USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > History of the Forest Lake Club, 1882-1932 > Part 8
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Considerable difficulty during the early years of the Club's history had been experienced in the collec- tion of dues. It is recorded that in November, 1895, and May, 1897, there were owing to the Association from this prospective source of revenue, $1,160.85
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HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
and $923.22 respectively. In a few instances re- course was had to an authorized collector or to law to enforce payment and in quite a number of cases the stock certificate was turned in to the Treasury in lieu of unpaid dues.
Apropos of the raising of funds it may be of in- terest to record that back in 1885 the Executive Committee was empowered to lease the blue stone quarries on the Association lands situated just to the north of Forest Lake. The quarries were leased in the fall of 1900 for a period of one year from October 1st, to Walter B. Rockwood. Another instance of the methods employed to raise funds is shown in a re- port from the superintendent in January, 1886, that the "team and driver was employed hauling at Haw- ley on advantageous terms to the Association;" also that "he could, if allowed, cut and sell railway ties at 65 cents and 45 cents." He was given this authority. From the beginning of the Club in 1882 and contin- uing until 1888 there was gathered and sold, annu- ally, the cranberry crop from the marsh lands at the outlet of Little Corilla (Forest Lake). From the records we learn that a contract was made with the pickers for one-half of the net proceeds.
The selling of timber from the Club lands was first recorded in January, 1888, when the President, Dr. Hadden, was authorized to appoint a committee to sell lumber on the east side of Mount Hadden. In the same year there was considered a contract for cutting railway ties at 15 cents each and excelsior
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FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS
wood at one-half of the net proceeds. A mill for the manufacture of excelsior was located on Mast Hope Creek near the village of Mast Hope. In 1908, it is noted that about three thousand feet of lumber had been cut and sent to the mill, and two years later, in May, 1910, the stockholders authorized the sale of the standing and fallen timber for not less than $5,000.00 on a tract situated on the east side of Mount Hadden, with the proviso that the money re- ceived from the sale should not be used for current expenses, but that it be applied to the reduction of the outstanding indebtedness or to permanent im- provements of the Club House grounds. The timber committee reported shortly afterwards that $5,600.00 had been received from the sale of the timber and it was decided that $2,000.00 be paid to Dr. Hadden on his mortgage, $2,000.00 be used for improving and building the road to Mast Hope and the balance be placed in the bank at interest.
In November of the same year another stand of timber on the Club property, west of Bald Hill Road from a line one hundred feet south of and parallel with the Honesdale Road, was offered for sale at $2,000.00. The last sale of timber took place about 1918 when the chestnut blight affected so many of our trees. All of the chestnuts were marked for the woodsman's axe as were many of our other trees that had been affected by the blight.
On January 23rd, 1894, there was instituted the custom of sending annually to every stockholder a
HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
copy of the Treasurer's yearly report. This custom was omitted for several years but since about 1923 has been resumed. Until 1897, when debenture bonds were issued for the building of the north wing of the Club House, a summary of the various transac- tions shows that although many refunding and reve- nue raising plans had been attempted, the forty Association bonds of $100.00 each, authorized in March, 1888, still remained the sole bonded indebted- ness of the Club constituting a first mortgage on its real estate.
The amount of $3,100.00 subscribed in 1893 to reduce the indebtedness at that time of $12,000.00, was apparently partly taken care of by the subscrib- ers accepting treasury stock of the Association, this, to some extent, accounting for the fact that a num- ber of members have, at various times, held more than the single share that was required to constitute a stock-holding member.
In August of 1894 additional accommodations at the Club House were considered and a committee, reporting on this matter in October following, pro- posed as a means of raising funds for this purpose the issuing of debenture bonds. These bonds were to be issued in the value of $100.00 to the amount of $7,500.00, the interest to be at six per cent per an- num, the bonds to be paid for out of surplus receipts from rooms in the proposed extension (this was later amended) and the Association to incur no liability by reason of the said bonds except as therein stated.
