The Penn's Grove record., 1915-11-26
FRENCH'S HOTEL CLOSED
PennS Grove Without A Public HOSteIry
First Time In IS Years
COL. FRENCH MADE A BEAUTY SPOT

IItuCu y IlOltl WAS ItNOhcu On III IOlui
the boarders were notified to procure
lodging elsewhere. Last Monday a card
was posted on the front door 'This hotel
closed"
For several weeks arrangements have
been made for Col. and Mrs. Joseph G.
French to move to Woodbury. to reside
with their daughter, Mrs. A.. III. Chand-
Ter. They intended to go on Tuesday,
but for the illness of the grandson, JOS
eph +. Chandler, who has a sore throat.
The return of the culture proved it not
to be diphtheria. They hope to go in a
few days. If Mr.. French's health i'm
proves he and Mrs. French may spend
part of the winter in Florida.
With the closing of the hotel Penns
Grove is without a hostelry for the en-
tertainment of the travelling public for
the first time in it's history.
About a century ago, before Penns
Grove had a name, the farm house three
miles from Penns Grove where Willard
Layton lives, and which farm he sold to
the duPonts for them to get a supply of
drinking water, was known as "Biddle's
Tavern" There the public was enter
tanned and musters were held for the
drilling of militia as long as the w%ar-spir-
it prevailed after the conflict with Great
Britain in 1872.
Catherine Helms Diver also kept a tav-
ern at Helms Cove (South Penns Grove)
in the brick house nov occupied by Chas.
II. Summerill. Her sons, Robert and
IFrancis P. Walker, by her first husband,
Michael Walker, managed the business
FNEith farming until their conversion in
Vthe reyiyal in the Cove school house in
The sign post was dug up and
never ,sprouted. III Il
In 1881 a WilminktoR party erected
the brick building at the corner of Main
street and Delaware avenue. 1t was
used as a hotel for many years. In 1889
John p. Leap bought all the land between
Oak street and the railroad land of JOS
eph Guest with a store thereon for $500.
Mr.. Leap erected the first building where
Francis Hotel is and run it as a tenn
perance house until it was purchased by
Charles Elkinton who owned the hotel
in the brick house opposite. Mr.. Elkin-
ton transferred the license from the
brick house to the new purchase. 1t has
been a licensed house for about seventy
years, excepting about six months, in
1883, when Salem county was dry af-
ter the local option election.
In 1866 Job Robinson, of Wilmington,
purchased the property. In 1869 Mr..
French became owner and has continued
to give hospitality for As years. 1t was
in a dilapidated condition. The river
came nearly up to the building and the
grove was a sand bar. Being a stone
mason, Mr.. French erected a sea wall and
had a dredge to fill in the grove with H.
600 tons of mud. As needed he continu-
ed to fill in with gravel and broken stone
and NADIA tho HGrovo,, in Doone Grouo
one of the beauty spots along the Della
ware river. Excursionists came by the
thousands before the fares were made
on \ to the seashore and the parks with
afes yhments were opened.
A&e building was enlarged several
times and verandas erected. He took
great pride in the care of the grove and
the appearance of the premises by having
it painted nearly every year. Old resi-
tents who remember the dilapidated con-
dition when he bought the property held
a kindly feeling for his enterprise. Hun
dreds spent their summer here and en-
joyed the pleasing river scenes, the beau
tiful sunsets on the river and the breezes
which came from over the waters. Mrs.
French is a genial entertainer and most
skilled in the culinary art. The stopping
of many at the hotel during the past 46
years has been a bright picture on mem
cries wall.
Mr.. French took pride not only in his
premises but had a word of cofnmenda-
ton for all Improvements made in Penns
Grove. When the railroad was built
from Woodbury. to Penns Grove in 1876
he gave substantial aid. When the Com
pany was involved by washouts in 1877
and 1879, which caused a bankruptcy he
offered assistance.
He was one of the organizers and a
director of Penns Grove National Bank
for Is years. When improved school ia
cilities were advocated and large grounds
for children he favored them even at
greater cost, altho he had no relatives to
ATTEND.
Mr.. and Mrs. French expressed regrets
months ago that the powder boom ever
came because the arrival of rough char
acters not only destroyed the grove as a
summer resort but made uncongenial and
unhappy home life and also the man
agement of the hotel as a public stopping
place for travellers.
As to the ethics of license and the NOR
ality of drink intelligent men differ. Ev-
cry man must be judged by the standard
s of his day and generation and compared
WIFI the ACTORS WIFI WHO'LL he perIOFIlS
on the stage of life. Those who have
known Mr.. and Mrs. French for the past
40 years know that they have act
ed successfully their part in their sphere
OF life.
The premises will be left In charge of
a caretaker. The property is for sale.
Some hope the duPants will purchase it
for a club house and keep the grove open
to the public. 1t is reported that they
will not give more than 100000 for it.
An old fashioned remedy for stomach
disorders is Porters Stomach Remedy, at
Robbins drug store.
Pictures. all kinds. Frames, Mirrors.
Yerger's Red Front Store, Wilmington.