The Mail-Journal, Volume 6, Number 20, Milford, Kosciusko County, 18 June 1969 — Page 4

Kale Island Named For Kale Oram

From th? building of the dam in Syracuse until sometime in the 1870’s Kale Island was surrounded by water and could be reached only by boat during most seasons of the year. There were a few squatters there two or three years before the civil war including Thomas and Kale Oram. Kale was of medium height and blocky in built and could render Scottish ballads Very effectively in a baritone voice while his brother Thomas was tall and athletic with a face scarred by smallpox. The brothers made their livelihood by fishing which was done with nets in those days and considered a job not a sport and sold their catch in Goshen. The Oram cabin was headquarters for those interested in fishing and was noted for its fishy odors and a certain concoction made of raw alcohol and lake water flavored and sweetened by a secret formula. The reputation of the establishment was not too good but the brothers were industrious and cleared 20 acres of land. Much of the lumber from the island was taken to Syracuse where it was used in the early homes, made into barrel staves or used for firewood. After the land was cleared the brothers planted Delaware, Concord and other varieties of grapes. Thomas enlisted in the Civil War and after serving his hitch in the Union army went to Sansas to make his home. “Old Kale” Kale remained on the island and gradually lost his family name. He became known as “Old Kale.” Missing his brother’s cooking he first fell into melancholy and then in love with a tall, lean widow woman named Mam who resided in a cabin along the shores of Syracuse Lake with her son, Bill. Kale Island was sold to Mart Hillabold in 1874 and Kale and

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Mam spent their remaining days in Mam’s cabin on Syracuse Lake. Both are buried in unmarked graves on the hill in the Syracuse cemetery. In 1873 or 1874 John Wysong and March McCoy built the lake's first summer hotel on Kale Island. It was called ‘lsland House.” It was rather incomplete, sided with rough, green, vertical boards, which soon dried and warped, leaving the guests prey to the island’s mosquitoes. When the wind blew the windows would rattle and after a few years the hotel’s respectability and reputation declined from bad to worse and it became a poker joint and boozing den visited only by the disreputable element. The hotel finally burned to the ground with the neighbors in the area being suspected of arson although it was never proven. George W. Miles, a fish and game commissioner for the state at one time and a respected person of the Syracuse community, purchased the island and lived to see it developed into a highgrade community. The Island Today Today Kale Island is row upon row of year ’round homes and summer cottages with an occassional business snuggled in it’s peaceful setting to meet the needs of the lakers. Here too is found the beautiful Chinese Gardens adding a touch of Oriental beauty to the area with their graceful arched bridges, wishing gate and the impressive tea house which is built over the lagoons. The gardens are the creation of the late W. E. Long who purchased the land in 1927 and built the tea house about 1937 to house his art collection. The land where the gardens are located was part of a swamp area. Mr. Long used 1,500 loads of dirt and three and one-half carloads of stone to fill in the area and create the gar-

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A scene from the past. . . I ■■ ' • ’ • ■ ■ ■ .r .■ ■. ■ ■ • - ■ ■ ''' '■ ■ ■ ' ■ j ’ |L fay f GOOD SPOT TO FISH — A small boat stops in the channel between the lakes to allow anglers to try for their dinner. Even today, the bridge along the channel is lined with fishermen who try for the “big ones.” Many of the trees which lined the channel in early da*** have long since been cut down.

POPULAR CHANNEL — Even in by-gone days boats crossed from Syracuse to Wawasee lake via the channel which runs along the west edge of Kale Island. It was then, and is how, a peaceful ride.

dens. He also helped to build the county road adjacent to the lagoons and planted poplars, evergreens and plum trees along the road. The gardens are now the property of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Nearing of Muncie, summer residents of Kale Island. They are private but can be viewed from the county road which runs past the lagoon. The channel which runs past the west end of the island connects the lakes. In days of old it was the neck which connected the head (Syracuse Lake) with the body of Turkey Lake. BLUEGILLS BITING IN AREA Largemouth bass are biting good on Lake James in Steuben county and also on Clear Lake, according to field reports from Indiana Department of Natural Resources staffers. Bluegills are biting on worms at Big Long Lake. Indian Lake reports catches of crappies. At Pigeon River Northern pike and trout are biting good. At the Tri-County State Fish and Game area, bluegills and redears are going for flies and worms. • Bluegills are being yielded at Webster Lake, Chapman,, Dewart Lake and Goose Lake. Bass are coming from Webster Lake,, Center and Pike. Northern pike also are reported at Pike. Fishermen are catching smallmouth and largemouth bass, and some channel catfish and crappies in the St. Joe River at Cedarville. Salamonie Reservoir fishermen are taking lots of smallmouth and largemouth bass, as well as some crappies on nightcrawlers.

