USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > History of the Forest Lake Club, 1882-1932 > Part 6
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As set forth under the chapter on "Financial Problems," it was not until May, 1897, that the financing of the project had been satisfactorily worked out; and it was at a Stockholders' meeting, at this time that Mr. Maynicke again presented plans for an extension to be erected at the north end of the Club House. The building was to be 50 by 50 feet and to have twenty-three rentable rooms. A committee composed of B. A. Williams, James A. Frame, and John Livingston was appointed July 5th, 1897, to "obtain, approve and adopt plans and speci- fications for the erection and completion of altera-
HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
tions and extension to Club House together with furnishings," and on November 9th, 1897, the com- mittee on plans had completed its work and a build- ing committee was appointed, the members of which were Benjamin A. Williams, James A. Frame, John Livingston and George Mulligan.
Work on the new extension was begun in the summer of 1898 and on September 27th of that year, Mr. Williams, as chairman of the Building Com- mittee, reported that Mr. Maynicke's plans had been approved, contracts made, and the new building was well under way. The frame was reported up by November and the work completed, including alter- ations to the old Club House, and the building of the porte-cochère, by the spring of 1899.
As is usually the case, the original estimated cost of $8,000.00 for the new wing and alterations to the old Club House, and $2,000.00 for furnishings, proved to be too low, and in May, 1899, Mr. Mulli- gan reported that the probable cost would be $11,500.00, exclusive of furnishings. The final re- port in December, 1899, informs us that the new wing with furnishings cost $11,470.82, repairs to old Club House, $3,361.19, giving a total of $14,832.01.
After the north wing was built, the old parlor became the billiard room, though, strictly speaking, "Bottle Pool" was the order of the day. The pool table, heretofore in the bowling alley, was transferred to its new home and another one purchased a short time later to keep it company.
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The end of the Gay Nineties and the two decades following, witnessed many an exciting pool tourna- ment. Chivalry, not having entirely died out by that time, the ladies were generously accorded a "hand pool" tournament one night a week; and this indeed was very popular. But for many years the real show was the almost nightly game of bottle pool between "Bill" Lahey and "Jim" Baird as opposed to William A. Avis and James A. Frame. This per-
formance lined the walls and jammed the doorways with amused spectators. No Reserved Seats. Stand- ing Room Only. But how they enjoyed it! Exaspera- tion on the part of Mr. Frame, when he would catch "Bill" or "Jim" surreptitiously moving the balls or 'Jim" surreptit altering the counters, frequently culminated in that dignified gentleman, with cue threateningly raised, chasing one or the other of them half way round the room. An ever ready witticism on the part of Mr. Avis usually served to suppress the riot and the game would be resumed, though with the constant menace of another flareup before the evening was over. "But the old order changeth, yielding place to new;" and with the passing of some of the older devotees, the game gradually waned in popularity. The tables were still used occasionally, until the billiard room itself was eliminated in the enlargement of our lobby to its present size.
Up to the time of the passing of the billiard room, the fore part of our present lobby was then the lounge room of the Club. These rooms were sepa-
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rated by a partition running the entire width of the original house, with double doors at its center. A swinging door led from the billiard room into the hall at the right and one could also enter the hall from the lounge through a door placed where a part of our present candy counter is now situated. The lounge was not a very large room, but it served well its day and generation, though it was rather uncom- fortably crowded at times, especially over week-ends and holidays. The registry desk, candy and cigar counter and fireplace occupied approximately the same positions as at present, though the last has since been enlarged.
A stranger walking into our Club in those days could not mistake it for anything but the hunting and fishing club which it was. The walls were ap- propriately decorated with well mounted specimens of fish, birds and deer heads, showing, for the most part, the achievements of our own Club members as fishermen and hunters. The group of wood duck which still adorns the mantel of our smaller fireplace, and the mounted pickerel, were donated by Walter B. Rockwood in 1908, and about the same time Ben- jamin A. Williams presented to the Club a fine mounted specimen of wild cat which had been shot on the Club grounds by Joe Van Vleck some years before. The handsome buffalo head which at present hangs above the large fireplace, was presented to the Club by William H. Frame.
