Evening journal., 1912-12-20
BY MolIie Howard Ash.

only trace of the burned town OF one
hundred years ago.
A few hundred feet back from the
old wharf there is a most modern
bungalow 'Tis but a step from the
sublime to the ridiculous" and so
IL is from this old crumbling wharf of
the last century. TO the latest fashion
in housebuilding Even the garage is
there. Passing this point we con-
tinu along the a lovely roadway on
this old bank. The trees and bushes
are most beautiful and so thick i'm
some places that the sun eau scarcely
penetrate There are many old pine
trees standing like guards over this
long neglected and forgotten roadbed.
This road is not much used as pub
lie highway, although one can drive
out to the Elkton-Chesapeake road
without much difficulty. East from
the Elkton road the old railroad bank
is not easy to follow Johnston says.
Much of the bed of the railroad is
now under cultivation, grass and
waving grain growing over the place
occupied by the railroad This no
doubt is true of the greater part Of
ii, but certainly the most of the bed
of the railroad from the Elkton road
to Frenchtown has never been touched
by the plow The firm solid condition
Of this embankment speaks volumes
for the construction work OF early
railroad building. North from the
Frenchtown wharf is the start of the
pike. which winds around a little till
1t passes in front OF the hotel the big
brick house already mentioned. This
house is now the home of Herbert
Paul, who also owns the Frenchtown
farm. During the days of the railroad
much of this part of the county was
owned by the Henderson family. to
whom / have referred. They were the
owners of what is usually known as
the Mitchell farm (now owned by
| Mr. Levy, White Hall and Scotland
Point across the river. The date OF
the building of the hotel ] am un-
able to find, but ] once heard il was
built by the same man who built and
designed Holly Hall, near Elkton.
This architects name was Catheron,
or name like IT, There is a strong
resemblance between the hotel and
Holly Hall, the stairways are almost
alike. the bricks of which the two
! houses are built are the same fine
quality pressed brick. The inside fin
ishing seems the work OF the same
man. Beautiful woodwork is seen all
through these houses. each room hav-
ing chair-board.
Stanley Hail. the home OF many
generations of the Rudulph family. Is
supposed to have been built by the
same builder. CEREAL James Sewell
married a Rudolph. Holly Hall was
built for him, and is on what was
part of the Rudulph estate Stan
ley Hall" is situated at the other end
of their domains. The pike now is
just a driveway across the lawn Of
| Mr.. Paul, though in oil times there
was nothing between this public road
and the river. excepting marsh lands
This pike is still known as the
,Frenchtown pike, but all its import
ance is gone and few people of today
give it a thought.
This little sketch Of the old French
town and New Castle Railroad would
not be complete without the account
Of the trip of General Lafayette. In
Scharf's Chronicles Of Baltimore, we
find this: "Agreeably to arrange
ments made. the elegant steamboat
u United States" commanded by Cap
tain Tripp left Baltimore on We'd
nesdoy. October 9Th. 1924. TO receive
General Lafayette at Frenchtown.
She was fitted out and furnished in
the most splendid manner. a large
committee We're on board to welcome
the distinguished guest Colonels
Lloyd and Dickinson we're aides to the
Governor. There was delegation
of military men and also two repre-
sentatiyes of the society of the Gin
cinnati. Among the invited gentle
men was the venerable Mr.. Du Bois
Martin, a citizen of Baltimore. who
provided and commanded the vessel
which first landed General Lafayette
in America. When the boat arrived at
Frenchtown the Governors aides, ac-
companied by a squadron of cavalry,
proceeded to meet the General at the
Delaware line. IN the meantime Mr..
Adams, Secretary of State arrived on
his way to Washington He had pre-
( viously been invited and cheerfully
Joined himself to the party and was
introduced to all present The Cen
eral having been detained did not
arrive at the Maryland line until
after one o'clock in the morning. He
was there presented by Louis Nc
Lane. chairman of the Delaware com
mittee, to the aides OF the Governor
OF Maryland. The first aide an
nounced 10 the General in ap-
propriate and warm terms in behalf
of Governor stevens. a cordial well
come TO the State Of Maryland and in
formed him that they we're ready tC
escort him to headquarters. which
were established at Fort McHeury
Baltimore. The aides of the Governor
, then conducted the General on hoard
the steamboat, where the deputatior
, received him on deck. The chairman
Mr.. John B. Morris. advanced to In,
: guest and addressed him i'm a man
/ ner that evinced at once that he fell
! what he spoke from the bottom OF mis-
heart. The General having Just lef
, his Delaware friends and meeting Sc
suddenly this reception, il affected
: him most sensibly. He pressed hi.