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"Trip to Philadelphia
Centennial and Canada
By
William Henry Douglas, 1876, at age of 23.
Monday, June 19th, 1976: Left Elmwood
June 19th, at 9:16 A.M.
and arrived at Cincinnati
10:30 P.M. Stopped
at the Burnet House. Rates $4.00 per
day – good house.
Indianapolis
is a much prettier place then Cin.
Crops from E to Cin. not as good as in
Ill.
Tuesday June 20th:
Left Cincinatti
at
9:30 A.M.
Arrived at
Parkersburg
at
5:55 PM
and
Grafton at
9:30 P.M.
Passed
through the famous
Sciota
Valley
. The scenery from
Parkersburg
was nice and crops good.
Wednesday June 21st: Arrived at Harper’s Ferry at
4:30 AM
. Saw the Engine house that John Brown was captured i. The R.R. runs along a canal for several miles. The Scenery
around Harper’s Ferry is grand, being surrounded by Rocks and
Mountains. Plenty of Stone fences and Evergreen trees.
8:30 AM
finds
us at
Washington
D.C
.
which is a “Boss” City. Took Breakfast and then
went “up town” to see the Sights. The Streets are clean and
sidewalks composed of stone flags – Brocks, + c. – Weather fine. Weight in
Washington
123.
What we saw in Washington: 1st City Hall and
Lincoln Monument 2nd Post
Office 3rd Patent
Office, an immense, and beautiful building inside, floor mark, Iron Staircases,
Marble, +c. Saw Washington’s Bureau Candlestick +c., also Lincoln’s
gloves, +c.
Taking Carriage at
12:30 P.M.
We were driven through the Winding drives of Smithsonian
grounds, Entering the Institute we was Curiosities of
Every Imaginable Description. Then visited the
Agricultural
Department
Building
and Green houses.
Where we saw every description of Tropical
Plants +c.
After a drive passing the Treasury Dept, Willard’s
Hotel, Freedmen’s Savings Bank, some of the Principal Churches +c., we
visited the White House where we were very politely escorted through the
East Room, Green Room, Blue do (?) and Private Parlor of the
Family, all of which, including beautiful grounds – containing fountains,
beautiful flowers +c – are Immense.
Passing the New War Dept and the
Treasury
Building
-
in course of
construction, we next visited the “
Corcoran
Art
Gallery
”. Returning to the Treasury Building – with the
intention of going through it – we were informed that we were a little
too late in the day for visitors to visit the interior, so concluded to
postpone “getting rich” until some more convenient time.
Returning to the Capitol where we visited the House of Repre’sts
+ also the Senate, went up in the Dome where we could
see all over the city and at
5:35 P.M.
left
for
Philadelphia
.
The first place of importance is
Baltimore
. This city is noted for its Oysters of which the streets
near the lower part of the city are made of Oyster shells. Here we were taken
through the cist a distance of 1 ½ miles one car at a time by one Horse
and six mules. Arrived in Phila at
11 P.M.
stopped at a Private Board’s House
at
1114 Vine Street
.
Thursday 22”
June: At ( A.M. in
company with a Mr. H. C. Snyder of
Indianapolis
, took the Cars for the Centennial grounds and first visited
the
Main
Building
and some others. Returned to city at
6:30 P.M.
+ went to Arch St. Theatre. Heard Harrigan + Hart and the
Doyle Brothers.
Friday, June 23rd” – Went to the Centennial and visited the
Art
Gallery
and Carriages and machinery Hall. Attended Kiralfy’s
Alhamba
Palace
[
See image
],
Chestnut St.
played “A
trip to the Moon”
Saturday 24th: Saw the Agricultural Hall, Horticultural Hall and
Government
Building
, also Ladies Pavilion. Returned to City
and visited Independence Hall + Post Office. Took the
5:35
train for N.Y. + arrived at
9:35 P.M.
Crossed the Jersey Ferry and stopped at a European Hotel on
Broadway.
Board in
Philadelphia
: Lodging, Brkf’st + Supper @ 1.50 Per
day. Costs about 30 to 35 cts for dinner on grounds.
Board in N.Y. European: Paid 75 cts per day for Room.
Sunday 25”
1876: Went to
Plymouth
church + heard
Beecher
Church
was crowded from there to “
Greenwood
Cemetery
”. Then by rail to
Coney Island
.
In the evening went to
Central Park
. Weather very warm.
Monday June 26th: Visited Stewart’s Wholesale and Retail stores, City
Hall and Square, also Horstkind P + saw W. D. Pitcher, called at Bartlett Reed
+ Co’s and saw several fine places on Broadway +c. Took the 6 P.M. Boat “St
Johns” for Albany.