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IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CLUB HOUSE AND PLANT THE CLUB HOUSE
T HE addition of the south wing to the original Club House gave us a building one hundred and sixty-two feet long and when the north wing was erected, an entire length of two hundred and twelve feet.
In the years intervening between the erection of the north wing in 1899 and the present time, many alterations and improvements to the Club House, and to its service, have been accomplished which have added greatly to its interior appearance and to the comfort of members and guests. Among the minor improvements, there were, for instance, in 1908, the erection of a new men's dining room for the employees, and in the fall of 1910, the painting of the Club House and out buildings at a cost of $1,325.00; and in the year 1914, changes and repairs to the kitchen and to the plumbing throughout the house.
In October, 1918, there came up for discussion the building of a waitresses' dormitory, as for many years there had been inadequate housing in the servants' wing of the Club House, situated west of
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the kitchen. It was decided to build on that part of the property then used as a garden, approximately midway between the servants' wing of the Club House and the westerly wall of the enclosure. The President, at that time John D. Weston, was author- ized to borrow the money and have the work done, the cost not to exceed $3,000.00. Under Mr. Wes- ton's able direction, the building, which proved to be both adequate and attractive, was shortly after- wards erected, and ready for occupancy by the summer of 1919. Mr. Weston, ever generous and unselfish, especially where the interests of the Club were concerned, himself advanced the $3,000.00, the original estimate of the cost of construction, al- though an additional $900.00 was needed before the project was completed. A judgment note for $3,000.00 was given to Mr. Weston about a year later, and in November, 1920, the note was paid.
In October, 1922, some tentative plans were dis- cussed relative to improvements in the kitchen; and in February, 1923, Henry S. Livingston submitted plans for remodeling that part of the house. At the same time there was also discussed the matter of im- provements to the Club office and the possibility of removing the wall between the office and billiard room. Also, alas! One pool table was to be removed from the billiard room and so the beginning of the end of the once famous billiard room tourneys was in sight. But thus doth the march of time destroy
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old idols but to build new ones, as will appear later, when one pictures the completed improvements.
The Ways and Means Committee having mean- while been in conference with the Finance Com- mittee, had decided that the above scheme for alterations was too comprehensive to be undertaken at that time, and so reported; but the hand of change was not to be stayed; and in March, Mr. Livingston reported that contracts had been made for these several improvements and that the work would be entirely completed by May 1st. It was completely finished by Decoration Day.
The improvements were substantially as follows:
The old "lean to" which had been used as a dining room for the male help and the other rookeries back of the chef's quarters were torn down and an ex- tension to the house store room and ice room was built. The pastry room was extended to provide a dining room for the help and on the west side an extension was built the full length of the kitchen, and ten feet wide, to provide more working room for the chef, better dish washing facilities and more room for the waitresses. The foundations were thoroughly repaired and the chimneys rebuilt. A cellar was provided, nineteen by forty-one feet and seven feet in height. An ice room was built with insulation, and drained into the sewerage system proper. The kitchen was painted and additional windows placed therein for light and ventilation and an extra door added so the waitresses and other help
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did not have to pass through the chef's quarters. A new 60 gallon boiler and 400 gallon heater were installed to give adequate hot water supply. A new range and bake-oven was set up giving fifty per cent more range space.
The wall was removed between the office and billiard room, the ceiling in the billiard room was covered with sheet rock and the chimneys in both rooms faced with stone. Double swinging doors were placed at either end of the billiard room. The children's dining room was cleaned, painted and papered and the small office which, the year before, had been used by the bookkeeper was made into a chauffeurs' dining room.
The old laundry building was repaired as to win- dows and roof and the old store room in this building given over to the superintendent for storing original packages, supplies, drinks, tools, etc.
