USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > History of the Forest Lake Club, 1882-1932 > Part 2
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At this time it is said the name was changed to Pine Grove to dim the memory of the fatal wreck. The change to this latter name was doubtless con- sidered appropriate also, because of a beautiful pine grove situated in the vicinity of the present station. The name Pine Grove remained until 1886 when it was again changed back to Mast Hope, several mem- bers of The Forest Lake Association being among the the petitioners for this latest change of name as ap- pears in a minute of a Directors' meeting. Mast Hope will always be associated in the minds of The Forest Lake Club members of the present generation
[9]
HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
with that genial and kindly gentleman, the late John H. Joyce, who for so many years served as station agent and postmaster. Mr. Joyce will long be re- membered as a good friend of the Club.
At about the time of the above-mentioned railroad accident, the only means of transportation, aside from the railroad, was the old plank road running to Honesdale-the old Coach Line. There was no Haw- ley branch of the railroad then and there was much controversy about putting it through from Mast Hope, as the distance was much shorter from that point. The Coach Line gave rise to the old Selden Hotel, known as "Selden Manor." The history of this house is, briefly, as follows: David Selden, the grandfather of the present owner, bought in 1848, three thousand acres in and around Mast Hope. "Selden Manor" was built and finished in 1853- opened to the public July 4th of that year and was run as a hotel for five years. The house is said to be a copy of a home in England belonging to the Selden family. It contains many interesting old fireplaces with marble mantels obtained from the present own- er's grandfather's marble quarries in Vermont, and huge rooms and corridors. Of interest also, is the fact that the mantels were cut by the firm of Robert I. Brown & Son, respectively the grandfather and father of our fellow Club member, Herbert D. Brown. David Selden also built the plank road above referred to.
The old mill house property along the brook, be-
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EARLY REGIONAL HISTORY
tween Mast Hope and Forest Lake, was a lumber mill of five small buildings known as the Jacoby Mill and this mill furnished most of the lumber used in the old Selden house.
All this country was a lumber country. Lumber mills were on or near most of the lakes of The Forest Lake Club. One of these mills stood near the outlet of Forest Lake and was owned and operated for many years by Mr. William F. Holbert from whom our first tract of land was purchased. Part of the origi- nal foundation can still be seen though the mill was out of commission for almost thirty years before the Club came into existence. A dam had been built at the outlet of the lake to furnish power for running the mill and part of this old dam was utilized by the Club when the present dam was constructed in 1908. A large house was erected nearby and conducted by Mr. Holbert as a boarding house for the employees of the mill, about forty in number. This building stood on the "Old Farm" and was not, properly speaking, a farm house. Further mention is made later on of this "Old Farm." Mr. Holbert is said to have had a saw mill later at Case's Mills and he it was, also, who built the Delaware House at Lackawaxen.
The old Weaver Tavern came somewhat later and stood on the site of the present Joyce home. One Julius Sharff was the proprietor of this tavern during the early days of the Club. Julius was born in Sax- ony, Germany, the son of a shoemaker and one of eight children, and came to America with no capital
HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
at all. He had served in the German army, was mar- ried and had six children. Shortly after the arrival of the family in Narrowsburg, his wife died and later Julius married again. There were five children by the second marriage. Coming from Narrowsburg to Mast Hope, he served as baggageman and switch- man for about six years and then bought the tavern from one John Holbert who had purchased it from Weaver. It was known as Julius' Tavern and was famed for its excellent rice beer. At the same time he ran the general store.
The spring of the year was "rafting time" and Julius' golden opportunity. The huge rafts, made up of countless logs, each raft manned by half a dozen or more men, were floated down the river to Port Jervis. An average raft of round timber was 65,000 feet. Of sawed lumber, sometimes 200,000 feet were carried on one raft. These rafts invariably stopped at the Mast Hope "Eddy" where the men put up at Julius' over night. He is said to have had as many as fifty or sixty men there at one time and the bar- room floor was utilized for sleeping quarters when the festivities were at an end.
It is said that Julius pressed his whole family into service on these occasions to help keep the plates and glasses filled and one can imagine the clog dancing, singing and general hilarity that lasted until the early hours of the morning. In spite of this, the raftsmen were up at the break of dawn and off down the river.
