New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-27
RICHFIELD REVIVED.
THE POPULAR SPRINGS COME
TO THEIR OWN AGAIN.
a LEGEND OF THE LAKE TOLD IN A
STRANDED BOAT-MANY FIND BENZ
FIT FROM THE HEALING WATERS.

FIT FROM THE HEALING WATERS.
Richfeld Springs, n. Y. July &c (SpeciaD-Rich
field Springs, the mid-state summer resort of
which all New-York is proud has into her
own again this yeaE No longer is II permissible
talk about what Richfied used TO be in the days
Of the Spring House. There is no time for re-
rniniscences for there is entirely too much doing
in the present tense and much more in the
future.
There is hardly vacant cottage in the pretty
village which that the cottage population is
larger than IL before. Several country
estates are being laid out on farms on the out
skirts OF the town recently purchased by New
Workers The most extensive improvements are
being made by r. NJ. Montgomery, who has Sc
cured the farm bordering the grounds of the Wal
ontha Golf Club. He has torn down an ancient
tannery. which stood at the forks of the road be-
low the clubhouse, and is laying out beautiful
private park. An irregular shaped pond, entirely
framed in weeping willows, has been heavily
stocked with trout. and forms pretty rural
picture as one could find anywhere.
There seems to be every chance that Richheld
will have a public park in it's centre before the
end of the season. through the generosity of T.
r. Proctor, of Utica. He was formerly proprietor
of the Spring House. and owns the bathing estab-
hshment- He is here for the summer and has ex-
pressed his intention Of deciding his park property
to the village If a way can be found TO keep the
control out of the hands of the local politicians
Richield, like every other small town, has its
politicians, ''chin whiskered Ikes'' OF them,
who have for the city people who spend the
summers among them. 1t is hard to tell what they
would do with the park If it handed to
them outright.
1t probable that the bathing establishment
viii be purchased by a syndicate OF hotel men and
conducted in the interests Of all. In this case a
large casino will be built
The hotels at the Springs, including the one,
have had remarkably prosperous season. consid-
ering the weather. The Darlington, with its
guests, drawn here by this seasons Richheld
boom, well as the usual number Of stand bys"
Or people who come year after year. The fuller is
absolutely full, and has bookings covering
of September. The Berkeley-Waionthat the
hotel at the Springs, has been remarkable
from the day Of opening. Truly Rchield has re-
turned to its own
RichheId first became a summer resort in 1921.
when twenty-five city folk cared for at the
Richfield House. The proprietor glad to have
them at the of 81 % a week, and at the end of
the season they left him memorial. setting forth
In dignihed terms the good time which had been
theirs. They have been coming in varying numbers
since At hotel last summer there were
three generations Of the of family, each
Of whom had met the man she married at the
Springs
Two women met in Darlington Park yesterday
afternoon who had seen each other since a
Richield summer many years ago.
II delighted to you again." declared the
matron, who by hook or crook has so preserved
her appearance that she looks twenty years
younger than she really is.
And this is your daughter" said the other who
looked the old lady she was, putting her hand on
the shoulder Of the girl who is the belle of the
hotel COLONY. Il remember Oh, how we'll that sum-
msr spent here. We both cameTs hair
dresses and looked mighty well in them. too"
Mother furious" said the girl in telling of
II afterward. They have not worn cameFs hair in
forty years. and she likes think she is about
thirty-fvei"
This same girl has been coming 10 Rchheld so
long that she knows every story place for miles
around. and the new visitor who have her for
guide IS assured of an interesting time She led
one visitor to Canadarago Lake about which is
nine miles OF beautiful drive On this day she
wore yachting suit, and elected sail instead of
the drive She insisted on being captain of the
eatboat, and handled her famously
"A mock OF geese tame ones. attracted her atten-
she might play with them Having tired of this,
fun OF wind and a hubby trail behind The man
was enjoying IL. and he did much mind that
she would not talk OF herself. but rather Of long
dead Indians who had some connection or other
with the otsegO hills which rise in punches behind
OF sudden there a jolt which tumbed the
ting wod was mingled with her cry The catboat
had struck reef. and there danger. No
man who unstepped the mast and took in the sail
~ II was the man who broke an oar trying TO push
the boat on II was the man who nearly broke his
back bailing with his best Panama hat that her
see him work and presently. when assured ID that
there was no immediate danger of her getting her
hair wet, she continued her chatter.
We're shipwrecked. enough" she said
and l did IL with my little Ratchet. What's to be
Wait for the tide, ] suppose" said the man.
wei, then, I'll tell you a story" she said "and
about this very reef on which we are wrecked
. ihen you know where are" he murmured
and perhaps you ran us purposely!"
ITS the sunken island, but / forgot all about
IL when we were sailing along grandly The
story is pretty one and I've known IL since a
child Better listen. 1870
''Once upon a time-doesn't that sound real stor,,
lkeZ-once upon ume-you keep on baing or
my feet viii get wet and mother-weI. you haven't
forgotten mother. Now, then: Once upon a Tine
wonder II III ever get this story started?P
brigands bold games is itY' he asked ~
'sOnce upon time old Indian medicine man
of the Otsego tribe lived on the shore Of Tho
lake about there"-she pointed 10 a cump of will
lows-'with his beautiful daughter He was as
ugly and wrinkled a dirty dollar bill and the
girl beautiful Is a summer morning-are
not my descriptions fetching? He was most sue
disease he had only medicine-magic water
1T seems that he the original discoverer OF
the white sulphur springs. the across from
the hotel. and that he used sneak up there on
dark nights TO repienish his supply. The spring
was a deep, dark mystery. and dared an
Proach IL. not even the rival medicine men for
fear Of the spells which ne had cast upon n He
and most OF the Indians were heartily afraid %
him Consequently, when he announced that his
daughter should live and die a maiden there wa
much wailng among the painted bucks of the OF
sego - ''i' VI
zone day there came brave who had spent his