These improvements, as outlined above, with the addition of the furniture and fixtures cost a little more than nine thousand dollars, and were fully paid for by October out of the season's receipts.
An interesting, and, as it proved, a very lucky dis- covery was made when taking down the chimney in the billiard room, preparatory to rebuilding it. All the beams near the chimney were charred, due to the fact that the pipe from the stove simply fitted into a sleeve and there was no connection with the chimney. The smoke and flames had found their way out of the building in the space between the lathing and plaster
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and the outside boards. Why a fire had not occurred is unexplainable, unless one believes in the fairies.
We now had a lobby or lounge room, that in size was practically the length and breadth of the orig- inal Club House, and that gave a very pleasing sense of spaciousness and comfort; and to Harry Living- ston must be given most of the credit for this very great improvement.
The next important improvement to be carried out for the comfort of our members and guests was undertaken in 1926. This contemplated the rebuild- ing and enlarging, to twice its size, of the tower which stands at the junction of the kitchen wing and the west wall of the Club House. Large wash rooms with lavatories and baths were to occupy the second and third floors with entrances from the main halls, and on the ground floor another wash room and sports room, with lockers, the latter room leading out onto the back porch, were planned. A new ade- quate hot water and additional sewage disposal plants were included, besides the installation of running water in all the bedrooms of the Club House.
The dining room was to be enlarged by extending it further into the south wing, provided the mem- bers' rooms needed to accomplish this extension could be obtained. Joseph Van Vleck very generously agreed to give up rooms 18, 19, 28 and 29, provided the Club would give over to his use, rooms 53 and 54 in the north wing of the house. This offer was very gratefully accepted. In the enlarging of the dining
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room it was thought necessary to remove the stair- way in the wing and erect a new one at the south end of the hall. This would give additional toilet facilities for the wing.
The partitions around the children's dining room were to be removed, thereby making the living room larger and more attractive; the interior of the Club House was to be painted and decorated, new furnish- ings for the parlor and new floor coverings for the hall were to be supplied. The Club House was to be wired for electric lighting and fixtures were to be installed. Improvements were to be made to the men's quarters, and a new garage accommodating sixteen cars was to be constructed.
The Committee also recommended the following:
That the halls in the wing extension be wired for electricity at the expense of the Club. That the Club provide electric current for lighting the rooms in the wing extension but that the lessees provide the necessary fixtures and wiring. That if the lessees provide the necessary plumbing for the use of hot and cold water in each room of the wing, the Club will provide the hot and cold water. That the lessees of the four corner rooms on the south end of the wing be given the privilege of installing private bath rooms at their own expense in connection with the new stairway extension; but in the event of their failing to avail themselves of the opportunity, the Club may install at its own expense such additional toilet facilities as it may deem advisable.
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Some thought had been given to the project, as outlined above, in February of 1926, and in the fol- lowing May, a Committee on Improvements was appointed, consisting of Dr. Clarence C. Guion, Chairman, Richard W. Lahey, Herbert D. Brown, Henry S. Livingston and John D. Mills. The Com- mittee made a tentative report to the Board in August, outlining its plans and advising that as the contemplated cost would be about $20,000.00, a debenture bond issue not exceeding that amount be considered at the Annual Stockholders' meeting. This was done, the matter thoroughly discussed by the stockholders, the plan approved in principle, and the Board authorized to continue the Committee and request it to bring detailed plans before a special meeting of the stockholders.
This meeting was held at the Hotel Waldorf- Astoria on October 22nd, 1926, the proposition of the Committee was approved with only one negative vote and forty-three bonds were subscribed for at this time. On the same date at the regular quarterly meeting of the Board, a resolution was passed to the effect that the indebtedness of the Club be increased from $10,750.00 to $30,750.00 and that a meeting of the stockholders be called for January 15th, 1927, to take action on approval or disapproval of the pro- posed increase of the indebtedness.
