USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > History of the Forest Lake Club, 1882-1932 > Part 15
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HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
JAMES A. FRAME
Inevitably, in discussing the by-gone days at the Club, there arises in memory a picture of James A. Frame.
He was one of that group of half a dozen men, all in the building trades, who came into the Club in the fall of 1887. He served on the Board for many years and in 1905 was elected to the Vice- Presidency, serving in that office until 1907, during the time that Mr. Avis was President.
Mention has been made of Mr. Frame's devotion to the success of the Sunday services. He was equally devoted to the welfare of the Club in general and filled with credit every office to which he was elected. He was one of the early members of the Fish and Game Committee, and rightly so, as he was an expert fisherman and intensely interested in the sport. "Frame's Island," in Wolf Lake, was so called because it was Mr. Frame's favorite spot for landing a bass. A stranger on hearing of this famous place might search in vain, for, after all, the island is but an unusual growth of lily pads well down the lake towards Fisherman's Landing; but not at all mythical to Mr. Frame.
As a Christian gentleman, Mr. Frame was not given to over-strong expressions of speech, but his "By cracky" and "Hokey smoke" which gave vent on
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occasion to his suppressed excitement will be readily recalled by those who knew him.
James A. Frame was a sterling character; hewing close to the line, not given to equivocation and put- ting into practice what he preached.
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JOHN LIVINGSTON
Over forty years ago, Dr. Alexander Hadden in- vited John Livingston to Forest Lake "to look over the place," as he felt sure Mr. Livingston "would like the country and enjoy the fishing." The invita- tion was accepted and early that same spring he and James A. Frame went up to the Club with Dr. Had- den. Several trips were made during the early season and so enthusiastic were the gentlemen that Mrs. Livingston decided that she wanted to see that won- derful place. But both her husband and Mr. Frame declared that it was "no place for women folks," probably having in mind the somewhat primitive accommodations existing at the time; however, she finally prevailed upon the men by saying "What is good enough for my husband is good enough for me." So on the next trip both wives accompanied their husbands, and the ladies, in turn, decided it was such a wonderful place that the children must share in it too. These first visits to the Club were made, apparently, in the spring of 1887, for it was in the fall of that year that Mr. Livingston became a member.
Mr. Livingston loved the Club, and as he was free of business responsibilities at that time, he spent many weeks and months helping to improve the place. He and John Davidson supervised the laying of pipes from the spring and the building of a reser- voir. While Chairman of the Executive Committee,
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he was often up at dawn, driving about the country for milk, butter and eggs; for in those days it was hard to obtain the necessary supplies. Finally, a Mr. Perkins, an old farmer in the neighborhood, was pre- vailed upon to deliver the milk, but many times he was late and some rumbles of dissatisfaction would occasionally be heard.
Mr. Livingston served on the Board of Directors for many years and for several years was Chairman of the Executive Committee. He was also a member of the building committees when both the south and north wings were added to the original Club House.
Always an enthusiast in the sport, Mr. Livingston, by his large catches, established quite a reputation as an expert fisherman, as many of the older members may recall. He was also a member of the famous Muggins Club, some of the members of which con- tinued this pastime during the winter at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Livingston in New York.
John Livingston well deserves his place among the loyal supporters and worthy members of The Forest Lake Club.
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HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
GEORGE N. WILLIAMS
George N. Williams was one of a half dozen men who joined The Forest Lake Association in the fall of 1887, and became prominently identified with its activities. Mr. Williams was a Director of the Asso- ciation and a member of the Executive Committee for a number of years, and was for three years its Landscape Engineer. He was one of the eight sub- scribers to the agreement to build the south extension and one of the original room owners. From the first he was an enthusiastic member of the Club. He foresaw its great possibilities and did everything in his power to advance its interests.
Mr. Williams' zeal as a religious leader, a virtue previously commented upon, was combined in nice balance with a robust and genial personality, and he had a pleasant word for everyone. He was not inter- ested in fishing but used to enjoy an occasional bout with the oars, and although a man of unusual weight, did not balk at canoeing. Some of the older mem- bers may recall his stepping blithely into a diminutive canoe, appropriately called the "Pea-pod" and sink- ing her without a struggle.
