The Mail-Journal, Volume 26, Number 20, Milford, Kosciusko County, 1 July 1987 — Page 33
Dog Creek Dam Road
By JACK ELAM A quarter mile stretch of Pickwick Road has a long and interesting history. In his book, “Early Wawasee Days” published in 1960, the late Eli Lilly describes a portion of the old road from the bridge to old 13. He says, “Just after crossing the bridge over the channel near Kale Island, as you go west, and before gaining the first crossroad, you will notice a short segment of abandoned, curving roadway bearing to the north, then returning to the main road.” Mr. Lilly refers to this as the last trace of the “Dog Creek Dam.” This “dam” created a marshland or backwater area connected to the lake. During the rainy seasons, fish would become trapped when the water receded and the early settlers cbUld scoop up fish with nets or pitchforks. Later, a crude bridge was constructed across the channel and the crest of the winding “Dog Creek Dam” became a lane for people traveling to and from Kale Island. This land between old 13 and the bridge was owned for many years by Frederick and Nora Searfoss. Frederick, or “Shorty” as he was called, sold a right of way for a road. The sale, which took place on the 15th of August in 1923, was for the sum of $75. Making the purchase from Mr. Searfoss was John Egbert,
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* DOG CREEK DAM ROAD —ln the top photo Frederick “Shorty” Searfoss, left, is standing in front of the gas pumps at the Standard filling station that he owned and operated on the southeast corner of SR 13 and Pickwick Road. On the right is Allen “Googie” Ritter, Shorty’s son-in-law. In the background is the “Dog Creek Dam Road” angling to the northeast through the grove of oak trees that are still standing. The auto is on the approximate site of the southeast wing of Miller’s Merry Manor Nursing Home. The bottom photo shows the trees, looking west, and shows the location of the old roadway. The trees lined the north side of the old road. (Photos provided by Jack Elam)
George Kleder, and Haines Egbert. The description of the land purchased for the roadway was a “strip of land forty (40) feet wide commencing at the public highway (old 13) running north and south— directly east from the west end of Dog Creek Dam; thence northeast on the line of, and over, said dam to the east thereof; thence in a southeasterly direction in a direct line — thence east — to the channel forming the outlet of Turkey Lake, now called Wawasee. In 1937, a news story in the Syracuse Journal states that, “Rapid progress is being made upon the improvement of the highway from State Route 13 to Pickwick Park, south of Syracuse. A county project, over a quarter mile of road is being relocated to eliminate sharp curves where accidents, including one fatality in recent years, have occurred. At this point, the road has been little more than a winding lane. Although picturesque, it has been top narrow and dangerous for fast travel, and county officials have decided the relocation should be made. When completed, the road will be almost without curves from Route 13 to Pickwick Park and Kale Island and is regarded by lake and town residents as one of .the better improvements made here by the county for sometime.” Shorty
Searfoss also owned the land that the new road required. Mr. Searfoss owned two houses along the Dog Creek Dam Road. One house was located on the north side of the road near the bridge. The other was on the north side in a grove of oak trees about half way between old 13 and the bridge. Shorty owned and operated a Standard filling station on the southeast corner of 13 and Pickwick Road. Today, Pickwick Road, which was straightened out in 1937, is lined with homes on the south side and is known as Merrill’s Addition to Syracuse. The addition was named after Merrill Norris who purchased part of the Searfoss estate and developed it into a residential area.
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