[12]
ON THE OLD CANAL NEAR LACKAWAXEN
EARLY REGIONAL HISTORY
The old Delaware presented a lively scene in those days and it was a gala day for Mast Hope when the rafts were seen approaching the town. Occasionally a girl or woman would be permitted to ride on the raft from Mast Hope to Port Jervis with one of her men folks and this, naturally, was considered a signal honor and a great piece of luck. Then, when the last raft had disappeared around the bend of the river Julius would return to his tavern and prepare for the next crowd of "rivermen." At one time Julius owned five dwelling houses in the village, be- sides his store and tavern. The tavern burned down about forty years ago, some time before Julius died, and he then moved into the store building, still stand- ing, which was known as Julius' store.
In the old days of the wagon and horse-stage, the Club members were always known to the villagers as the "Forest Lakers" and Julius was popularly known to the Club members as the "Mayor of Mast Hope."
As out of Lackawaxen came the first settlers of Mast Hope, so, from the same center some years later, came George H. Rowlands, after whom the town of Rowlands was called, and who, as a boy, had come to Lackawaxen with his parents about the year 1828. The elder Rowlands had been engaged in lumbering, merchandising, and in the construction of the Dela- ware and Hudson canal which was being built at
NOTE: The above story of Julius' Tavern in "rafting time" was obtained through the courtesy of Miss Doris Joyce from conversations had with some of the oldest inhabitants of Mast Hope, and from some biographical sketches of its earliest settlers.
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HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
about this time; so he was evidently a citizen of sub- stance and prominent in his community.
George H. Rowlands, as a young man, struck out for himself and settled about four miles up the Lackawaxen River, where, as has been said of him, "he carved out a home and fortune on the side of the mountain, with store, farm and mill." He was elected to the State Legislature for several terms, during one of which he served as Senator.
The bridge across the Lackawaxen at Rowlands over which so many of us drive on our way to the Club, is the third one constructed within the present century. The original bridge was built by the inhabi- tants of that section as a toll bridge, and, while it was apparently paying for itself, the opinion of the com- munity seemed to be that the company that built it should be reimbursed for its cost by the township. The dispute finally became a court proceeding, drag- ging along for a number of years, during which time, on two occasions, the bridge was destroyed by floods. A decision was finally handed down against the township and it was assessed for the entire costs.
Of the larger towns of Hawley and Honesdale with which most of us are familiar, the following short sketches are offered:
One Reuben Jones with his two brothers, Alpheus and Alexander, and a sister, the "Widow Cook," are said to have been the first settlers of Hawley. Reuben had been taken prisoner by the Indians and held captive for nearly a year, finally escaping in the
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EARLY REGIONAL HISTORY
following dramatic way: He was an exceedingly strong and agile man and became on very friendly terms with his Indian captors by entering into their tests of endurance and fleetness. He knew well his own capacities and having allowed his competitors on several occasions to worst him, he took advantage of an opportune time to once more challenge them and this time, in earnest, easily outdistanced them, finally finding his way back to the Wallenpaupac. He located, then, as above related, at the "Paupac Eddy" just below the mouth of Middle Creek, where one Benjamin Haines and others soon joined the Jones family in the little settlement. About the year 1850, Paupac Eddy became Hawleysburgh and the next year the name was simplified to Hawley. This was in honor of General Irad Hawley, the first president of the Pennsylvania Coal Company, and who was instrumental in improving the canal facilities at Hawley where the coal en route to tidewater was transferred from the railroad to the canal. The coming of the Delaware and Hudson Canal had al- ready started Hawley on its way to prosperity and this was enhanced in 1850 by the completion of the Pennsylvania Coal Company's Gravity Railroad. This road ran a distance of forty-seven miles from its eastern terminus at Hawley to Port Griffith, located on the North Branch Canal and the Susque- hanna River. In 1885 the "Gravity Road" was re- placed by a steam road. The Hawley branch of the Erie was built in 1863. The Delaware and Hudson
HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
Canal Company also had its "Gravity Road" built in 1829 about a year later than its canal and running from Honesdale to Carbondale, a distance of about sixteen miles. This road, which was also converted into a steam locomotive road, in 1899, is the one re- ferred to by the old-timers when they reminisce about the parties made up at the Club for a trip on the "Gravity Road."
