The Mail-Journal, Volume 6, Number 29, Milford, Kosciusko County, 20 August 1969 — Page 8

Bay

Bill Conklings Lived At Oakwood Park In 1844

No one seems to know for sure ■when Bill Conkling and his wife moved to Conkling Hill bn the ■west side of Lake Wawasee, however, it is known they were there in 1844. Old Bill was a guide and was one of the best on the lake for many years. His charge for services: 25 cents per day. Enormous numbers of geese, ducks and brant filled the marshes in the area known as Oakwood Park and the old name for the point of land between the outlet of the lake and Conkling Bay was Duck Point. Just as no one knows when the Conklings moved to their hill there seems to be no record pf what happened to the couple. - After they passed from the history books of the lake the land they loved became over run with rabble and the reputation of Conkling or Conklin Hill deteriated fast. Conkling Hill was acquired by the Indiana Conference of the Evangelical Association in 1893 , and the land in that area has b'elonged to the church ever ted Methodist church’s North Indiana Conference. The purchase price of the 40 acres was $5,000. A huge tent tabernacle was set up on the side of the hill — this allowed for a sloping seating arrangement — and the first camp meeting was held there in August of 1893. A wind and rain storm hit

Z44T 1 PETERSEN KALE ISLAND BAIT HOUSE

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the area in 1896 and the tent was torn down. The conference then built a frame tabernacle at the cost of $1,500 in 1898. Ministers provided labor and money was raised by the church’s youth organization. This building was destroyed by fire on May 22, 1914. Construction of a new building was started immediately and dedication services were held in August of that year. Those first meetings were free to the public and were well attended, however, it soon became necessary to charge a gate fee to keep the undesirables who had visited Conklin Hill in the by-gone days from disturbing the meetings. The money collected was used for park improvements. The Park Today The park today is a very active place with 125 cottages located within its boundaries — some are privately owned while others are owned by the conference and may be rented. Several of these cottages are on either the Syracuse channel or the lake front. According to the “History Indiana Conference” published in 1924 a total of $98,000 was spent from 1895 to 1923 with the hotel, dormitories, cottages, a chapel, dining hall, walks, sea wall, the superintendent’s home and other improvements being made in the area. The hotel was redone in 1927 and welcomes all who come to the park today. It is located near the park’s swimming area and the children’s beach. In 1949 the lodge was built and in 1961 Oakwood Center was added to the buildings as were the sanitation plant, roads and the circle. Kimmel hall was winterized in 1964 and is now used as a site for week end retreats all winter long. Generally the park is open from May through October. At Oakwood one finds a play-

Scenes from the past. . .

KOi*ri> 1 s■ SI ■'? . A .JMB ■ v“ £ ’ ' --WrW* f, j -■ L 9 w *■« jfi ■C.a. I T1 J. — DOWNTOWN SYRACUSE — This scene of downtown Syracuse was taken in 1902 when the town was enjoying what was called the clowning season. Does anyone know what the clowning season was? This reporter is at loss! It’s a new one in our books. f At any rate it looks like the band provided music for all and a large crowd gathered for the event.

T a r ” ’1 ■ 111 _lx bi 4h “ * ▼ fc r . < w ■• <ll •■ A". f j tiiL H£v»„ wLJK |L -” ;*r*w REMEMBER THE OLD BAND — This old Syracuse band often entertained residents of Syracuse and Lake Wawasee. They posed for this picture in front of the Syracuse school. From left are Bub Holloway, Pete Harkless, Wes Hire, George Sarjent, Will Snavely, Nick Stamates, Sam Grisson, Garfield Walker, Mr. Miller, George Ross, Jim Waltz, Harry Eagles and Ed Berringer. .

ground for children, volley ball, baseball diamond, tennis and shuffleboard courts and a basketball area. As one enters the park he drives past the beautiful orchard area before reaching the main part of Oakwood. It is truly one of the most interesting and cleanest points on the lake. ROBERT HOLLARS ENTERTAIN Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hollar and sons David and LaDoit of west of Milford entertained at a chicken barbecue dinner Sunday, Aug. 24, for those from this vicinity who helped them build their house in Bonita Springs, Fla., last winter and this spring. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. Herman Merriman, Albion; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hise, Indianapolis; Mr. and Mrs. Harold Zimmerman, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Vadeau of Grand Rapids, Mich; Mr. and Mrs. Seth McFarren, Mr. and Mrs. Max Anglin, Mr. and Mrs. Warren Evans, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Bray, Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Dippon, Mr. and Mrs. Dale Stump, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Miller, all from Milford. The ladies furnished the salads and desserts.

