romantic and the
realities of modern American pro
gressive business life as is to be
seen along the lovely Passaic be-
tween Newark and Passaic city,
Down near Newark knotty old
he1nlocks shoot out from the pre-
cipitous east bank of the river
with branches almost kissing the
water. Gigantic tres stand like
petrlfed sentinels on the crest of
the bank. and beneath them your
feet sink deep into the red soil
composed of rotted leaves,
branches and tree trunks. Few
riffs Of sunshine penetrate this
most picturesque spot, but on a
pleasant August day the sunlit river
flashed like silver, and the laughter
and merry shouts of rowing eX-
cursion parties float up through
the screen of leaves. Prettily uni
formed oarsmen glide by in their
cedar or paper shells. followed by
charming Jersey bellies who are
padding canoes, and anon small
pleasure steamer puffs along on
the way to Lyndhurst and Passac
farther up the stream.
Over on the Newark shore there
is birds eye view of lawns and
meadows, modern cottages built
by the wealthy, pretty valleys,
fashionable avenues and kinky
country roads. But the foliage
shuts out a very extended view
LAUREL HILL.
From our temporary hemlock
bower we saw on the opposite
side of the old River Road-now
Passaic avenue-a massive stone
wall extending several hundred
feet along an estate. Near the
middle of the wall were two great
stone pillars, from which the iron
gates had fallen, and on the pillars
were faded gilt letters that, after
careful study, read Laurel Hill. >
A broad and neglected lawn and
carriage drive extended up gen
tie slope 20 an old frame mansion,
on one side of which were a mass
of tottering barns, a carriage house
and other buildings. On every
side were evidences of neglect and
decay.
The place was once the home of
Solomon Haskell, the founder of
Llewellyn Park, West Orange, one
of the most beautiful private parks
in the country. According to the
records Haskell purchased Laurel
Hill" from a maiden lady, and ex-
pended great many thousands
of dollars in beautifying it with
the purpose of making it the most
lovely of American estaets. He
was wealthy and eccentric man,
and yet of gigantic enterprise.
Born in New Glouchester, Cum
berland County, Me-, i'll 1915, of
Welsh parents, he early became
drug clerk and in 1889 he began
the drug business in New York
city under the firm name of Has
kell, Merrick & Bull. He soon
afterward bought Laurel Hill,
which is now the quaint old village
of Belleville, where the Rev. DR..
Talmage began his career as
preacher in the old Dutch Re-
formed church of colonial age.
Haskell constructed handsome
lawn, with green terraces orna.
mented by fountains in front OF
the mansion, which he remoddled
and furnished in princely style.
He built stables, in which he
kept numerous blooded horses, and
his carriage house, ice vault,
smoke house, graperies and hot
houses were the wonders of the