1875 Daily Graphic - 3

The Waterfront- Lunch- Dinner-Ball

For the visitors from New-York and New-Brunswick who were unprovided with baskets,

Part 3

Although the number if those present was very considerable, yet almost all bathed. They came for it, and they meant to have it. When the steamer Wyoming, chartered by Mr. McDowell of New-Brunswick, came alongside the pier with another five hundred merry-makers, the folks in the water received the new-comers with shouts of welcome and screams of laughing invitation. The passengers had a great advantage over the others, however, for they put on their swimming attire in the steamer’s staterooms, and walked leisurely down the landing into the water. By 12 1/2 o’clock almost every one had flouted and splashed to her or his heart’s content, and there was a general exodus and a scramble up the somewhat steep hill to the concealment of the wagons. In a very little time the bathers emerged flushed and rosy, and looked charming in their handsome muslin and silk dresses. White muslin with blue sashes appeared to be the prevailing taste, though there was of course, abundant variety. And very lovely did these New-Jersey girls look, in their modest toilets, with their long hair spread out to dry upon their rounded shoulders, with rich color of health and animation in their cheeks, and their bright eyes lighted up with pleasurable excitement. They formed groups and chatted with girls of their acquaintance, and occasionally asked of a passing young man if there would be a good chance for a dance.  Soon their parents recalled them to the wagons, and huge baskets were lifted out.The long tables that had been placed in the grove by the proprietor were taken possession of and were covered with snowy table-cloths. Then great loaves of brown bread were brought out, with roast chickens, already dismembered, roast geese, enormous pickles and huge huckleberry pies. Many of these tables were well furnished with silverware, in the shape of heavy forks and spoons, for these frolickers were, for the most part, substantial farmers, owning their land. On some boards there was the local champagne, known as Jersey cider, and on others, the peculiar apple jack, a strong spirit distilled from cider, colorless to the eye, but very fiery to the tongue, and heavy to the brain. The whole waterfront of the Englewood Grove is an oyster-bed and a fisherman of the place had a stand there and sold natives which were uncommonly good, with a fine salty relish, like the little Shrewsburys. Many of the farmers commenced their meal by a mess of these mollusks, which were sold at incredibly cheap rates, and remarked that Amboy oysters were good every month in the year.

For the visitors from New-York and New-Brusnswick who were unprovided with baskets, there was admirable dinner at the Eagleswood Hotel, where the guests had such a roast lamb as the metropolis seldom offers. There was excellent bottled porter, good claret, good sherry, and plenty of fine fruit, with very tolerable ice-cream for the ladies. After the meal the visitors promenaded up and down the front piazza, and listened to the band which by this time had arrived from Perth Amboy. In rear of the hotel there was an excellent dancing platform, which was soon crowded by the ladies and their beaux when they heard the music.Then  dancing was commenced with vigor and lasted until sundown.. The visitors by boat went at 5, the visitors by rail had to leave at 6, but the country folks maintained the ball until absolutely compelled to retire by their stern parents.

While the young people swept through the mazy figures of the quadrille, or twirled through the eddies of the waltz, the seniors sat in retired groups and talked of the prospects  of Perth Amboy. It seems that the vigorous exposure of Tammany by the Times, and its denunciation of Carnochan’s Quaran-tine atrocities have awakened great expectations in the Perth Amboyian breast. The good people believe that the merchants will not long endure such treatment, and that commerce, like a flood tide, will return to bless the streets of their ancient town. Though these great expectations will probably never be realized, yet as a Summer resort, Eagleswood is undeniably one of the most charming spots in the country, and will always be crowded.

The above Article was from the New York Times in 1871. More to come at a later date on “The Waterfront” and Eagleswood.

The Waterfront- The Groves

 

“ladies were robed in old calico dresses of many colors, and extraordinary cut”

Part 2

 

About five hundred yards off was another grove,and between the two a salt meadow. Along the entire margin, among the rushes and at the base of the declivities, were people in the hundreds, either going into the water or coming out of it. The water itself was thronged with good folks, who were swimming, splashing, diving, and shouting in the heartiest style. The costumes of the bathers were not exactly en regale, for the ladies were robed in old calico dresses of many colors, and extraordinary cut, and the gentlemen for the most part eschewed everything but old pants.