STOCKCAR RACING New Paris Speedway North of Syracuse — Friday — ELEVEN EVENTS FIRST RACE 8:00 — Saturday — TEN EVENTS FIRST RACE 7:30 TOP SPORT THRILLS FOR ONLY $2.00

Strawberry Valley Days At Ligonier Sunday-Monday The 15th annual Strawberry Valley Days, sponsored by the Jaycees, will be held on Sunday and Monday this year, instead of the usual one day celebration. The grand opening will be at 2 p.m. Sunday followed by the water ball fight at 3 p.m., pony pulling contest at 4 p.m., street dance — group with “The Third Minds”. At 9:30 p.m. there will be a giant’ fireworks display at the city park on route 33. Monday morning celebrations will begin at 6:45 a. m. with Revelley. The free pancake and sausage breakfast sponsored by the Ligonier Lions club will begin at 7 a.m. Sausage will be donated by the American State Bank and as usual is made from 4-H hogs each weighing around 865 pounds. They were purchased by the bank at the

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Noble county fair last week. At 10 a.m. there will be the model airplane contest in the bank parking lot on Third street; 11:15 a.m. the kiddie parade on Main street; 1 p.m., a horse show put on by the York Township Horse and Pony club at the city park on route 33. At the same time there will be a Youngsters of Action contest, ages 6-10 and 11-14, at the fire station. The Rotary club will sponsor a chicken barbecue instead of the usual fish fry this year. It will begin at 3:30 p.m. At 6:30, the grand parade on Main street, followed by another street dance, winding up the twoday activities. SYRACUSE LOCAL Week end guests of Mrs. Ida Hibschman of Syracuse were Mr. and Mrs. Donald Lowe, and daughter, Carol, Jack Hildreth and Cathy Holmes, all of Toledo, and Daniel Gustafson of Sylvania, Ohio.

MV_ . - ■ v . ~ . f PARK ENTRANCE — Shown here is the entrance to Oakwood Park, 40 acres owned by the United Methodist church and located on the western shores of Lake Wawasee. , The park is visited by many persons each year and was at one time used by the Lakeland Community School Corporation with classes being held in the new Oakwood Center.

"FBBIIIsrW!® ® k " i Il'Si ft SM T 3 HOTEL AND BEACH — The Oakwood Hotel caters to members of the United Methodist church during the summer months and is located in Oakwood Park. The bathing beach is enjoyed by all who visit the park. A children’s swimming afrea is «Uso located near the hotel.

Property Owners To Hold Breakfast Sunday, Aug. 31 A breakfast for members of the Wawasee Property Owners Association, their famines and friends will be held from 8:30 until 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 31, at the Lilly Pavillion on the North Shore of Wawasee. The event is the second of two held each year on the Sundays closest to July 4 and Labor Day. They are held as get-acquainted events for Wawasee residents and to acquaint residents with the association, its aims and its members. No admission is charged and dress is informal. Serving is cafeteria style, and officers and directors of the association serve as assistant chefs and busboys. INDIANA CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR ’69 September is a delightful month to tour Indiana in the beautiful days of early autumn. A week end or week’s tour can be timed to include some of the many festivals and events in all parts of the state. September 1— Closing day of Indiana state fair at Indianapolis. September 1— Western horse show at Roberts Park in Connorsville. Sponsored by the 4-H Bucka’roos of Fayette county. September 6 — Hoosier Hundred at the state fair grounds. 100-mile championship auto race sanctioned by USAC.

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