Tuesday June 27th
1876
: Arrived at
Albany
at 6 A.M. took the cars at
6:45
for
Rochester
. Arrived at
Rochester
at
5:35
and
Charlotte
at 6 P.M. Took the Steamer “Norseman” at
9:10
for Port Hope.
Wednesday June
28th 1876
: Arrived at Port Hope at 6 A.M. Took Breakfast at the St. Laurence
Hall. Took the
9:40 A.M.
train for
Belleville
.
Arrived at 12 N Went to Uncle W. W.’s for dinner and
in the evening went rowing on the
Bay
of
Quinte
.
Thursday June 29th
1876
: Stopped in
Belleville
. Went
9 A.M.
on an
Excursion to Mill
Point and Return on the Elephant Steamer “
Oswego
Belle” in the P.M. Went to Picnic in
Sidney
. Took tea at Theo. Foster’s.
Returned to W. W.’s and went rowing in the evening.
Friday June 30th: Headquarters in
Belleville
. Went rowing in the Evening.
Saturday July 1st: Headquarters in
Belleville
. called at Tho’s Jones + Mrs.
Horne in the P.M. and Alf Vermilyea’s in the Evening.
Sunday July 2nd: Attended the
Wesleyan
Methodist
Church
. Rained nearly all day. Went W. M. Church in the Evening.
Monday July 3rd: Took the 4:30 P.M. Stmr
Oswego
Belle for
Oswego
. Merchants celebrated Dominion Day in
Belleville
.
Tuesday July 4th: Arrived at
Oswego
at
10:30 A.M.
Saw the
street parade and Exercises in Park. Commenced to rain about
2 P.M.
+ rained at intervals during the P.M. Took dinner at Oswego
Hotel. Took supper at
Hamilton
.
Saw fireworks at night. Took
10:30
Boat for
Kingston
.
Wednesday July 5th: Arrived at
Kingston
at
4:30 A.M.
Took
breakfast at the “Angle American”. Took carriage and went to Ed
Hartman’s + went fishing +c. Returned to
Kingston
at 5 P.M. Called on Bob Eelbeck + took tea. Then went with Eva Peterson, Min. Keely + the Misses Hyman to a Strawberry
Festival in City Hall. Returned to Hotel about 12 and took the Steamer “Kincardine”
at
3 A.M.
on…
Thursday 6th
inst: Arrived at
Belleville
at
12:20
. Took dinner at Uncle Wins. Went rowing in
the evening.
Friday July 7th: Wrote home in the A.M. and Owen and I took dinner with Mrs.
Horne and in the P.M. went with Uncle Win to visit Mr. Fuller’s.
Saturday 8th: Went to Market in the A.M. Saw old
friends. Took
dinner at Mr. Jacob Fretz and went home at night with Joe Caldwell.
Sunday 9th: Hot. Took dinner at Mack Caldwell’s and returned to
John Caldwell’s. Mack’s wife’s name: Jo Hazelitt.
Monday 10th: Wrote some letters in the A.M. and took dinner at Dave
Caldwell’s. returned with John at night. Weather Hot.
Tuesday 11th: Wrote to A. G. and all went to Will’s to dinner and
Mr. Hazelitt’s to tea. Returned to John Caldwell’s
at night.
Wednesday July 12th: Went to John Caldwell’s with Jim Hamilton, arrive at
about 12 N and took dinner at Geo. Seeley’s. Saw
Orange
Parade:
12 Lodges represented, 1 Brass Band from
Belleville
and one from
Stirling
+ a
number of Martial bands. Orations in The Grove about a mile
from town. Returned and stayed with Geo. Seeley all night. Saw about a “Thousand”
girls.
July 13th
1876
– Thursday: Saw Vanamburg's Circus Street Parade in the A.M. and called
at a friend in P.M. Went with Mart at night.
Friday July 14th: Went to Mr. Cray’s for dinner and Uncle Elam White’s
to tea. Called on Young Ladies in Evening and stayed with Mart all night. Mrs. Greene – Deacon.
Saturday July 15th: Went Whortleberrying and got Wintergreen + Tamarack Gum.
Took the 2 P.M. Stage for
Belleville
, arrived at
5 P.M.
Saw C.
M. Jones and rec’d a letter from home and all and went with Mack Caldwell
+ stayed all night.
Sunday July 16th: Took B. at Mack’s. Dinner at Mr.
Ross. Attended
Presby
Church
at
3 P.M.
returned to Mack’s to tea and all went to John’s and I stayed all
night.
---
See also: A letter William H. Douglas wrote his parents about
the same trip which was printed in the Elmwood newspaper:
Trip East
Links:
William H.
Douglas
Hart Family Resource
Index
Hart Family Genealogy - Our Folk Home Page
Hart Family Genealogy - Our Folk Search Names
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