Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-07-14
Paradise Valley.

There is no lovelier SPOT on Earth than
the upper valley of the RaYstown branch
of the Juniata river in Bedford county,
this state, in which the town of
Bedford is located; and the little valley
opening into ii from the east-the loca-
ton of Bedford Springs and the great
hotel-comes as near being paradise,
during the heated term. as one can well
lima giue.
The country there consists of series
of mountain ranges, enclosing valleys o.
all widths and lengths. and this partlc-
ular valley il but few rods in width
and few miles in length the range on
one side being of sandstone formation
and on the other of limestone, both well
covered with forests and with cooling
breeze always coming down the valley.
The springs that flow from the base
OF the limestone range were known Tor
their medicinal qualities to the natives
ages before the appearance of the white
man. and were promptly recognized and
made use of by him, and the little
stream that flows through the valley
was, in days gone by, the most famous
trout stream in the county.
The old stone hotel, now so covered
with frame work that it is not readily
distinguished from the other frame
buildings. was built in 1911, and it be-
came a great resort for the poll
ticians and statesmen of the early
days Of the republic; the large
brick, in colonial style, was built IN
1871, and the place became so popular
that building after building was erected
until the row became one OF 1000 feet
IN length, all. with one exception, four
stories high, making it one OF the Iarg-
est hotels in the country.
The interior of the colonial building
has lately been so rernodeled that old
timers hardly recognize 1t. The entlre
second floor has been turned into dln-
ing-room that has no superior for beauty
in the country. brick addition contains
a large and fine swimming pool; whlca.
with billiard rooms. tennis court, goiE
links, and beautiful drives and walks
over the hills makes this one of the most
delightful of the summer resorts OF the
continent.
The county of Bedford was establish
ed in 1875, being taken from Gambler
| land and for a time included all west
ern Pennsylvania; but the fort there
was built and the town laid oil many
wears before that. The visitor Is shown
| a twO-SrOry limestone muse III oOeLO a - "
| nsed by President Washington IN li94,
when he came that far West with the
army sent TO Pittsburg to suppress the
Whiskey Insurrection; and the first
criminal docket OF the county or locail-
ty, vet well preserved in the Clerks Of
| fee, records the fact that in 1852, a man
was whipped, pilloried and had his ears
cut off for stealing horses; while in the
| Prothonotary' Office is deed bearing
date of 1870, from an Indian chief who
| had a long string of names, and who
signed with an attempted figure OF a
human face with hat on il. Arthur
St. Clair, afterwards General, was the
first Prothonotary Of the county.
| We are under obligations to Dir. Had
erman, of the Bedford Inquirer, fol
| courtesies while visitor there, and tc
Mr., Bem1s. manager of the Springs Ho-
tel and his courteous clerks for pleas
ant visit at Bedford Springs Hotel.
THE steamer Norga, from Copenha.
gen to New York, carrying nearly S9t
Swedes, Norwegians and Danes to TINS
country was wrecked on rock off the
coast of Scotland, July 1st, and Got
people pefisnea.