George N. Williams did much for the Club over a period of many years and deserves to be rated as an outstanding member.
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BENJAMIN A. WILLIAMS
Benjamin A. Williams became a member of the Club in 1887, bringing his family there two years later, little realizing that at least three generations would continue to enjoy the place of his choice.
He was one of the promoters of both the south and north wings and for several years, as a member of the Executive Committee, was intimately connected with the management of the Club. When the ques- tion of a water supply for the Club House arose, he was among those who insisted that the water be piped from the present spring, rather than from the lake, as proposed. Mr. Williams assisted in develop- ing the Sunday services and was deeply interested in the building of the Forest Lake dam.
During his later years he was unable to continue his active interest in the Club on account of his deaf- ness, but Benjamin A. Williams will always be re- membered for his kindly spirit, his generosity and his Christian fortitude.
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JOHN GRAHAM
None of the charter members of The Forest Lake Club is living; but John Graham, now in his nine- tieth year, was one of our very early members, hav- ing joined the Club in September, 1890, when it was still known as The Forest Lake Association.
Mr. Graham was for many years very active in the affairs of the Club. He served on the Board of Directors from 1892 to 1898 and for five years was a member of the Executive Committee. His name appears as one of two auditors of the first published Treasurer's report in 1894 and again in the issue of the report for the following year. He also served as one of the Committee on Ways and Means for raising funds for the building of the north extension to the Club House and was one of the sixteen sub- scribers to that fund.
Mr. Graham was always fond of competitive games and his eyes would light up whenever a chal- lenge was forthcoming. He toyed with the dominoes and often with his opponents in the "Muggins" room, and in the billiard room he chalked a wicked cue.
John Graham resigned from membership about 1904 but his immediate family is still actively repre- sented by one of his sons, James Monroe Graham, and two daughters, Mrs. Henry S. Livingston and Mrs. H. Rodger Elgar.
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JOSEPH VAN VLECK
Joseph Van Vleck was the first of four generations of that name to be entertained at the Club House, three generations as members and the fourth still too young to be eligible.
Mr. Van Vleck became a member of the Associa- tion in the fall of 1891. He was thoroughly im- pressed with the possibilities of the place, and shortly afterwards bought the south wing rooms of A. B. Johnson, then the two rooms of the Scott Estate, the last two rooms held by the Club, and then the two rooms held by Mr. Minturn. Mr. Van Vleck served on the Board for many years and was Vice- President from 1900 to 1903.
He was one of the first golf enthusiasts and took part in the tournament held in the fall of 1899 over the famed but short-lived original course.
Joseph Van Vleck, by financial assistance and sound advice, was a supporter of any progressive move. He was a promoter of the north wing ex- tension and joined heartily in the endeavor to inter- est the Club members in enlarging the then-called "Little Corilla."
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WILLIAM ARCHER
The Archer name has been identified with The Forest Lake Club for over forty years, as it was in March, 1891, that William Archer became a mem- ber; and the Archer cottage, formerly the Marshall cottage, which Mr. Archer acquired in 1903, has been a landmark for almost as long. Mr. Archer served on the Board of Directors from 1902 until 1914 and was a member of the Executive Committee for the greater part of that period. He was also one of the sixteen subscribers to the building fund for the erection of the north wing extension.
William Archer's interest in the Club continued over a great many years, though his active participa- tion in its affairs was largely limited to its formative period.
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JAMES BAIRD
James Baird, popularly known among his friends as "Jim," became an associate member of the Club in 1901 and a share-holding member in 1904. He was always an ardent worker for the Club's wel- fare, was one of the Directors for many years and Chairman of the Entertainment Committee for sev- eral seasons.
The Baird cottage was always a rallying point for the young people. It was seldom without guests and a likely place to find a lively party.