Lakeland GOLF

John Hossinger Flotilla Golf Champ With 68 John Hossinger turned up the Flotilla golf champion with a score of 63 for 18 holes played at the Maxwelton golf course on Saturday. Other course winners are as follows: Maxwelton A Flight (men) — Lowell Slabaugh, Paul Moore and Cal Fisher. B Flight (men) — Bill MacDonough, Dick Kessinger and Charles Chance. A Flight (women) — glly Blakesley and Mavis Vanderveer. ■ j South Shore Low Gross —Hershel Caudill with 75. A Flight (men) — Jerry Davis, Leon Vance and Larry Troup. B Fight (men) — Vern Stutzman, Joe Howell. C Fight (men) — Jim Speicher, Jr. A Flight (women) — Barb Ilulley, Nora Speicher and Leila Connolly. f Wawasee Low Gross — Jim Bauman ■with • 74. .A .'light (men) — Bob Koch, Dean Smith and Roger VanDurioll. j /arzr KALE ISLAND i BAIT HOUSE

B Flight (men) — John Sawiki, Bob Gross and Gordon Miller. A Flight (women) — Pat Simmons, Sally Divletro and Jan Osborn. LIST WINNERS AT TIPPY Following is results of play in the several classes at the Tippecanoe ladies day last Thursday: Class A— Jody Oyler, low gross: Betty Clark, first low net; Tammy Light, second low net; and Julia Evans, putts. Class B — Mary Lee, first low gross; Gen Thomas, second low gross; Elaine Adams, first low net; Lorraine Heinzelman, second low net; and Ellen Rasor

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i * JEM « ■ S '-lAh I • |Mn i - - b mmf c f b —■"'* t I . .8 » . ♦ KALE ISLAND TODAY — Kale Island and the area arsund Lake Wawasee today is lined with cooling shade trees and pleasant homes and cottages. The lake is a place where one finds everyone doing “his thing,” whatever that may be. Our photographer found this young miss at the end cf a pier and couldn't resist taking her photo.

and M. J. Lantz, low putts. Class C — Mary Aker, first low gross; Amber Christensen, second low gross; Wini Marcheses, first low net; Lois Plew, second low net; and Virginia Hawk, putts. Class D — Phyl Landis, first low gross; Eleanor Champion, second low gross; Betty Anglin, first low net; Myrtle Wentzel, second low net; and Mina Stoutenour, putts. MAPLE CREST LADIES PLAY AT MAXWELTON A total of 13 ladies from Maple Crest joined 30 members from Maxwelton for play on Tuesday. Following play lunch was served at the dub and prizes were awarded as follows: Low Gross —Alice Jones, first low gross; Gladys Anderson, second low gross; Betty Hartzler, third low gross. Low Net — Helen Christner, first low net; Mary Nofzinger, second low net; Phylis Main, third low net. Putts — Leia Cripe and Hank Curtis, first low putts; Fran Garber, second low putts. Nine hole — low gross. Barb Kay; low net, Nancy Mousley; low putts, Donna Johnson. Hostesses for the day were Marge Newcomer, chairman, Dot Stiver, Karen Kuidig and Jeanne McAndrew. TUESDAY PLAY AT SOUTH SHORE A total of 20 ladies played for low gross, low net and low putts at South Shore on Tuesday. Winners follow: Eighteen hole — Barbara Hulley, first low gross; Lee Wake, second low gross; Stella Heckaman, third low gross; J. B. Silveus, first low net; Ruth Banta, second low net; Vera Whirledge, third low net; Dorothy Connolly and Gayle Van Zant, tied for low putts. Nine hole — Kay Bostick, low gross; Lori Welty, low net and Ginny Lamley, low putts.

WINNERS IN FISHING CONTEST The following were adjudged winners in the Flotilla fishing contest in the three classes: Bass — Harland Ditmar, 201 W. Oakridge street, Goshen, 3 pounds, 13 ounces. Crappy — Ken Miller, r 1 Milford, 1 pound, 1 ounce. Bluegill — John Holloway, Pearl street, Syracuse, 7 ounces. RENTAL PLANES Thousands now, are using rental airplanes, available at most airports for recreational flying thus enjoying the same advantages of those who own their own planes.

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• r Waiiffo'Heip?’} I Ulis summer the staff of The I I Mail-Journal is attempting to I | gather information on the his- | | tory of Wawasee for publica- | | tion for the summer pages. | I Persons who have informa- I | tion on the several points and/ I | or bays in the area are asked | | to send it to either the Milford | | or Syracuse offices. I Pictures too would be ap- I | predated and will be returned. | |Be sure, however, to mark [, | them clearly with your name || address. y