Clipping:The Oakdale grounds

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Date Sunday, May 6, 1866
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We visited these extensive grounds on Tuesday morning last, and were very much leased with the appearance of things. The new park is upon a lane leading off from the first tollgate upon the Germantown pike, and the Fourth and Eighth Street (yellow) cars take you to the ground for a single fare. The property has two fronts. The western one borders upon and Germantown and Norristown Railroad, and that company intend erecting a passenger station upon the premises for the convenience of their Germantown and Philadelphia patrons. The property has long been known as “Duke’s Garden,” and is admirably adapted for th uses for which it is being prepared.

The workmen are now busily employed in getting ready the ball-ground, which we have no hesitation is saying will be the finest in this country. The choice fruit and shade trees that adorned the property have been removed, and a beautiful space made clear for the players. The ground will be put in excellent order, and our clubs have a field to give their exhibitions of skill upon worthy of our great national game. Stands will be erected capable of seating comfortably ten thousand people, and Mr. Wm. Vanhook, under whose superintendence these improvements are going on, had ordered preserved a number of excellent shade trees, under which seats will be erected, and which will enhance the comfort of the spectator, and no way impair the view.

There will be a sixty foot wide drive around the grounds, which will be for the accommodation of those visiting the premises in carriages. We walked over the park with Mr. Vanhook–some eleven acres in extent, and were asked by him to locate the “reporter’s boudoir,” which, by the way, is to be something exclusive, and will not be open for the use of the “dead beat” tribe.

On behalf of the legitimate members of our fraternity, we beg leave to thank Mr. Vanhook and the gentlemen who are associated with him, for the thoughtfulness in remembering the wants of the press. The courtesy will not be forgotten as the season advances.

Among the improvements will be a spacious refectory, which will be conducted in a manner to make it popular with visitors. No liquors will be sold or allowed upon the premises. Players who have visited the new grounds are in ecstacies over its advantages and conveniences for baseball and cricket purposes, and the skating park will be in all respects equal to the best in the country. We should not omit to mention that the property has been inclosed, and the visitor will not be annoyed by the gratuitous slang of the mob who generally congregate on important matches, and whose phraseology does not grate pleasantly upon polite ears.

Source Philadelphia Sunday Mercury
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Submitted by Richard Hershberger
Origin Initial Hershberger Clippings

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