Many will remember Mr. Baird as aiding and abet- ting Mr. Frame in rounding up the guests for the Sunday service, acting, in a manner of speaking, as combination door keeper and usher; and he was equally zealous in gathering the people together for the regular Wednesday evening card game, although he himself seldom played. Pool and billiards were his favorite games and at these he was very skillful. He was also exceedingly fond of hunting and fishing.
He looked askance at golf during the first season it was played at the Club, but it is said that in the fall of that year when most of the guests had departed, he and his bosom companion, "Bill" Lahey, took up the game and with such results that they were able the following summer to give a very good account of themselves, often to the discomfiture of some of the younger players. When these two chose to put on a golf show, it was not only good, it was hilarious.
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Mr. Baird, unnecessarily assisting Mr. Lahey on and off the tee, in the manner of a prima donna being led before an audience, was a worth while vaudeville act, while the comments which passed between them should have demanded an admission price.
James Baird was for many years so much a fea- ture of the Club's life, that his absence therefrom, when ill health finally compelled him to discontinue his visits to Forest Lake, was generally and sincerely regretted.
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JOHN D. WESTON
John D. Weston, a manufacturer, of Honesdale, Pa., became a member of The Forest Lake Club in June, 1905, was elected a Director in October of that year and served as President from 1911 to 1921.
In 1906, only a year after he became a member, Mr. Weston built a cottage on the site of the Ogden- Davidson cottage which had been destroyed by fire. This action on his part of immediately and closely identifying himself with the Club was characteristic of the man.
Mr. Weston was a business man first and last; he possessed a passion for detail and was ever zealous in keeping the financial ship floating on an even keel. Not only that, but he was most generous in giving financial aid from his own resources and for several years he advanced the money needed to start the Club House in operation for the season. During his term as President, Mr. Weston spent a great deal of time at the Club, and from early spring until late fall very few weeks went by that he was not there at least once in the seven days.
The Forest Lake Club expressed its appreciation of Mr. Weston by a complimentary dinner tendered him in August, 1921, at the time of his retirement as its President. It was a memorable event. The Club House was decorated elaborately both within and without; the piazza was converted into a garden of ferns, hemlocks and pines and at small tables ices
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were served. The dinner was held in the dining room of the Club. There was dancing between courses, with some special dancing by two of our younger guests, and the climax of the occasion was reached by the presentation of a silver service.
In memory one can still see him standing about in the Club foyer, smoking his cigar; immaculately dressed, erect of bearing, a handsome and distin- guished figure.
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A FINAL WORD
One of our members, and he not at all a senti- mentalist, once observed to the writer, "The day I leave Forest Lake marks the end of the year for me." Probably many of us feel quite the same about it. With what regret we lift our boats and canoes from the water, stow away the tackle and spring the lock on the boat house door. That last round of golf! Yes, miraculously, it may lower our score; but even that hoped for event will not keep us from sighing just a little as we see the ball drop into the cup on the final green.
But we can carry back with us, often to muse over ere we return, many delightful scenes and inci- dents. We can see again, with the mind's eye, the peaks of the lower Catskills, looming out of the mists of the far horizon, as we actually viewed them from Mount Ogden. We can bring before us that splen- did panorama of mountains and lakes and valleys that the outlook from Mount Hadden presents. We can see the full moon coming up over Corilla, the length- ening shadows of late afternoon increasing the glory of Forest Lake and the sun going down in splendor behind Wolf. We can recall brilliant, sparkling days when we tramped the trails, the excitement of play- ing the fighting three-pounder, the pleasures of pic- nicking in the woods and the thrill of the long drive straight down the fairway.
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Dwell on these things, ye sometime sojourners at Forest Lake. So doing, you will, at least for a time, banish the worries and smooth out the creases of care. And now the writer brings his story to an end. Some one else may carry it on. But until such time as the next chapter is written, may the present one serve, on occasion, as a reference; may it help to point out the path for the future, and, if nothing more, may it revive many happy memories.
THE END
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