The Mail-Journal, Volume 11, Number 19, Milford, Kosciusko County, 5 June 1974 — Page 8

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Vacation Ideas

Historical Lake Wawasee offers something for everyone

Looking for a place in the Lakeland area to spend your summer vacation’ Why not try historical Lake Wawasee. Whenever anyone thinks of the Lakeland area and the many lakes to be found here his first thoughts most likely are of Lake Wawasee, the largest natural lake in the state of Indiana. Here one finds almost anything

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from stately mansions to small summer cottages, enchanting places with refreshing breezes, beautiful gardens and an area rich with traditions and lore. When an oldtimer thinks df Lake Wawasee he thinks of such places as Kale Island. Conkling Hill. Pickwick Park, Beer Point. Willow Grove, Jones Landing. Black's Point, Cedar Point, Crow’s Bay, The Sheep Wash, Morrison Island. Buttermilk Point and Vatwater Park Many of these names are familiar around the lake today while others are all but forgotten. Historical Lake A historian can spend an entire summer looking into the history of the big lake It’s hard to picture but several hundred years ago the area around Wawasee was covered by dense forests and marshes and the only inhabitants were the Indians who fished and

hunted in the land abundant with wildlife. A very interesting place to study is Cedar Point which is a glacial kame. About the time of the birth of Christ, Cedar Point was inhabited by a type of Indian now known as belonging to the Glacial Kame Culture, from the fact that they usually chose one of these glacial formations to camp upon and in which to bury their dead Sometime in the 1870's or 1880’s, according to the book "Early Wawasee Days” by Eli Lilly, a recluse built a hut on Cedar Point and found human bones protruding from the western face of the bluff. Several times when foundations or basements were being dug on the point persons have found skeletal material and artifacts. A historical marker now marks the point. Another interesting place to study is Conkling Hill which is known to modern-day lake lovers as Oakwood Park. Bill Conkling and his wife were said to have lived there many years ago. The first record of them is in 1844. Old Bill was a fishing guide and charged a fee of 25 cents per day for his services. There seems to be no record of what happened to the Conklings with the Evangelical church acquiring the land and the “village” of Oakwood Park being plotted in 1894. Kale Island was also an interesting place in the early days of Wawasee There were two squatters there two or three years before the Civil War They were brothers. Thomas and Kale Oram. The brothers made their livelihood by fishing, selling their catch in Goshen apd used their cabin as headquarters for those interested in fishing. The cabin was noted for fishy fumes, tansy bitters and a certain concoction made of raw alcohol and lake water flavored and sweetened by a secret formula, according to Lilly's book. Needless to say the reputation of the establishment was not too good. Morrison’s Island, located near the south end of the lake, was the home of the William T. Morrison family. Buttermilk Point One of the most fascinating places around the lake to study is the area called Buttermilk Point by early lakers. It is at the east end of the lake. The heroine and founder of Buttermilk Point seems to be one Elizabeth Hathaway Smith Todd Jarrett, second wife of Lewis Jarrett. “Betty” Jarrett lived at the east of the big lake between the years 1878 and 1911. When her husband

Vacation health You can get more fun out of that family vacation trip this summer by following a few precautions When traveling, take pity on your digestive system and avoid unusual, highly seasoned or heavy foods. Eat a little lighter than usual Take along clothing that will prepare you for a change in the weather It can turn cool in the mountains or at the beach at night. The travel-wise family goes to bed early and starts early before the heat of the day. Cove- the miles Airing the morning, and stop more often to let the youngsters stretch during the afternoon If you need a physician in a strange community, phone the nearest hospital or the countymedical society. In an emergency call the police or highway patrol.

Mir PETERSEN KALE ISLAND BAIT HOUSE

died in 1897 she elected to stay at te lake to raise her family. Betty Jarrett had a house, a well-stocked farm. 30 tillable acres, and a widow s war pension of sl2 per month. This was not enough to raise three youngsters so she used what she had to make a living. Her husband had built a milkhouse at the edge of the lake years before. Nearby was a spring from which flowed clear ice-cold water. He wailed up the spring and caused it to flow through the milkhouse. This gave Betty the money she needed to raise her family. It was the time when Wawasee was coming into its own as a summer resort area. People were building cottages on the north and southwestern shores and excursion boats were taking people on tours of the entire lake. Betty Jarrett s farm was a logical place for the boats to stop for rest and refreshments So, she build a landing for the boats and sold milk and buttermilk by the glass to the visitors, thus the name Buttermilk Point. Beautiful and modern con-

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Bart Culver is doing it the hard way in this photo, while former national champion in trick skiing and jumping Janie Peckinpaugh follows on one ski.