 

Some more scrupulous, added caps, and one good-looking dame from the bricks-works at Perth Amboy, wore a tall stove-pipe hat, that probably was am heirloom. Among the trees of Florida Grove were stationed the carriages and buggies of the farmers, to number of at least 1,400. These had been converted into dressing-rooms by various contrivances. Curtains had been extemporized from house blankets and old shawls, and occasionally old top coats. Behind these recesses I presume that the fair daughters of the farmers disrobed for the bath, for stifled shrieks and pearls of laughter and exclamations of impatience were very audible. Occasionally an ill-fastened blanket would give way, at which the blushing nymphs would shriek with dismay, and would huddle up in confused heaps of loveliness until damage was repaired. When the difficult operation had been successfully accomplished, the girls would emerge from the sheltering wagon in the dingiest possible dresses, but with their locks flowing in undulating waves to their waists.

Joining hand in hand in groups of three, four and five, they would rush down the hill and plunge into the pleasant water, with peal upon peal  of silver laughter. The young men made their bathing arrangements among the rashes that bordered the water near the Englewood Grove, and then swan like so many Leanders, to join their Heros.  Old and young, male and female, would form rings by clasping hands and circle around in the water, which was only about four feet deep, though the channel is twenty-nine. The fun and the jollity were universal.Stout old farmers, with gnarled and wrinkled faces and brown sinewy hands, went with full heart into the mirth and shouted like boys. In one direction I could see two pretty girls swimming a race to the pier and back, in another a handsome young fellow teaching his lady-love to float. I noticed a gray-beaded Frenchman with his granddaughter in his old arms, showing how the ladies bathed in la belle France by professional bathers. Among the rushes there was a stout farm servant of the fair sex who scorned the concealment of blankets and cloaks, and who made her toilet among the rushes with perfect indifference to appearance. Afterward she emerged boots in hand and squatting down upon the sand put them upon her stout extremities with calmness and deliberation.

 

The above is a partial article written and published in 1871 by the New York Times- There is more to come of the article and photos of the Perth Amboy Waterfront..

The Waterfront–A Place Like No Other

Perth Amboy

Sea Bathing by the Farmers – A Very Rustic Frolic – Singular and Unfashionable Scenes on the Beach

Part 1

Perth Amboy, N.J.,Saturday Aug. 19, 1871 - the inhabitants of the State of New Jersey have given up Long Branch to the grasping New Yorkers for sea bathing and holiday making, but the keep Perth Amboy for themselves. For the past two hundred years, and perhaps as , far back as the warlike Swedes against whom Gov. Stuyvesant made war, it has been the custom to devote the first three Saturdays of the month of August to grand frolics down by the waters of Raritan Bay at Perth Amboy.

This old observance has by no means fallen into desuetude. On the contrary, every year it becomes more and more popular. The farmers, though they never heard of the philosopher’s praise of salt, or of the many virtues which be ascribed to it, are completely of his opinion as to it’s merits, and believe that these three weeks’ bathing will secure them immunity from gout and rheumatism for the rest of the year.

Their daughters like it—not so much for the bathing, though that is considered good fun, as for the dancing and pic-picking. Besides, it is well known that half the marriages in the towns round about the spring form engagements made during the salt-water frolic. And the young men like it because it is a holiday, because it is full of enjoyable diversions, and because the prettiest girls of the State never fail to come.

On arrival at the station of Perth Amboy there were a dozen stages drawn up near the platform, and the drivers were shouting a the top of their voices, “To the grove, to the grove, Eaglewood Grove, Florida Grove.” Their vehicles were quickly filled by eager crowds, though many preferred to walk.

The road wound through the outskirts of the “old town”, and soon emerged from the country streets into the narrow lane that leads to the grove. The stages halted about a hundred yards from the Eaglewood Hotel, and the drivers informed the passengers that they were there. I confess that I looked around with astonishment, for there was nothing to see but a grove of handsome oak-trees, but as every one was rushing down a side path I followed blindly, and on arriving at a turn in the descent of a little hill, was rewarded by a sight of the frolic, already in full blast.

The above is a partial article written and published in 1871 by the New York Times- There is more to come of the article and photos of the Perth Amboy Waterfront..