Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-07-14
OAK ORCHARD STAGE
SET FOR BIG THURSDAY
It Will be the Mecca for Politicians
and Other Sussex Folk on
August IL.
Special Correspondence of Every Evening

Special Correspondence of Every Evening
Millsboro, July l4.-For one to express
ignorance of the meaning Of big Thurs
day" at the resorts in lower Delaware,
especially at Oak Orchard, the famous
rendezyous on Indian river for the tired
town folk of Sussex county, Is proof
positive in the mind OF the average lower
Oclawarean that such one has missed one
of the greatest enjoymcnts afforded IN
this section of the State. Like most OF the
Sussex county campmoctings, Big Thurs
dav" is day looked forward to by young
and old for many weeks, and then talked
about many weeks thereafter.
Situated on the Indian river, which
finds it's outlet to the Atlantic Ocean by
way of the Indian river bay, Oak Orchard
is hut short ride down that stream rom
| Millsboro. 1t is at once easily accessibie,
and vet far enough removed from the
| regular lines of travel to make IT a most
| desirable place for the tired business man
10 throw off the cares of life and live close
TO nature, with boating fishing, bathing,
grabbing and rambling through the pms,
wood by day and sleeping like enid
| amid the silence of the deep wood NJ niRht.
| As a place for children To battle. there is no
spot on the Atlantic coast that surphsses
| It.
As summer resort for lower Della
wareans, Oak Orchard is growing, bu,
| for one day in the year, big Thursday,
| August ~. there will be no further growth,
because the entire place will be filled with
visitors. if weather conditions prove favor
able. On this occasion every man, "o-
man and child for many miles around
| finds his or her way to this beauoiul
spot. Some 90 in automobiles, some IN
carriages. some by boat, some IN the now
almost obsolete "ox-cart, while many
others travel light" making the trip on
! foot. later Joining the "sore foot brigade
for three or four days
SOME HAVE NIGHT OF 1T.
"Big Thursday really begins the night
before as far as the celebration IA CON
cerned. because many, not wishing TO mss
any part of the days pleasures, arrive
there he night before and camp. Wagons
are hauled up under some convenient
tree and behind improvised curtains the
"women folk spread blankets over piles
of leaves or pine skaters IN the wagon ana
ACQUIRE their beauty sleep while the
men. not afraid OF roughing It, stretch out
on the sandy soil in the wood with q
bundle of clothing. ofttimes, for pillow,
where they sleep soundly until early the
next morning. With the FIRST break of day
light in the eastern sky, the nondescrlpt
carnn begins to stir Fires are built,
coffee made, cold corn bread brought forth
and soon the family sits down TO breakfast
composed Of fried eggs, bacon, corn
pone," ''salaratus biscuits, fresh can
taloupes. etc. The meal is hasty one, ior
the women folk wish to get things stralgf-
encd out before the usual influx OF Visitors
| arrive in the automobiles, from the large
towns. Such is the life of the rural toik II
the lower part Of the county when they 60
~ Oak Orchard 10 spend big Thursday.
Everybody goes. and on this day there Il
no aristocracv-everv one is on pleasure
bent and they don't take the time and
trouble 10 nut on their Sunday-go-to
meetin' gowns This is a day on which tht
poorest Sussex colIntian rubs elbows with
tho richest man in the county and swaps
warns or bait" while the women iolt
assemble in groups and discuss the latest
creations in millinery or the best methods
Of "doin' up" pickles and fruit. In formel
wears these occasions were often marked
bv scenes of debauchery, but since SUSSEX
has become "hone dry" the once famous
'speach and honey" ''appleiack, cham
narne cider" and other palate tlckler'
have given way TO mild beverages thai
would drown a man before they made hin
drunk
GREAT DAY FOR POLITICIANS.
While many literally take TO the water
bathing. fishing, boating or grabbing
Others spend. the day in greeting TRENDS
. talking politics, spinning yarns, etc
MANY impromptu musicale" or dances
are given, for there are always musicians
bjc and little. present and 1t requires Du
. little urging TO get them tuned up. feopi'
from all parts Of the county have come z
look upon big THURSDAY" at Oat
Orchard as sort OF a Homecoming affair
! where thev are able to greet old trends
: make new ones and renew old acquaintanc
es Men with hoary bair have been known
TO dance nearly all day alongside OF thel
, sons and grandsons. For many years JohI
, Thomas Rogers Of near Piney Grove, wa
! one of the most conspicuous old men TO ~ a'
| the buck and wing dance along with III
{ son, Mattford Rogers. :,
, The event of the day, however, rs TN
big dinner. and if there Is anything tina
the average Sussex countian believes IN ]
is the inner man. Huge baskets, packe'
with the best that can be obtained, ar
brought forth. The basket is not touches
from the time it is packed, late the nigh
? before. not even the children beng pei
! mitted to peep in it, lest they might wan
; to dele in and bring forth the drum
J stick" of a chicken. The elaborate break
= fast OF "corn pone," bacon, eggs, etc
y however. does not seem to suffice, and tn
children can hardly wait for the big mea
: Following the big meal the children TAX
! TO the water like ducks and usually the
. are joined by their parents, brothers an
: sisters.
:. If any one visits the resort, withou
having made provision for his meals, It
his own fault if he goes away hungry, fc
here is where the hospitality Of the Deli
warean is exempIifed. At the close OF I'll
day the farmers and their families retilr
10 their homes and commence to look TO
ward TO the next great day.
|