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It was not until May, 1897, that plans and estimates had been worked out satisfactorily. The estimated cost of the new building and furnishings was put at $10,000.00, and at a Stockholders' meeting held May 25th, 1897, the Board of Directors was authorized to raise this amount by issuing debenture notes or bonds. Six thousand dollars had been subscribed by September, 1897, and the whole amount, $10,000.00, by September 27th, 1898. The subscribers were as follows:
William J. Shields $ 100.00
John Graham 100.00
Joseph Van Vleck 1,400.00
George Mulligan
1,300.00
Alexander Hadden 1,000.00
John Livingston 900.00
John C. Umberfield
500.00
George N. Williams, Jr. 500.00
Benjamin A. Williams
500.00
George N. Williams 500.00
Robert Maynicke 1,000.00
James A. Frame
500.00
Oscar T. Marshall 500.00
William Irvine 200.00
Stephen Kelly
500.00
William Archer
500.00
An agreement in the debenture bonds as issued was, that fifteen per cent of the gross annual receipts be
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HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
set aside to be paid to the holders of these bonds and in 1908 it is noted that a sinking fund was created for this purpose. No actual payments into this fund were made, although it was shown on the balance sheets of 1908 and 1909 as a liability of the Club.
The Club was refinanced in 1909. In November of that year, Dr. Hadden offered to loan the Club on first mortgage, covering its real estate, the sum of $14,000.00, for ten years at four per cent; the Club to have the privilege of paying off at any interest date portions of principal in sums of $500.00, or multiples thereof. This mortgage loan, together with the amount realized from the sale of treasury stock, was to be used by the Club to liquidate its present indebtedness, consisting of $10,000.00 of debenture bonds, notes, and first mortgage of $4,000.00. Thus the debenture bonds and first mortgage bonds disap- peared as liabilities from the annual balance sheet. The resolution prohibiting the sale of stock for less than $250.00 per share, heretofore adopted, was at this time rescinded and the stock was offered for sale to subscribers at $200.00 per share. Before this re- financing took place, it appeared that the stock of the Club was worthless. When it was discovered shortly after, that the Club stock had a book value of about $400.00 per share there was no trouble in selling our members all the treasury stock at $200.00 per share, which left the Club in the best financial condition it had ever enjoyed.
The Hadden mortgage, which bears the date of
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FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS
January 7th, 1910, has had two extensions, the first one to January 7th, 1920, and the second to Janu- ary 7th, 1930. It has already been noted that $2,000.00 of the proceeds from the sale of timber in 1910 was used to reduce this mortgage, and further small reductions brought it down to $7,500.00 by 1918. Over the two following years the mort- gage was increased to $10,500.00 but by 1921 it had been again reduced to $7,000.00, and there is now a balance due of $6,000.00.
When the Case property was purchased in Decem- ber, 1922, designated in the chapter on Acreage as the "Sixth Purchase," the Club assumed a five year mortgage of $4,250.00 at six per cent, later extended to December 1st, 1932. This mortgage was first as- signed to O. M. Spettigue and later bought by the Wayne County Savings Bank, the present holder, in February, 1931. A payment of $1,000.00 was made on January 1st, 1932, and this indebtedness now stands at $3,250.00.
An increase of the indebtedness of the Club took place in 1927 when debenture bonds to the amount of $20,000.00 were issued for improvements to the Club House. The bonds were first subscribed for on January 26th, 1927, and the total issue of twenty thousand dollars was fully subscribed on March 24th, 1927. This speaks eloquently for the spirit of the Club members. Amortization was authorized and began on October 21st, 1927, and has proceeded since that date.
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The following statement summarizes the bond issue:
Total issue $20,000.00
Bonds called October, 1927 .. $2,000.00
Bonds called October, 1928. . 2,000.00
Bonds called October, 1929 . . 3,000.00
Bonds called October, 1930. . 3,000.00
Bonds called October, 1931. . 3,000.00 13,000.00
Balance due May 1st, 1932. $ 7,000.00
While the intention had been to retire all the bonds within ten years from the funding date, there re- mains after five years from such date, as will be seen from the above statement, but $7,000.00 still pay- able; a fact that reflects great credit upon the present financial management of the Club.
