The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-18
STORY OF
RIDGE HILL
FARMS
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Of visitor until he was breast deep in a pit
from which he needed help to extricate
himself
There were mechanical toads and snakes
that would leap out from unexpected guar.
tiers, and a skeleton to be encountered II q
certain little grotto TO the left Of the path
were many stuffed birds and animals, 20
well stuffed, explains Mr.. Baker, that they
would refuse every dainty offered them.
Midway through Krino Valley was Bottle
Monument, to the departed spirits, formed
increased In size with each fete given.
Near II was a mock tombsto ne with the
following inscription:
To the memory of John Soulier. boot
maker. He was man OF great understand.
bsns hss bSx % TO s to
i to fill them with beans. then water and leu
'em swell.
The curious features OF this part Of the
enumerate them, but before passing on
mention should be made Of the camera
obscura, supported by four pillars that
were once part Of the old Massachusetts
State House, in which a view Of the entire
length Of krino Valley was reflected; and
served, so-called, states the guide, because
more comfortable within than outer ar-
pearances indicated +.
Sabrina Lake was made at an expense OF
$4,000. 1t is fed by springs, is nearly two
from four to twenty feet and is 80 feet above
the level of the Charles.
In 1t are two islands, one Of which, Tri-
pont Island, being, as its name indicates,
connected with the shore by three bridges
island are the ruins Of boathouse which
Ia worthy Of description, as 1t once eSA
listed.
1t was building 80 by 20 feet IN sise,
constructed of the ornamental Gothic
shelving originally intended for the Masonic
ture, at either side of the doorway, wero
inches which held statues, carved from
wood, of Psyche and Clio. Above them,
and directly over the door, were two figures
of lions rampant, ornamented with gold
On the other three sides Of the STRUCTURE
were seven paintings, done in brilliant colors
as follows: "a Frog Concert on an English
Steamer, Moonlight Courtship IN Con,
doia;n assapphoa' .Pen na . sslenI H.
Doge of Venice About to Step Into Con,
dola.' The roof bore a painting described
as "Hydropathic Treatment" 1t depicted
an upset on Lake Sabrina.
On the lake were Muscovy and Aylesbury
ducks, black and white swans, gondolas,
ff.mous craft Of the day. and a steamer,
The Lady Of the Lake, capable OF carrying
iorty persons. 1t could be put on trucks,
md under it's own steam run on trackd
across the meadow to the Charles, half q
mile away.
Mr.. Bakers most costly undertaking was
the construction Of a series OF caverns d
quarter of mile long, the entrance ia
which was on the eastern shore Of Sabrina
Lake. First came what he called his Smug>
glers' Cave. I
1t had high, vaulted roof, and the huge
rocks that formed its sides We're carved into
hideously grotesQue faces, bony hands,
and cloven feet, while in various positions
about the cave were figures representing
the smuggler chief himself and his captivee.
the Cardiff Giant, Tom Thumb, Boss Tweed,
Punch and many other celebrities. Through
a barred aperture at the inner end Of the
cavern, and on a level with it, could be seen
a number of black bears in an octagonal
pit.
From a point near It a narrow passag 60
led to a circular, underground room, open
to the surface, over which was built dome
OF translucent, colored glass thirty fest tn
height. Opening from this chamber was
dimly lighted Filtration Tunnel, leading "a
the Stalactite Grotto, where one got Avefit~
able glimpse Of fairyland.
From the roof hung stalactites; from tho
ground rose stalagmites, and on every
side crystals scintiliated in the suns rays.
made gorgeous by the colored glass through
which they entered the srotto. Yellow.
side walls, to become rivulets that con-
tinually changed their hue as they wound
in and out among the serpentine paths Of
white marble dust before being checked tn
their courses to form chain Of eight minias
ture lakes each stocked with its quota Of
gold and silver fish.
1t was as brilliant as stage spectacle,
and yet so substantially made that for ted
years it withstood the wear and tear Of time
and the depredations of visitors.
In 1870, Immediately upon the completion
of Ridge Hill harms principal features,
invitations to great opening fete In oelei
bration of the owners "tin-th wedding
were sent out. On tho Fourth Of Jolly Of
the same year there was another large
gathering of Mr.. Bakers friends and &C.
ouaintances to assist him in choosing q
ma me for one Of bis pet heeers.
The name finally selected by vote was
Belle Of Wellesley, whereupon she was sd
christened amid much drinking Of cham.
payne and the enthusiasm caused by 1t.
The poor beast got her share by having q
bottle smashed over her head as II she werd
q battleship.
The christening fete of 1870 was SO suo,
cessful that it was followed on the next
Fourth of July by a similar celebration.
came to be MIXED, at the conclusion OF tho
ceremony, her milk was found to be strongly
favored with old Medford rum and spices.
The explanation is that the master Of Ridge
Hill had by means Of rubber piping and
gluten, connected the udder with re-
cept acle in the loft filled with punch Of
ample strength.
In July. 1874. black bear escaped from
his quarters, and for several days alarmed
the country for miles around. He was
finally shot in the town Of Weymouth. As
Mr.. Baker was always on the lookout for
pretexts for assemblages, he had Billy
Bruins body brought to the farm, where u
was buried with great pomp after an elabor%
ate ceremonial in which several hundred
guests Joined.
Among other military organizations that
came to Boston for the Bunker Hill Cen.
tennial in 1878 were the Fifth Maryland, tho
Light Artillery Blues of Norfolk, Va, and
representatives of the Washington Light
Infantry Of Charleston, S. c. On June 10
they, with many hundred local people, were
entertained at Ridge Hill Farms. the excuse
being the laying Of the corner stone Of the
new piggery.
AS souvenir OF the visit, each guest
received colored map of the United States,
shaped like hog. The northeast corner
Of Maine formed the uplifted snout, Florida
and lower California represented two or
the laSs, while the two which had to be-
suppl I'd stretched out prophetically to-
ward Cuba and Hawaii. At the close Of the
days festivity the host appeared upon