Honesdale, the largest town nearest the Club, was named after the Honorable Philip Hone, at one time New York's chief executive. He was the principal promoter in the construction of the Delaware and Hudson canal and its first President. The site of Honesdale lies on parts of two tracts of land for- merly known as the "Indian Orchard" and "Schoon- over" tracts. The first of these covering several thousand acres was granted by the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania about 1765 to Captain Jonas Seeley, a former officer in the Colonials during the French and Indian War, sometimes known in Eastern Pennsyl- vania as "Teedyuscong's War." The name "Indian Orchard" arose from the fact that within this tract of land lay a famous apple orchard that had origi- nally been planted by the Indians. The Schoonover Tract was granted to William Schoonover by the state about 1805 and contained about 800 acres. Contradictory rumors concerning the location of the canal head lead to a small "boom" on parts of the two tracts and two separate settlements were started
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EARLY REGIONAL HISTORY
which only after several years came together to form one town.
The first steam locomotive to run in America was tried out at Honesdale on August 8th, 1829. This was the famous "Stourbridge Lion," built in England and brought to this country by the Delaware & Hud- son Canal Company for use on the road, then under construction, extending from Honesdale to Carbon- dale. The rails were of wood, the running surface protected by wrought iron straps, two and one-half inches wide. The track as then constructed was found to be inadequate to sustain the weight and thrust of the "Lion" and, after a second trial the following month, the plan to use locomotives was abandoned for a number of years.
To complete the sketch of the region surrounding the Club, the little town of Greeley must not be omitted. About the year 1840, one Mahlon Godley owned a tract of land containing about 7,000 acres and lying about six miles from Lackawaxen and four miles from Rowlands. Shohola Creek, famous at that time as a trout stream, ran through this property, and a frame house, a log cabin and a planing mill comprised what was then known as Godleyville.
At this time, Horace Greeley, who, by lecture and editorial had worked up among many of his follow- ers a desire to test Fourierism, a French communistic idea, looking about for a likely location for the ex- periment, chose Godleyville and bought the 7,000 acres for $10,000.00. Several prominent people,
HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
among them Edwin Forrest, the celebrated actor, held an interest in the project, but Mr. Greeley himself was by far the largest shareholder. It was known by the name of the Sylvanian Society or Sylvania Pha- lanx Society and immediately upon securing control of the property, a community house was built with a common dining hall, plans were made for culti- vating the land, factories for the manufacture of wagons and shoes were erected, and the wheels of in- dustry hummed. The main idea was equality of living and an equal division of labor. The men, with land cultivation and factory work, and the women with household duties, were set certain tasks turn and turn about.
For two or three years the community thrived and in the years 1842 and 1843 it numbered about three hundred people. For a season or so thereafter the crops failed to yield an adequate return and in the spring of 1845 an intensive effort was made to wring a living from this unusually rocky and unfertile soil. The effort was a success and such crops were pro- duced that it seemed as if the lean years had passed and the years of plenty had begun.
On the morning of the fourth of July, 1845, the sight that greeted the eyes of the communists was one to make the angels weep. The worst frost ever known in this section of the country before that time or since, had completely ruined the crops and nothing but a withered, blackened, desolated scene lay before them. Within a few days the place was de-
[ 18]
EARLY REGIONAL HISTORY
serted, the communists had gathered together their personal belongings and like the Arab and his folded tent, had quietly stolen away.
There sprang up, following this, a small commu- nity, devoted mostly to summer residences and hotels; quite attractive and named, of course, after the great Editor. Today, on passing through, we may note a hotel bearing the name "Sylvania Lodge," the only link, apparently, to connect this interesting ex- periment with the present time.
This section of the country, a little more than a hundred years ago, was one great forest, unscathed alike by fire or the lumberman's axe until the coming of the white settlers. Lumbering then became, as a matter of course, the principal industry and was car- ried out on a tremendous scale. It is estimated that fifty million feet of lumber and logs were run down the Delaware annually, some years prior to 1885. What with the wholesale lumbering operations car- ried on over so many years and the havoc wrought by forest fires time and again, it is not to be thought strange that so little of the original forest remains. And yet, apparently, growth has succeeded growth to such an extent that our broad acres are still wonderfully wooded, while here and there can still be found ancient forest trees, at least some evi- dence of nature's escape from man's destruction.