The fixed liabilities of the Club may be summarized as follows:
Mortgage (Mrs. Charles K. Thomas) $6,000.00 Mortgage (Wayne County Savings Bank) 3,250.00 Bond issue 7,000.00
For many years, in fact ever since the beginning of the Club, borrowing money had been resorted to in order to begin the season's operations. With the aid of generously inclined members, of whom we had not a few, this was not a serious difficulty, but it was finally decided that a more suitable method of financ- ing the early season should be adopted. At the sug-
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gestion of Harry Livingston, there was instituted in February, 1924, a Special Reserve Fund or as it is now called a "Working Fund." This was for the pur- pose of loaning monies to the general fund of the Club. It was provided that all loans from the Work- ing Fund for Club House operations were to be repaid, if money was available, before the end of the Club year and if this were not possible that the loss should be liquidated from the profits of the following year. No permanent reductions of this fund were to be made without the agreement of two-thirds of the Directors. The fund was raised by subscriptions of 49 regular and 13 associate members and amounted to $2,480.00. This plan has worked out so successfully that the fund now amounts, with accumulated in- terest, to over $3,000.00, with the probability of its increasing to a reserve fund of substantial propor- tions within the next few years.
While not strictly a part of the financial transac- tions involved in carrying on the Club, it seems fitting to include in this chapter some mention of the Gra- tuity Fund which, as the name implies, is a fund raised annually for distribution among the office, house and kitchen staff and the outside employees. In all probability this custom dated from the begin- ning of the Club although very little has been found in the records regarding it. For many years the "personal touch" method was in vogue and many will recall the highly successful role played by Mr. Avis when for several seasons he so kindly took over
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this undesirable job. For a number of years past, however, the responsibility has been placed upon the guests by means of a bulletin board subscription list and the amounts there subscribed have been added to their bills.
This story of the financial problems of the Club and how they were solved, incomplete as it may be, would be still more so, were reference not made, in appreciation, to Joseph Lahey, who served as Treas- urer from 1908 to 1913, and to his brother, Richard Lahey, who acted in a like capacity from 1918 to 1922. Both of these men devoted themselves un- stintedly to the Treasurer's work, even, in the case of the former, to the extent of checking all deeds and surveys of Club lands.
It but remains to state that while the increase in value of the Club property over these past fify years represents to a moderate extent an increase in acreage, yet to a much greater degree it represents improve- ments of the property, making for the comfort and enjoyment of its members, and, definitely, the more altruistic purposes for which the Club exists, namely, the propagation and protection of fish and game. The Club has never been conducted for profit and no dividends to stockholders have at any time been contemplated.
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IX IMPROVEMENT OF GROUNDS
T HE grounds of the Association, even within the so-called enclosure, for several years after the original Club House was built, must have presented a rather wild and uncultivated appearance. Much clearing away of trees within the enclosure had been accomplished, an orchard had early been planted, and a vegetable garden laid out. But the cows still grazed, not only in a pasture for which lots eight and nine had been set aside, but frequently they were to be seen on the slope in front of the Club House and the grass there was allowed to grow quite undisturbed most of the time. It was not until in June, 1901, that the first horse lawn mower was suggested and in the record to this effect is an order that the grass in front of the Club House be cut at once. This per- emptory demand naturally leads to the conclusion that what is now our beautiful lawn and golf fair- way must have looked in those days considerably like a hay field.
There were, of course, the attractive stone walls and gate posts to give a partial park-like appearance and define the enclosure and there were also from the very earliest days the trails or paths leading to the lakes. A flower garden was laid out in front of the
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HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
porte-cochère about 1900 and was a very attractive feature for many years, until the depredations of the deer made its continuance out of the question.
