The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-24
MUCH ENTHUSIASM AT BIC BARBECUE AT THE EDGEWOOD CLUB Over a Thousand Attend and Enjoy Meats, Melon and
 Dancing
PROGRESS ON WORK
 IS VERY SURPRISING
Officers Much Pleased at Attendance and Expect Good Results-Boule- yard from Car Line to the
 Club Is Completed

Between 1000 and 15o0 persons attended an old-fa shioned barbecue and water melon cutting at the Birmingham Motor and Country club yesterday from o'clock until late in the afternoon. To those who saw the grounds for the first time. the officers were enabled by reason of the work recently done the venture to afford great surprise. To others who have kept in touch with the work in the valley the surprise was less but at that very gratifying and satisfactory. The old-timers who have been at the Edgewood club in the past have been accustomed to use an old nature-made trail In the place of that something like 150 automobiles travelled under the porte cochere of the clubhouse on boulevard 30 feet wide extending from the terminus of the car line to the club house and circling that building. That was the first surprise.
 The clubhouse has been built for some months and while it has not been fully completed it presented an appearance that eicited the most enthusiastic ap- proval from those present The building has an extremely spacious ballroom on the ground floor, which will serve not only for a ballroom but as sitting room and perhaps temporary cafe in the future. That space was filled with dancers yesterday afternoon The danc- ing lasted until late in the afternoon and not even the tempting barbecue with its sauces hot and the watermelon chilled could entice the young people from the recently completed floor.
 Barbecue Served Under Trees
 The barbecue was served under the pro tecting shade of trees between the club house and the rim of the lake to be- Solon Jacobs, vice president of the club Charles Rice, the president; George A. Blinn, a director; J. w. Donnelly and other officials of the club assisted man fully in getting the barbecue served promptly. When the gong was rapped the visitors trooped into the enclosed space and soon the barbecued meats and the sauces were satisfying the demands of the most exacting. Later on came the chilled melon. some 150 being served. J. F. Shelby proved his prowess when he carved melon after melon while Sol Jacobs vowed often that. This takes muscle believe me-
 The members, guests and visitors all, supplied themselves with meat and melon and drifted into seats under the trees and enjoyed without haste or withou, Interruption the toothsome provisions
 Those present said that it was one of the most successful barbecues ever given in this section. The officers were well pleased with the outcome of the affair and expressed the belief that the barbe- cue will result in a closer unity of pur. pose among local men in pushing tho work to completion.
 One feature that was very gratifyins was the interest manifested in the af. fair by the ladies and the large numbe, to attend. There were perhaps more la. dies present than men which indicated 10 the officers that the ladies of thi: city are greatly interested in the work of the club.
 The plan for a club in Edgewood wa. started sometime ago. Recently a mum Der of men, among whom were Mir Ja cobs. Hugh Iatimer J. W. Donnelly Charles Rice, George A. Blinn and others took over the proposition They hay, succeeded in selling some of the lot overlooking the proposed lake for enougl money to start the development on thu Toad to success. It is stated that man, of the directors have personally takei two or three lots. The club owns s7 acres>whch was to be held for residen tie purposes. The lake will require ove 100 acres and will be 1ia miles long, no including some small channels created b, the back waters. The lots thus save, are being sold to finance the scheme.
 Grading Out Streets Now
 They have sold very well and evel now Walter Hill is engaged in grading ont the full number of streets in tn residential park He is also buildin the dam which will create the lake. Tn dam will be 90 feet across at the to and will be l50 feet wide at the base The water will be backed up until tn basin is filled thereby creating the lake Around the lake it Is planned to have speedway 21s miles long which will b 50 feet wide.
 Robert Jemison, Jr.. George G. Craw ford. l.. Sevier. w NJ Drennen an others there yesterday were enthusiast over the plans for the Edgewood proper ties and believe the. men behind the de velopment will work out a propositio which will be an amusement resort un equalled in this section of the country.
 T freely give great credit for the wor that has been done to Charles Rice, said Solon Jacobs yesterday. He ha worked untringly for the completion c the work and he is entitled to every re ward which comes from service faith fully performed. We are immensel pleased with the attendance today. It in dicates that all of us who have bee connected with the matter for sometim have faith in the Birmingham peopl backing us up in this attempt to suppl this city with a pleasure retreat url ffva1led by any city in the south Tn dam will be completed soon and whe that is done and the lake is filled wit water and when the lake is stocked b the government with fish, I have n doubt but what the people of this com munity will be as enthusiastic about tn Edgewood Motor and Country club pro ects as I ever dared be and that is say ing a great deal"