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II
THE FOUNDING OF THE CLUB
T HE idea of forming a fishing club, which we were originally, came about in this way. Among a number of men who were ardent fishermen and lovers of the out-of-doors and who sensed the possi- bilities of this section of the country as fulfilling their desires in this direction, were Dr. Alexander Hadden, a prominent New York City physician, and Robert Betty, a dry goods merchant, also of New York. William Hadden, a brother of the doctor, was living at this time near Rowlands, and it was through John M. Williamson of Lackawaxen, one of this co- terie of fishing enthusiasts and a real estate operator, that he heard of a tract of about 1500 acres which was for sale and which belonged to a William Hol- bert. This information was conveyed to Dr. Had- den, who, in turn, discussed the matter with Mr. Betty, and it was these two gentlemen who are said to have been responsible for the first steps taken toward the purchase of land. The purchase was made some time in 1881 through Mr. Williamson for the sum of $2,200.00. An interesting side light on this point is the fact that from 1784 to 1792 the price of unimproved state land in Pike County was $26.66 2/3 a hundred acres. From 1792 to 1809 it
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Atlaiddown
FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
THE FOUNDING OF THE CLUB
was $6.66 2/3 a hundred acres and in 1809 the price was again increased by law to $26.66 2/3. At this time what is now Pike County was a part of Wayne County, and it was not until 1814 that it became a separate county.1 These 1500 acres, our first pur- chase, included Big Corilla, Little or Round Corilla (our present Forest Lake) the site of the present Club House and Mount Ogden.
In the early spring of 1882, shortly after acquiring this land and a few months prior to the incorpora- tion of the Club, the first building was erected and called Camp Williamson after the above-mentioned John M. Williamson through whom the purchase of the property was made. Camp Williamson was lo- cated on Big Corilla near the present Williams boat house. It was a one-story frame building about 35 feet long, having several bunks in one end for sleep- ing quarters and a combined kitchen and dining room at the other end.
A diminutive colored man was established as cook and general factotum and the daily menu was said to have consisted principally of ham and eggs, salt pork and hot soda biscuits; the biscuits apparently were the permanent piece de resistance and the board for this elaborate layout was five dollars a week.
These lakes of ours had probably tempted the disciples of Izaak Walton ever since the white man first settled in these parts, and undoubtedly many of
1 Wayne County originally included what is now Wayne, Pike and Monroe Counties.
[2]
HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
the men who made up the small coterie that origi- nally conceived the idea of this rendezvous had fished our waters time and again. The late Frederick D. Storey stated in the writer's hearing that they were known to him years before there was any thought of a Club. Knowing Mr. Storey's fishing reputation it would probably be more difficult to find the places where he had not fished than where he had.
Fishing, then, was unquestionably the main diver- sion of our first Club members and indeed it remained so for very many years. One can imagine during the time Camp Williamson was used as headquarters, the discussions and arguments that must have gone on and the yarns spun by these enthusiastic fishermen through the long summer evenings ere they emptied the last pipes of the night and turned in, perchance to dream of the big one they didn't land. It is said that occasionally the dreams were rudely interrupted by mosquitoes and the campers driven to take refuge in a hay barn that stood nearby, the fact having been recognized that the tormenting little insects would not venture near hay, they being subject, doubtless, to attacks of hay fever.
But man was not meant to fish alone and so, quite naturally, with the building and occupation of the camp house there arose a desire to erect more ade- quate quarters that the families might be given a share in the enjoyment of this delightful place. Be- fore, however, any definite plans were made to build a club house, it was decided to form a permanent
[22]
THE FOUNDING OF THE CLUB
organization. Accordingly, steps were taken to in- corporate the Club and apply for a charter. The Forest Lake Association was incorporated July 12th, 1882, under the laws of Pennsylvania, the charter of which was subsequently amended July 18th, 1906, changing the name to The Forest Lake Club.
THE ORIGINAL CHARTER FOLLOWS:
Be it known that the subscribers having associated themselves together for the purpose of preserving and propagating fish, and otherwise as hereinafter set forth, and being desirous of becoming incorporated agreeably to the provisions of the Act of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, en- titled "An act to provide, and for incorporation and regulation of certain corporations," approved the twenty-ninth day of April, Anno Domini, one thou- sand eight hundred and seventy-four, and its supple- ments, do hereby declare, set forth and certify that the following are the purposes, objects, articles and conditions of the said Association, for and upon which they desire to be incorporated:
First-The name of the incorporation shall be THE FOREST LAKE ASSOCIATION.
Second-The purposes for which the Association is formed are, the preservation and propagation of fish and game, the maintenance of a private park and of facilities for hunting, fishing and other athletic sports and the maintenance of a Club for such pur- poses and for social enjoyments.
Third-The place where the business of the said corporation is to be transacted is Lackawaxen Town- ship, Pike County, Pennsylvania.
Fourth-The corporation is to exist perpetually.