For a great many years there was a decided farm atmosphere to the west of the Club House where were the barns, black-smith shop, ice house and wagon shed; and the horses, cows, pigs and chickens. Milk, fresh from the cow, was a distinct drawing card in the early days for the mothers of young children, and this accounts for the cows. The pigs were something of an asset to the Club from time to time and as late as February, 1916, there is, in the Directors' minutes, the following: "Reported that the pigs had been sold, netting nearly $200.00." An item, dated October 24th, 1890, speaks loudly of farm activities as fol- lows: "The Clerk was directed to notify Mr. Dexter to trade off the oxen for a young yoke or to sell them. Also to sell the chickens and the lame horse." The Mr. Dexter here referred to was the assistant superin- tendent at that time and the uncle of our present Mr. Frank Dexter. From the above one can readily be- lieve that the instinct to trade is an inherited charac- teristic. The cows went their way about 1912 but the chickens and pigs stayed along with us until three or four years ago. The horses are as yet a neces- sary part of our equipment although much of the work for which they were formerly used is now accomplished by the motor.
To go back to the pigs-and this should not be particularly unpleasant as it is a return only in mem-
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OXCART. "ROUND CORILLA" IN THE DISTANCE
IMPROVEMENT OF GROUNDS
ory-when the pig sty was moved out beyond the orchard, and very properly too, a famous institution grew up among the children and continued for over a decade. This was the early morning ride on the stone boat with "Cooney," when he went to feed the pigs. It was no uncommon thing, if one's sleep- ing rooms happened to be on the west side of the house, to be awakened just after dawn by shrill cries, and on looking out, see several youngsters streaking it across the slope leading down to the barns. Off they would go, half a dozen of them hanging on to Cooney as the boat thumped and scraped along. Most of these adventurers are now young men and women, some themselves now parents; but there is no doubt that the recollection of these stone-boat rides brings back to them very pleasant memories.
In considering the improvements to the grounds an attempt has been made to group like procedures as nearly as possible rather than to arrange them ac- cording to a sequence of dates. As in our building transactions, so in our landscaping, the Club has al- ways been fortunate in having among its own mem- bers several individuals who not only possessed ability and experience, but who have cheerfully given of their time and efforts to improve our grounds; and actual recourse to outside help in this direction has never been made although it was suggested at one time as will later appear.
Alfred B. Ogden, a surveyor by profession, and one of the charter members of the Club, was its first
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Landscape Engineer, formally officiating as such from 1890 to 1892, although from the very begin- ning of the Club he had more or less unofficially acted in that capacity. He, it was, who, in the latter part of the year 1884, made the first map of the Club property and adjacent country, a drawing of which appears in the first Club prospectus printed in 1885. Some time prior to September, 1886, Mr. Ogden had also prepared and presented to the Club, a map designed for the guidance of the Executive Committee in allotting plots of ground for the erec- tion of cottages, and again in March, 1889, a new Ogden map of cottage sites was adopted. In May, 1888, a new survey having been made by Mr. Ogden, another map of the entire Club lands, including the recently acquired Wolf Lake property, was presented by him to the Club and formally adopted, and in September, 1890, it was ordered to be certified as a permanent map and filed in the County Clerk's office and in the archives of the Association.
On November 20th, 1906, a map showing the in- terior Club grounds and the building lots and cot- tages, dated October 1st, 1906, made by Joseph Van Vleck, the Landscape Engineer, was approved and adopted and ordered filed in the archives of the Club. Again on November 16th, 1909, Charles S. Gregor was chosen a Committee of one to prepare a map of the Club property.
In January, 1892, the Landscape Engineer, Mr. Ogden, was requested to investigate and determine
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how the grounds around the Club House might be improved by the laying out of walks and the plant- ing of ornamental trees and shrubs. In May of the following year, he reported his purpose to engage an expert to visit the Club grounds and lay out some definite scheme for future improvements looking towards beautifying the place systematically, and in harmony with some general design. There appears no record, however, indicating that this plan was ever carried out.
The path leading to Mount Ogden has been well trod for many years, and, in all probability, this was laid out very early in the Club's existence. The popularity of this preeminent vantage point for an extensive view of the surrounding country or to watch the sunsets, has not waned with the passing years. Its appreciation in the early days is learned from a record dated September 30th, 1890, giving permission to Mr. Ogden and other members to erect a tower on Mount Ogden, to be paid for by private subscriptions, the work to commence when two- thirds of the cost of the tower had been pledged. These good intentions failed to materialize, appar- ently, as no later mention of this plan has been found. About this same time the Landscape En- gineer was directed to lay out the path, still main- tained, leading from the Club House to Mr. Gregor's cottage.