At the October meeting the Committee on Im- provements was discharged with the sincere thanks of the Board, and a Building Committee was author-
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ized to proceed with the plan. This Committee was composed of John D. Mills, Chairman, Herbert D. Brown, D. M. Van Vliet, Dr. Clarence C. Guion, William C. Mansfield and William L. Archer, Presi- dent ex-officio.
The Special Stockholders' meeting was held on the date called for in the above resolution of the Board and unanimous approval was given for the proposed increase of the indebtedness. The Board at a special meeting on the same date formally declared the in- debtedness increased. The Treasurer was thereupon authorized to issue eighty ten-year debenture gold bonds in the sum of $250.00 each; said bonds to bear interest at the rate of five per cent, payable annually. The bonds were to be numbered serially and pro- vision made in each and every year, beginning with 1928 or before, if desired, to retire by lot eight or more bonds. The Building Committee reported on May 20th, 1927, that work in the sum of $20,099.00 had been contracted for, and very good progress on the improvements had been made. The Board ac- cepted the report with thanks and with special ap- preciation for the work done by Mr. Van Vliet. This very important improvement was finally completed in the summer of 1927.
WATER SUPPLY
When a pump was installed at the spring and the first tank erected, the kitchen, laundry and wash
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PRESENT CLUB HOUSE
IMPROVEMENTS TO CLUB HOUSE AND PLANT
rooms were supplied with running water by this means, but the sleeping rooms in the Club House and the cottages were fed by hand, so to speak, and this condition went on for many years.
On March 5th, 1885, a rule was adopted regarding the consumption of ice, wood and water from the Club House tank by the cottages and the fixing of prices for the use of the same. A minute of October 26th, 1891, reads: "Executive Committee be em- powered to supply Club House with running water. Building of cistern referred to Executive Committee with power." No attempt was made at this time to carry out either of these suggestions. In June, 1904, it was resolved by the Board that the occupants of cottages and those having stables, if desiring the Club to supply them with water, might install pipes at their own expense, and water would be supplied them at a charge of $7.00 a year. This charge was never made. In the spring of 1913 a new founda- tion was built for the water tank and in 1923 a new tank was erected on the tower.
At a special meeting of the Board, July 19th, 1919, the President and Treasurer were appointed a com- mittee of two to get estimates for the purchase and installation of additional water supply for the cot- tage and room owners, and at a regular meeting of the same date the opinion was expressed that addi- tional water supply from Wolf Lake should be installed as soon as possible.
The plans as suggested by William A. Case & Son,
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considered the laying of a two-inch water line from Wolf Lake to a tank of 10,000 gallons capacity, to be located between the Baird and Merrill cottages. The cost of this undertaking was to be underwritten largely by the cottage and wing owners and to a small extent by the Club; and while there was at first general consent to the plan, it was abandoned because the final estimate greatly exceeded the original one.
It was not until 1926, during the incumbency of William L. Archer as Chairman of the Executive Committee, that the suggestion was seriously con- sidered of supplying the entire Club House with running water and improving the supply to the cot- tages, and the program to this effect was inaugurated and carried to completion during the first year of Henry S. Livingston's term as President. Mr. Archer and Dr. Gould were appointed the Committee to carry out the water improvement plans. A summary of the recommendations follows:
1. An additional pump to serve in case of break- down.
2. A larger tank to meet the increasing demand for water between pumping periods.
3. A greater pressure to give adequate supply to cottages on a higher elevation than the Club.
4. An additional reservoir at the spring to con- serve the water which was being wasted during the night.
All the above plans were accomplished. The new tank was placed on Mount Ogden to take advantage
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of the elevation and at the same time to eliminate an unsightly structure at the Club House, which would have towered about twenty-five feet over the present building. It was found by analysis of our guest book that a considerable part of our attendance originated in cottages and approximately fifty per cent of the water, except for culinary purposes, would neces- sarily be used by the cottages. The new location of the tank, therefore, permitted a much better distri- bution as most of the cottages are grouped toward that side. This tank has a capacity of 25,000 gallons. The cost of this great improvement was paid for out of current revenue.
