The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-09-13
WONDERS OF BLOWING ROCK

WONDERS OF BLOWING ROCK.
Blowing Rcck. Sept !.
Mr.. Editor: In my last article from
here theres@ere few points which l
did not give about this wonderful sum-
mer resort. In the first place for
got to tell your numerous resders how
much capital has found its way to
this land Of the shy. A Mr. Cone Of
Greensboro bought 1000 acres of fine
land on the. outskirts of Blowing
Rock, on high hill having COM
manding view of all the ranges OF
mountains. He built him seventy
FIVE thousand dollar mansion, on a
portion of this land be planted fruit
orchard containiug 80. 900 trees. He
damned up the mountain streams so as
t. make him two beautiful lakes we'll
stocked with mountain trout aud other
kinds of 6sh, one of those lakes cost
him Sl4, 600, the other SO, 600. He also
had made so miles of excellant roads
over bis grounds which. are open to
the public. He also had built hand
some pleasure boat to be used on his
largest lake. Mr.. Cron is said TO be
worth about 50, 600, 900. He owns large
interests in cotton mills and other in
dustries in Virginia as we'll as in
North and South Carolina. He is to
Blowing Rock what Vanderbilt is to
Asheville, only on smaller scale, aud
by the way. he is fine looking healthy
bachelor aud a good catch for some
fair lady desiring beautiful home.
About half mile on the East of the
village of Blowing Rock, Mr.; String
fellow purchased what was known as:
the Esther place. There he built him
S27, ,Oc0 mansion and fish pond we'll
stocked with fish. Here is where the
Rev John Kershaw has enjoyed the
hospitalities of his good friend String
fellow during his summer vacation in
the mountains.
Nh. 2. M. Browne, of Charlotte,
said to be worth $3.50, 600 has hano
some residence in the village Of Blow
ing Rock.
Mr.. Hughes from Charleston also
owns a very handsome residence on
commanding eminence easily seen
from the village. Mrs Percy, of
Chester OWLS very pretty residence
there, so, also, the widow of senator
Matt Ransom, owns a handsome cot
age here almost opposite the Blowing
Rock Hotel. There are many other
handsome cottages here, but too Au-
merous to specify, built by well to do
people who reside here the entire
summer.
Mrs. Weden from Chester runs the
Grand View House, from the veranda
of which one can see all the ranges sof
mountains for distance of 200 miles
in an uubroken view from northeast
to northwest, looking southwark.
Mr.. j. A. Edmisten, q most excel
lent gentleman. is the Mayor of Blow
ing Rock. He also entertainS many of
the best summer visitors at his large
and handsome house well snd conven
iently located, not far from the pest
Office. and by the way his brother is
the postmaster. It is we'll known
fact and frequently spoken of among
the surm:r visitors here that Mrs.
Edmisteu and Mrs. Ingle, who runs
- Ingle House, keep the best tables
sad give the nest for ones money OF
any of the boarding houses on the
(" RIDGE They are first class in every
respect, I aise think it but simple
justice to say that in my opinion as
we'll as that of many others, that the
Blowing Rock Hotel, has much bet
ter location than the Green Park.
Those are the two largest and leading
hotels here. From the yeranda of the
former you can see Grandfather, Grand
mother, as we'll as many others Of the
highest mountains on the Blue Ridge.
From the Green Park, which is locat-
ed in valley, you can see practically
nothing Of interest.
Perhaps it will not be amiss to state
here that your correspondent has been
to the source of four rivers since his
arrival here, namely the Johns River.
New River, Yadkin River and Watau-
ga River. Strange to say, but never
theless true, that the ridge upon
which J.. A. Edmister's house stands
is the divide of all the rain water that
falls thereon, one half flowing to the
Atlantic, the other half to the Gulf
Of Mexico. Within quarter of mile
the hotels is most unique cuioslty
in the nature of natural "Rock
| Honse.'' The rock rises up and over
for distance Of hundred yards, and
at an angle of about 25 degrees. 1t
would give ample shelter in rain,
storm to i've companies of Infantry.
This is the location of natural won
ders .as well as the grandest scenery
in this country with perhaps the single
exception of Yellow Stone Park. 1t
may be we'll to also state We have heie
free library, one can have all the
reading matter they desire free OF
charge. The bank here is principally
owned by the citizens of Blowing
Rock. W