The stone walk, so long popularly known as "Madison Avenue," was laid out some time prior to
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1890 and evidently extended at first from the north end of the original Club House to the entrance gate at the road. The erection of the north wing shortened the "Avenue" by about fifty feet, but it is still long enough to serve as an after-supper promenade and continues to enjoy the favor of the populace.
The path from the Club House to Wolf Lake was made about the same time. This at first followed the line of the road leading to the lake and the present path was groved out by Joe Van Vleck in 1894. Within the enclosure, a mountain ash, planted by Benjamin A. Williams, formerly stood close be- side the path near the Club House, but this and an- other tree of the same variety, alongside the west porch, were cut down a few years ago. The row of maples, bordering a lower portion of the path toward the gate of the enclosure, was set out many years later, and the present generation is reaping the bene- fits in the welcome shade afforded in this steepest part of the climb from the lake. The winding and beautiful path called Wolf Ramble, on the ridge to the north of the Club House, was made prior to 1892 and a summer house erected at its terminus.
The loop in front of the Club House was laid out by Joe Van Vleck, in the fall of 1904 and completed the following summer. In the early days, the road through the main gates approaching the Club House continued straight on toward the barn, crossing our present lawn about where the practice putting green
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WOLF LAKE SUMMER HOUSE
IMPROVEMENT OF GROUNDS
now is and continuing across the south end of the present tennis courts.
George N. Williams, Sr., succeeded Mr. Ogden as Landscape Engineer, his term of office covering the years from 1893 to 1896 inclusive. A summer house had been erected prior to 1894, at the far side of the north end of Big Corilla, and in 1894, Joseph Van Vleck, Sr., erected the one which, until a year or two ago, stood on the high rock on the south shore of Wolf Lake. Benjamin A. Williams built the summer house at Fisherman's Landing in 1911 and Mrs. John Livingston, in 1913, built the one which stood for so many years on Mount Ogden. The last three houses mentioned have lately been re- built by the Club.
In November, 1896, the then Joseph Van Vleck, Jr., was elected Landscape Engineer, serving from 1897 to 1907, from 1911 to 1924 and again from 1926 to the present time; the intervals between these various terms of office having been filled by Herbert D. Brown and Harold C. Williams. During Mr. Van Vleck's régime an immense amount of excellent work has been done; some of the outstanding im- provements being the following: In February, 1897, the site of the vegetable garden, which at that time was within the enclosure between the orchard and the site of the maids' dormitory, was changed to a location outside the main gates, in the meadow where the third and fourth present golf fairways parallel each other and about half way between the entrance
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road and the north cliff. Here the garden remained until the building of the golf course was begun, when it was again removed to the west of the Club House, and still later, further south and west of the MacGregor cottage. In September, 1898, Mr. Van Vleck produced a large plan for laying out the en- closed ground surrounding the Club House.
A survey made in 1910 showed some very heavy grades on the Mast Hope Road and the question of rebuilding a part of this road came up for discus- sion in April and May of that year. In the follow- ing October, it was decided to build a new section of road toward Mast Hope, east of the "Old Farm," so as to eliminate the steep hills, at a cost not to exceed $400.00; and in February, 1911, this new road was reported as completed.
There were three stretches of new road built, as follows:
1. Across Miss Selden's property where it leaves the valley and winds up the side hill for about a mile. This stretch cut out the old hill of twenty-five per cent grade. For the right of way over Miss Selden's property, the Club gave her the right to use the road during her life- time.
2. Where the old road started down the hill, a second section was constructed following up the side hill over the bridge about three-quar- ters of a mile, thus cutting out another hill, nearly as steep.
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IMPROVEMENT OF GROUNDS
3. After crossing the outlet of Forest Lake, the new road branched to the left, following the contour of the hill and added enough distance to cut out a third steep pitch.
By making these changes in the road the three steepest hills of approximately twenty-five per cent grade were more than cut in half. This improve- ment resulted in doubling the possible load which might be carried during the era of the horse-drawn vehicles. The older members may remember how they walked the steep pitches to relieve the heavy loads.
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