While the water supply was being studied, a gauging of the spring showed it to be flowing 50,000 gallons a day. This, of course, was in the spring of the year, but in any event, it is a remarkable supply as witnessed by the performance during the drought of 1930. As a careful estimate of the water used by both Club and cottages amounts to only about 7,000 gallons daily, at the height of the season, there would seem to be little fear of a failing water supply. Wil- liam L. Archer, because of the great amount of time and attention to detail, spent by him in improving the Club water supply, deserves the largest share of credit for its accomplishment.
In January, 1922, an attempt was made to dig a well back of the south wing of the Club House for a winter water supply. It was walled up when it showed about ten feet of water, but as it was decided
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that this was surface water, no use was made of the well. Some idea was then considered of boring an artesian well but this suggestion also came to nought. Finally, in the summer of 1929, Mr. Mansfield put an underground reservoir in back of the wing, and this, in conjunction with an electric pump outfit, provides water for the wash rooms during the win- ter. The capacity, 10,000 gallons, is sufficient to last several weeks and is replenished by pumping from the spring on mild days.
Our water supply system now embraces an appar- ently inexhaustible spring; two reservoirs at the spring, each having a capacity of six thousand gal- lons; two gasoline pumps capable of pumping at the rate of thirty to thirty-five gallons per minute; a storage tank of twenty-five thousand gallons ca- pacity and an underground reservoir at the Club House for the winter water supply.
THE LIGHTING SYSTEM
It was not until the beginning of 1905, that defi- nite consideration was given to improving the light- ing system at the Club. The first reference thereto is found in the minutes of a Directors' meeting held January 27th, 1905, at which time a letter from Charles S. Gregor was read, offering to sell to the Club a dynamo and engine for $450.00 as part of the equipment looking towards the installation of a lighting plant. A month later the letter was an-
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swered to the effect that it was considered inex- pedient at this time to take up the question of electric lighting. In June of this same year, how- ever, there was approved a proposal of the Tirrill Gas Machine Lighting Company of New York, to fur- nish, deliver and set up a No. 4-100 Light Gas Ma- chine for lighting the Club House, the cost to be $460.00. Shortly thereafter this system was installed and continued in use until 1926, when it was re- placed by electricity. Candles were still used in the bedrooms and the gas plant furnished light for the lobby, parlor, billiard and dining room only. This might be called, with apologies to Kipling, "The Light That Failed;" and Wednesday evenings, when the guests were busy sizing up one another over the card tables, seemed to be the appointed times for our gas machine to fall short of its ideals. This frequent occurrence was well brought out by "Observations at the Club" or the "Forest Lake Lyrics of 1922" by Joe Campbell and Bert Hendrickson in the follow- ing verse:
"We have got a set of lights That come and go in starts; And when they're low, the players pass Their diamonds off for hearts."
There would be a hurried call for "Charlie" Sadler, and soon one would hear him running fran- tically out of the Club House to put another nickel in the slot or grind the machine, or whatever it was that was needed to tune up the lights.
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A new lighting system was considered in Novem- ber, 1916, and in the spring of 1917, and considerable correspondence was had with the Isolite Company regarding the installation of their type of plant. Finally, in March, a communication was received to the effect that the company had temporarily gone out of business and the Tirrill people were called upon to make what repairs they could to the existing plant. Discussions took place from time to time over the next few years regarding the installation of electric lighting, but it was not until May 20th, 1921, that a committee consisting of Herbert D. Brown, Frederick M. Johnson and William L. De Bost, was appointed to look into the matter. A fourth member in the person of John D. Weston was added to this committee in the following August when the first report was made to the Board. In November a further report was made, accepted and placed on file. The Committee at first considered the proposition of securing current from the power company at Hawley, but this was deemed imprac- ticable because of the cost of miles of wiring and pole erection necessary to connect up with the power line. Next there was recommended the installation of a Fairbanks-Morse system, but the cost of this was also considered prohibitive at that time and the en- tire matter was dropped for a number of years.
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