Webster Lake Ski-Bees 8-year state champs

When one sees water skiers on our Kosciusko county lakes, one knows the summer season is near at hand ... if not already here. Well, some “early bird” skiers have already been seen on several lakes, but not in any real numbers This won’t be long in coming, surely. With this in mind, editors of 'the paper’ thought it might just be appropriate to point out the fact that our own Webster Lake Ski-Bees have been Indiana state water ski champions for the past eight years. We are featuring the enthusiastic young group with page 1 pictures this week, provided for us by Bart Culver of North Webster. Generally speaking, the

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dominiums cover Buttermilk Point today and the name has been changed to Bay Point. Beautiful Lake Today Wawasee is a beautiful lake witn year-around homes and fashionable summer cottages. Some of the romance of the bygone years has been kept as persons have modernized the older homes but kept their basic lines to retain the beauty that they hold A recent tour of the Kosciusko County Historical Society included several homes in the Lake Wawasee area. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Prickett was built in 1858 of native timber. The low ceilings with wide ceiling moldings and beams are reminiscent of Williamsburg, Va. At the back of the house is a blacksmith shop where someone has inscribed “Let me live my life by the side of the road and be a friend of man” on the fireplace. In 1894 Fred Rusch of Indianapolis purchased the Pottawatomi club, a former fishing lodge with circa 1850 as a summer home for his family. It has remained in the family for five

pictures speak for themselves. Perform At Festival The Ski-Bees ride in the Mermaid Festival parade each year, then perform at the North Webster town pier at 2 and 7 p.m. day of the parade. This year their performance will be on Saturday, June 29, at the above times. In addition, it should be mentioned that the group will host this year’s state tournament at Pike Lake, near Warsaw, on Saturday and Sunday, with all day attractions beginning at 8 a m. and lasting until dark, the last week end in July. Bart Culver informs 'the paper’ there will be bi-weekly performances in the Webster area.

generations and is now owned by Mrs. Arthur Schrader, a greatniece of the former owner. The home, called Look-Out cottage, used to be reached by the family riding the train from Indianapolis to Milford and then by horse and buggy to Syracuse and the lake. Northwood Terrace was built by Colonel and Mrs. Eli Lilly in 1886. It was the firsf summer home built on the lake. Although modem conveniences have replaced the candles, oil lamps. chamberpots and icehouse, the early flavor of the cottage has been painstakingly preserved. Prep School Nearby is the stately Wawasee Prep school where summer camps are held throughout the warm season. Recently remodeled, the school kept the look of the early days when the building was a hotel and host to many who came from far and wide to enjoy the lake. Golf courses abound here too with the big lake claiming three — Wawasee. Maxwelton and South Shore. All are 18-hole courses and are open to the public. Fish, Boat, Ski Fishing, boating and skiing are all offered at the lake. Many marinas are found along the shores of the lake and persons spending only a week or two at the lake can rent almost anything they need to try the sporting opportunities offered by the lake. And. for the land lovers the old fish hatchery offers a beautiful view and picnic tables for an interesting afternoon or evening by shores of Indiana’s largest natural lake. W ATCH YOl'R BATTERY Hot. dry summer days are particularly hard on batteries since fluids evaporate more quickly. Be sure to check your battery often.

JM/VEOUT At The FROG ANNEX (Formerly The Guide) East Side Lake Wawasee Enjoy Fine .. . ix Steaks ts Sea Food If you have not been out to try our Polynesian food, we have a treat in store for you. — Ray and Lou Ann UAII DC 9 A.M.-3 A.M. — Monday Thru Saturday HUUK)« 9 A.M.-12:30 P.M. — Sundays KITCHEN OPEN TILL 3 A.M.

Baseball Shoes LAKE Er TRAIL SPORTS Pickwick Place Syracuse

Sffiff J nACE_~Jssi. Wawasee Village 457-4350 Syracuse DIXIE CAMP SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS — Hourly oa tM Mil Mur Mfinninf at 1:N Man NiruSAl — 4 M. 7 m Lo*a CruJw* on (ha Daia for Churchaa. School*. Chiha, Lodfaa Ernest (Tag) Huffman F- O. Boa I*3 Phone *34-1011 North Webster. Ind., 4*555

J MERRILL'S MARINA | Lake Wawasee Phone:4s7-2270 h s Service & Sales S Chris-Craft Boats JSrir . Glastron Boats S 1 -jnU If , Signa Boats * Evinrude Motors 3 3 Howard Kline John Moore