Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-05-23
THE GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY
Picnic OF National Organization
Was Pleasant.
HELD AT BRANDYWINE SPRINGS
One Hundred Washingtonlans
Present.
Interesting Addresses by Chief Justice
Lore, City Solicitor Conrad, Prof. W. j.
MCGEE and George b. sudworth = The
Early History of Brandywine Springs.

The National Geographical Society,
which came from Washington on
special train. had most enjoyable
time at Brandy Springs on Satur-
day. The programme of speeches was
carried out Chief Justice Charles B.
Lore gave paper on the history OF the
region; City Solicitor Henry o. Con-
rad gave brief history Of early Will
mington. Prof. W. j. MCGEE of Wash
ington discussed the geology and arch
zoology, and George b. Sudworth of
Washington, the trees Of the region.
A portion of Judge Lore's paper was
printed in Saturdays Every Evening.
Much OF the remainder IL hereap-
pended:
1.-THE 'Chaly beste Springs which
give to this part q national celebrity,
have high medicinal and curative quail
ties. Analysis shows the waters are
impregnated with oxide of iron: so
subtly miYed in thetalohemy of nature
as to form an admirable tonic for deli
cate or exhausted nature. Among the
Indians these springs were known as
the Medicine Waters
Ae early as 1926, the farmers of the
neighborhood aidrd by some Whining
ton capitalists and business men, pro-
cured from the Legislature of the State
of Delaware a charter passed January
Oath, 1925. incorporated The Brandy
wine Ohay Springs Company.
This company organized with James
Candy as presicsnt and Len Pussy as
treasurer. They issued certificates of
stock one Of whinE being No. 81, issued
to Justa Justis is new IN my possession.
The company at once began the ereo.
tion Of the most substantial and beau
tiful summer resort building in the
United States. This building was
located about 200 feet east of the pres
emit hotel structure; 1t was 80 feet long
with 60-foot u; three and a half
stories high; built of stone from the
quarries in the neighborhood, and with
wood taken from the surrounding
primeval forest. A wide veganda ran
along the whole 90 feet front, support
ing number OF Doric columns 80 feet
high running from porch, door to the
roof of tie building, making an impos-
ing old colonial structure. The con-
tractor was Justa Justis, then leading
citizen of Mill Greek hundred and the
father of President Robert O. Justis of
the sBrandywine Springs Railway Go.
The hotel was opsned for visitors in the
carly summer or 1927.
1t would be we'll to remember that
at this time Wilmington was city of
only 5000 inhabitants. The New Castle
& Frenchtown railroad was about COM
pleted, being the second railroad In the
United States.
THE Springs soon became q resort
OF national reputation, and in the sum-
mer was crowded with the leading peo-
pie OF the country, especially Southern
planters with their families and friends,
escaping from the intolsrable heat OF
their homes. Bishop Davenport g
Gazetteer, published ins1s32 under head
of Wilmington, says: The Brandywine
Chalybeate Springs are within five
miles OF Wilmington, situated In a
highly romantic and rural country. The
building for the accommodation of
boarders will bear comparison with any
similar establishment in the United
States 1t Is place of great resort for
invlaids aud people Of fashion duting
the warm season. 1t soon >beoarne a
noted summer watering place, second
to none in the country. Henry Clay,
John Quincy Adams, John NJ. Clay ton,
and other leading stater,nen, the Span
ish minister to the United States and
other diplomats were not infrequent
visitors and guests. In 1882 Matthew
Newkirk. thepresident Of the Philadsl-
phia & Wilmington Railroad Co., be.
came proprietor OF the Springs aud
added greatly to the attraction of the
place, calling to his aid John Stewart,
noted landscape gardener. Newkirk
was estimated to be worth $500, 600, and
was looked upon as one of the richest
men In the United States, veritable
Cresus. Mr.. Newkirk built and occu-
pied on the grounds cottage az a
place of summer residence.
"In 1854 the original hotel was
burned. Mr.. :Newkirk then added two
wings to the cottage and otherwise en-
larged 1t, thus making the present
hotel building, which continued to be
fashionable resort until the great
railroad and steamboat lines opened up
the now fashionable. seaside and noun
tain resorts. Some three years ago the
grounds became the property Of the
Brandywine Springs Co., the present
owners.
SIN the olden time this was nota-
BILE place for political gatherings. The
usual platform for the SPEAKERS was the
uUtbl NoIhuuh. FROM bnls place JOnn
M. Clayton electrified his followers /;
Daniel Webster has here spoken, while
local orators found 1t favored field for
their eloquenoe. Mr.. Justis tells me
that in the campaign of 1874 (the noted
campaign of Polk and Dallas and Clay
and Frelinghuysen) Henry CLAY spoke
from platform built in frcnt of the
original spring to 5000 auditors who
lined the hills which formed the sur
rounding amphithestre. Ii was gala
day. The people uame for miles In
every direction, on foot, on horseback,
and in vehicles of every known descrip-
tion. This was the period of Clay's
greatest power.
with this story Of war; politics and
social enjoyment, comes the inevitable
wool OF human love, disappointment
and death. The story is as old as the
human haart the urdertnna and thrill