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HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
Fifth-The names and residences of the subscribers and the number of shares subscribed by each are as follows:
Name
Residence
Shares
ROBERT BETTY
New York City ec
One
WM. W. LADD, JR.
ec
ec
EDWARD G. BLACK
cc
cc
THOMAS G. WALL
ce
cc
FRED ALDHOUSE
cc
JOHN H. HINTON
ec
ce
ALFRED B. SCOTT
ec
ce
JAMES V. S. WOOLEY
cc
ec
DANIEL LEWIS
cc
DANIEL SCHOONOVER
cc
ce
JOHN C. UMBERFIELD
Co
ec
CLARK H. McDONALD
ec
ec
DAVID WEBSTER
ce
ee
WALTER EDWARDS, JR.
cc
ce
GEORGE B. PELHAM
ec
ce
CHARLES WHITLOCK
ce
ce
CHARLES D. BELDEN
ce
ec
FRED S. WAIT
ec
ce
HENRY W. BOOKSTAVER
ce
ce
FRANCIS C. REED
ce
ce
SAMUEL M. SPROLE
Brooklyn, N. Y.
ec
JAMES H. DONALDSON
New York City ce
J. H. VAN ETTEN
Milford, Pa. ec
WILLIAM HADDEN
Rowlands, Pa.
ce
ce
JOHN M. WILLIAMSON Lackawaxen, Pa. [ 24 ]
ec
CHARLES R. GREGOR
ANDREW MILLS
ce
FRANK P. FOSTER
ec
ALEXANDER HADDEN
ce
ALFRED B. OGDEN
THE FOUNDING OF THE CLUB
Sixth-The affairs of said corporation shall be con- ducted by a Board of thirteen Directors, to be elected from among and by the stockholders, in such manner and at such times as the By-Laws, made in pursuance of said Act of Assembly, shall specify. For the first year, or until an election is held, the following named persons shall be and act as said Board of Directors, and their names and residences are as follows:
ALEXANDER HADDEN New York City ec
JAMES V. S. WOOLEY
THOMAS G. WALL
FRANK P. FOSTER ec
CHARLES WHITLOCK ce
GEORGE B. PELHAM
EDWARD G. BLACK ec
WILLIAM W. LADD, JR. ec
ALFRED B. OGDEN ec
DANIEL LEWIS
ROBERT BETTY ec
FREDERICK ALDHOUSE ce
ALFRED B. SCOTT
ce
Seventh-The amount of the capital stock of the said corporation is three thousand dollars, divided into thirty shares of the par value of one hundred dollars. Witness our hands and seals this eighth day of July, Anno Domini, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-two.
ROBERT BETTY (Seal)
WM. W. LADD, JR.
(Seal)
ALEXANDER HADDEN
(Seal)
JOHN M. WILLIAMSON (Seal)
WILLIAM HADDEN (Seal)
J. H. VAN ETTEN
(Seal)
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HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA SS.
County of Pike
Before me, the Recorder of Deeds in and for the County aforesaid, personally came the above named WILLIAM HADDEN JOHN M. WILLIAMSON J. H. VAN ETTEN
who in the form of law acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be their act and deed for the purposes therein specified.
(Seal)
Witness my hand and seal of office the twelfth day of July, A.D. 1882. JNO. C. WESTBROOK Recorder.
STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA County of Pike
SS.
Personally appeared before me this twelfth day of July, 1882, J. H. Van Etten, who being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that the statements contained in the foregoing instrument are true, and that William Hadden, John M. Williamson and J. H. Van Etten, three of the subscribers to the foregoing instrument are citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
J. H. VAN ETTEN. Sworn to and subscribed to before me this twelfth day of July, 1882. JNO. C. WESTBROOK, Proth'y.
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THE FOUNDING OF THE CLUB
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS r For the County of Pike 7
Notice is hereby given that an application will be made to his Honor, Charles P. Waller, President Judge of said Court, on Wednesday the twelfth day of July, 1882, at 2 o'clock p.m., at his Chambers in Hones- dale, Pa., under an Act of Assembly of this Com- monwealth, entitled "An Act to provide for the incorporation and regulation of certain corporations" approved April 29, 1874, and the supplements thereto, for the charter of an intended corporation to be called the "Forest Lake Association," the char- acter and object of which are the preservation and propagation of fish and game, the maintenance of a private park, and furnishing facilities for hunting, fishing and other athletic sports, and the maintenance of a Club for such purposes and for social enjoyments, and for those purposes to have, possess and enjoy, all the rights, benefits and privileges of the said Act of Assembly and its supplements thereto.
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