The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-24

the keynote OF the matter the other day
! NO" she said, 81 don't hope to really
settle down until Birmingham is as big
as New York. I'm like the little Dick
ems waif that was always told to move
on 1t Is Mountain Terrace at pres
ent. 1 seem to be headed eastward.
Just now there is a decided tendency
toward suburban life; which is a won
derfully civilized way of getting the
best of two worlds. People begin to
realize that congested areas ara not
really part of the final scheme Of things
1t is only foolish habit ofInind that
makes us think they are.
It was with these sentiments IA
vorable to suburban localities. green
a little party motored out the other
day for luncheon al fresco at the pretty
clubhouse tucked away among the hills
and rejoicing under its new appellatlon
of Birmingham Motor club. There are
not many who know the clubhouse,
since 1t is at present inaccessible to
the road freqQented by motorists. One
may reach it by motor, truly. but 1t is
not in the beaten path. Later, the
route will be shorter and more COM
Portable in every way to the person rid
ing or driving out of town. and when
that and few other changes are made,
the club bids fair to be the most mod
ish OF places and a trip to 1T one OF the
Jauntiest of pleasures. To those whose
ideal of architectural art has in ii
something of rusticity, the club build
Ing will make an especial appeal. Built
of logs hewn in the primeval forest
about which 1t was surrounded and
with a big veranda made of native
stone, 1t seems to really grow into the
landscape, so that 1t is a part of 1t, as
much so as the rhododendrons are a
part of the North Carolina mountains.
1t Is q low, rambling building con-
structed of native logs, picturesquely
and beautifully, the logs, with their
heavy cement between. make a strik-
ingly durable looking structure, and
the columns which support the broad
low hanging veranda roof are built of
small limbs placed together log cabin
fashion. The windows are admirably
planned to follow the type of architec-
ture-upstairs arranged in groups semi
cicular in shape. A porte cochere and
two front entrances are cleverly ar
The living room, which extends the
width of the building In front and will
be temporarily used as a ballroom, is
most inviting. Pursuant with the dec
ora.ive plan followed elsewhere in the
building, the woodwork Is stained a
woodland green. On either side is a
huge stone mantle with interior CHM
ney extending to the broad balcony
which encircles the room. In keeping
At II.
the balustrades and the doors are SIM
Pile and picturesque in construction. Adj
jacent to the large clubroom are at
tractive apartments arranged for dress
ing rooms. Bullets, sitting rooms and
kitchen. The arrangement is admir-
able, both upstairs and down. An cleo
trio light plant will be quickly installed,
since the wiring Is already complete.
It is not a large clubhouse, though
there is ample room for many good
times among the members, and the fact
that the good times are not far off Is
a matter OF congratulation, especially
to the large number of society people
who are interested in those actiyi-
ties that promote life In the open.
sss
Plans are rapidly maturing TO max e
q great speedway of the woodland
stretching so attractively beneath the
eyes looking toward the mountain from
the club verenda. Motor races win be
held at suitable intervals. thus inject
ing one of the factors in public en-
joyment, the absence OF which Is so
often deplored by newcomers to Bir-
mingham. Nothing to do with ones
time" they say; mo amusements; all
the people DO Is work. they may as
we'll; there Is nowhere 10 go--nothing
to see." And now the motor races: and
bettor than this lake; 1t Is to be SO big
that we inland people find IL difficult to
mentally picture IL, knowing as we dc,
only waters of magnificent distances"
or none. 1t is to be a mile and half
from end to end. and the water is there
to fill it--a great creek which, when
allowed TO flow into the confines OF the
long valley, guarantees to fill Ii within
less than 30 days. A dam is to be con-
structed from end to end These are the
dimensions of the lake. and to the little
party of seven who lunched on the club
veranda one of the brightest days this
week and afterward walked half the
length OF the proposed lake basin, IL
appears a most prodigiously large body
of water. The trees must be cut away,
many of the large ones have already
gone--and q small sawmill stationed
in the lower end OF the basin will soon
make an end OF them.
With the water III tine lahe every
thing will DO fairly started and affairs
swinging along merrily. Tho social in
terest in Il project which Is to be a conf
mercial agency first of all begin from
the moment II Is possible TO formally
open the clubhouse. This will be done
with due ceremony; the club is in readi-
ness for the furnishings, even the floors
being we'll finished. and when the lake
is ready TO floal launches and motor
boats--in short. ready for the scores of
water sports that will be among the
chief pleasures OF the place-the formal
opening viii occur. The clubhouse will,
naturally, be confined TO the use OF the
members, but for the exhibitions, either
of automobiles or of boat racing and
other contests. appropriate TO the water,
there will be places for other spectators
With q Country club owning it's own
lake, its golf links and tennis courts.
az well as a tremendous speedway,
Birmingham will be In the ranks with
some of the large cities of the north
and east, and viii possess magnetic
influence capable of drawing vinitors
throughout the year for race meets,
while at the same time. having a coun-
try club IN good motoring distance of
town, suited particularly TO feminine
affairs as well as the athistic contests
and rural sports commonly relega ted
TO the sterner sex Swimming parties
and launching parties will be innova-
tons that society VIII approvs wits