The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-29
Vacationists Enjoy One Of States
 Beauty Spots

SthteS IhFtDefest sOuIh IS cO0leSt ana shaded throughout such a great part of its area.
 Perhaps there is no loyelier revela- ton of the states natural beauty and it's bounty to the tired city dweller, who seeks refreshment from the sun than the vacation spot which the Alabama Power company has pre- pared for its officials, and employees at Mitchell Dam.
 Many of the conpany's attaches are passing this weekend at the dam, either as cOttagers or as residents in the hospitabie club house. A party of visitors entertained there this week, in honor of Mir. and Mrs. Alan Rogers of New York saw the mammouth con struetion which utiiizes the power of the Coosa river ct the midSeetion of Alabama. They were fascinated with the charm of the native surroundings, while awed with the massive example of engineering. One never tires of Mitchell Dams water falls, with the gieaming lights above, and the quiet river on either side showing in the half light of a summer night
 But it is the little camp which sur rounds the dam that beckOns to those whose thoughts stray to the recreation spots in midsummer.
 Snug cottages, tree-shaded and inyit- ing, each suggesting the wee home of a newly-wed flapper, occupy happy eminenees above the river, each having its look of individuality as though its builder might be of different mood and different taste. Flowers aad shrubs and winding walks give a homelike- ness to each; the word being used in its oldest and its best sense.
 The clubhouse is the rest-spot of many young folk. They enjoy week end parties away from the bouse-keep- ing cares that invite family groups to the dam. Certainly there are few cosier places in which to dance, or to lounge in the rose-tinted lamp-hght in a great willow chair, or dine, after a swim, on wide and shaded veranda which af- lords a view of the roaring dam.
 Many pleasures await the vacation ist. One goes for dip in a swimming pool designed for both the timid and valiant swimmer, and amazingly shad- ed with the trees of the natural forest around it.
 Even Birmingham with its beautiful and luxurious Cascade Plunge, its joyous Edgewood and Ensley pools can marvel at the native beauty of the pool which welcomes the recrea tionists at Mitchell Dam.
 Fishermen are lucky than not, when they go down the river armed usually with the oldtime pole and bucket, to sit on the banks in a shady spot and dozs until q gentle tug hints that an- other poor fish is snared.
 With the fishing, the swimming and the picturesque walks through the woods to give a variety to the days, it is not surprising that the visitor finds so much to delight. Another experience often added to the joy of an outing is the boat trip down the Coosa to Lock F, another of the cOmpany'B properties. A trig little launch guided by the hands of one of the Power eompany's graci- ouS men, carries many a party of six down the stream whose natural beauty IS so unchanged that the fanciful can still imagine the turing figures of In- dian braves peering oyer the rocks or out from the shadows of the trees. As no camp of such magnitude can be truly happy Witheut happy people to inspire newcomers with feeiing of welcome, it must be explained that the spirit of the permanent dwellers at Mitchell Dam infectS the visitors at once with their own love for the place. While there are several dozen cottages equip ped and kept fer the brief housing of the compaBy'S weekend or mid-week visitors, the permanent employees and their families keep the morale of the place continually gracious. It is no unusual thing for the occasional fem iplne visitor to borrow an egg or q needle from young Mrs. John Hollis i; oF call for the gentle help of Mrs. Erie Hall in binding a bruised finger. Both of these lovely young women are occupants of homes, the charm and taste of which vies with our own love ly Birmingham houses.
 Their husbands are both important representatives of the company at Mitchell Dam.
 Mf. J. U. BenEinger, superintendent at Mitchell Dam and at Lock IF, and Mrs. Benzinger are the thoughtful and cordial leaders in hospiable affairs. at both these points. The home at Lock F is a delightful bungalow beauti- fully appointed and charmingly fur nished. 1t is to their tact and grace that visitors owe so much of their ease and pleasure. Their kindliness per- meates the spirit of the entire camp.
 While Mitchell Dam may be one of the greatest modern engineering achievements, it's adjoining residence camp suggests oldtime leisuFely south ern hospitality shorn of its primitive discomforts. That is why the com pany's cottages are always brimminE full with vacAtionists among their own people, with others on a waiting" list; and it is also why two of the happiest honeymoon couples in Ala bama are to be found now in two of the tiniest and Quaintest of it's cot tages.