New Garden Historical Commission - Other Diversions

<body text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" link="#0000FF" alink="#FF0000" vlink="#990099" lang=EN-US> <table border="0" cellpadding="5" width="100%" bgcolor="#999999"> <tr> <td><p align="center"><img src="../lyceum/lyceum.jpg" width="200" height="114"></p> </td> <td align="center"> <h1><font color=black>New Garden Historical Commission</font></h1> <p><a href="../index.htm" target="_top"><font color=black>Click here</font></a> <font color=black> to return to the home page and links to other articles</font></p> </td> </tr> </table> <div class=Section1> <div style='border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'> <h1><a name="_Toc189384615">OTHER DIVERSIONS</a> </h1> </div> <p class=MsoNormal>Despite the community betterment societies, there were some who found other activities more exciting. The "Daily Local News" reported in 1893: </p> <p class=indentquote>"And now 'Mr.' Ned Cartwright, the artistic eye decorator and nasal lacerator, who was whipped by 'Mr.' Tony Stannard, in a grand display of pugilistic power, near the home of staid and sedate Joshua Jefferis, New Garden, the other morning is whispering fraud.</p> <p class=indentquote>He and his backer have issued the following for publication:</p> <p class=indentquote>'Ned Oartwright was defeated by John (Tony) Stannard, of Wilmington, Dela. in a way that was not satisfactory to him or his friends. We do not wish to disparage Stannard's ability but Cartwright was defeated by a chance blow, and we are not sure that he would have been allowed to win, as the crowd at the ringside was all for Stannard, Ned having been so careless as to go and meet Stannard on his own ground, only taking two friends along. </p> <p class=indentquote>It is questionable as to whether or no he was counted out 'on time' and he and his friends believe his defeat was due to that, coupled with his over-confidence in himself.' " </p> <p class=MsoNormal>The "News" wrote further: </p> <p class=indentquote>"And now, 'Mr.' Cartwright and his backers want a return game. Well, if they have it and go down again into New Garden, Joshua Jefferis ought to be on hand with a corn stalk and a curry comb and 'Lather' both of them out of the County. Untie the dogs, Joshua!" </p> <p class=MsoNormal>A few years later, all the southern end of the Township gathered at Southwood to watch the sparring match between one Mr. Stretch of Kennett Square, and one Mr. Mitchell of Doe Run. Mitchell was way ahead before the end of the first round. This so angered the spectators that they interfered, the match was stopped, and the champion of "Scroggy" was never determined. </p> <p class=MsoNormal>It was common knowledge that moonshine was being distilled from fermented molasses and rum, but the location of the still was never revealed. And then, there was the monster that prowled McIntire's Woods. Even today, some living in the area of Buttonwood Road near Landenberg speak of the mysterious triangle on the old property where nothing grows, and from which strange noises emanate, but no one has really seen the triangle, or heard the noises! In 1886, there was a wild beast of some sort there whose cries were heard for a mile around on a clear night. A few months after the first report, a Wilmington newspaper reported that a Canadian Lynx had been killed along the Wilmington and Northern Railroad, and that it was probably the beast that had alarmed people for a few months in Northern Delaware, and Chester County. It was believed to have escaped from a menagerie that had passed over the railroad. </p> <p class=MsoNormal>Most activities in the southern end of the Township centered about Landenberg which was a lively little village by the late 1800s, and around Kaolin which achieved prosperity at just about the same time. </p> <p class=MsoNormal> </p> </div> </body>