USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > History of the Forest Lake Club, 1882-1932 > Part 9
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The cost of approximately two miles of new road was $1,400.00, which, while far exceeding the origi- nal estimate, was yet very reasonable when the valuable results of the change are considered. In addition, the woods were groved out at curves along the entire road to Mast Hope to afford a clear view of the road at these points and many miles of fire paths were cut. In the fall of 1910, places had been dug within the Club enclosure for the planting of about 200 trees in the spring. On May 16th, 1911, this planting was reported as accomplished.
In 1927, at the request and expense of Mr. De Bost two stone pillars were built at the entrance of the Club enclosure near the barn, the wall was re- paired and the roadway was graded and widened. This improvement adds greatly to the general ap- pearance and to the safety and convenience of all the members of the Club.
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HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
In 1928, the old wagon shed and chicken house were demolished, and on the site of the shed a new garage was erected containing space for eleven cars. The road leading to the garage and the plaza in front of it were graded and put in good condition.
In 1929, the old wood road which connects with the Hawley Road near the log cabin was improved so that it compares favorably with the other roads around the Club House, with the result that it is used as a tradesmen's entrance and diverts much traffic from the road which runs through the golf course.
In 1930, considerable work was done at Wolf Lake in improving the road leading to the lake and grad- ing for a parking space. A new road was also laid out running off Mount Ogden knoll, encircling the westerly side of Mount Ogden and connecting with the existing roadway behind Mr. De Bost's prop- erty, and the woods adjacent to the road were groved. It was decided that maps be prepared re- specting the lay-out of proposed cottage sites on this tract. During this year a new flag pole was erected in front of the porte-cochère, a gift to the Club from John A. Miller. The flag pole which, prior to this time, had stood for so many years near the northeast corner of the Club House, was a gift to the Club of Mrs. William A. Avis in 1906. It seems fitting here to observe that in October, 1902, Mrs. O. F. Linabury, Mrs. Carpenter and Mrs. Jen-
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IMPROVEMENT OF GROUNDS
nings of Mount Vernon, presented to The Forest Lake Association a handsome American flag.
To conclude the story of improvements to our grounds we must go back to 1916, when there was consummated what undoubtedly was the greatest improvement of all-the construction of a golf course, which is described in detail in another chap- ter. It is an undeniable fact that the effectiveness and beauty of the Club House setting, as it is now approached through our fairways, has been greatly enhanced by this improvement.
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ACREAGE
T HE purchase of land by the Club during its fifty years of existence may be roughly divided into two periods-the first ten years covering the first four purchases and the last ten the remaining five acquisitions.
The first purchase of about 1,500 acres included. tract 31 containing 489 acres, tract 37 containing 457 acres, tract 30 containing 440 acres and one- fourth of tract 38 representing about 109 acres.
Before any other purchase of land was made, a transaction took place that is of interest as bearing on the Club's holdings. On October 30th, 1885, at a Directors' meeting the Treasurer reported that a memorandum had been received from the Treasurer of Pike County claiming indebtedness of the Asso- ciation for taxes, etc. (including those of 1885 and school tax of 1886) on 1,733 acres, part of which, about 250 acres, was not the property of the Asso- ciation. This tax amounted to $1,215.59. A peti- tion was sent to the Commissioners of Pike County, asking a reduction of the amount and proposing a basis for settlement. Finally, in January, 1886, a settlement was made for the full amount and a clear title to the 200 odd extra acres obtained; so that the
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FIRST
MAP OF FOREST LAKES and ADJACENT COUNTRY
===
Narrowsburg
PIKE CO. PA.
N. Y. L. E. & W. RY.
Sullivan Co. N. Y.
Ten Mile
River
awl ey
Corilla Lakes
Mast Hope PO. --
Pine Grove Sration;
Delawar
Wes
River
Kimbie
Lackawaxen
River
--
iBranch RIS
Rail Road :
L'ackawaxen -
Glen Eyre
FIRST MAP OF THE CLUB PROPERTY. 1884
Club House
Mast Hope Creek.
Road to Honesdale
imk Ponds
ns Pond
ACREAGE
area of the Association's land then amounted to ap- proximately 1,733 acres.
The second purchase was of the remaining three- fourths of tract 38 containing 330 acres, and while it was not actually deeded to the Club until Decem- ber, 1887, which was subsequent to the third pur- chase, it was nevertheless recorded as the second purchase because as far back as 1885 there was some question respecting ownership by the Association, as is explained in the following paragraph.
In December, 1884, it was reported that tres- passers had cut valuable timber on the lands of the Association; and at this time a map was shown of the Association grounds which had been compiled by Alfred B. Ogden from a survey made shortly be- fore. This was the first map made of the Club's property. The matter of the trespassers was dis- cussed in relation to the question of a disputed boun- dary line between land owned by a Mr. Borcher and the land of the Association, and the matter was re- ferred for settlement to the Executive Committee. Mr. Borcher was said to have been responsible for the cutting of the timber on a part of tract 38, which was claimed as land belonging to the Associa- tion, and on January 30th, 1885, it was noted in the minutes that Mr. Borcher had offered to release his interest in tract 38 if permitted to remove the cut timber. It was decided that settlement should be made on the basis of Borcher conveying a strip of land adjoining the Association grounds so as to give the
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HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
Association the stream running partly in tract 38 and his paying a counsel fee of $200.00 and relin- quishing the timber. In February, 1885, it was re- ported that Mr. Borcher was hauling the cut logs off the Association lands. Legal proceedings were ad- vised and the superintendent notified to forbid the removal of the logs. Proceedings were accordingly taken against Borcher, and some time later, a settle- ment was made giving a clear title to tract 38 and the control of the stream as above noted. The stream referred to was undoubtedly the outlet of Forest Lake now known as the Forest Lake Brook and which runs into Mast Hope Brook. The above- mentioned settlement was consummated by the President, Dr. Hadden, purchasing the balance of this tract for $162.00. This price might be con- sidered very cheap, but is readily explained when it is recalled that considerable valuable timber had already been cut and removed.
The third purchase was called the first Wolf Pond purchase. Wolf Lake, or, as it was then called, Wolf Pond, though freely used by the Association mem- bers, was still not a part of its property, and for several reasons it was thought desirable to secure complete control. As has been inferred, this prop- erty was acquired in two purchases. The first one in- cluded the whole of tract 27 containing 421 acres and 50 acres of tract 32. A reference to the map will show that this took in practically all of the lake with the exception of a narrow strip along the west shore.
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ACREAGE
The question of this purchase first came up at a Directors' meeting on March 16th, 1887, and after a general discussion the officers of the Association were directed to purchase the property for an amount not to exceed $900.00.
A part of the land which the Association desired to purchase belonged to George H. Rowlands and the deal was consummated through Mr. Van Etten who was at the same time counsel for the Associa- tion and for Mr. Rowlands. The property is said to have been conveyed at first to a William S. Brown and later transferred by him to the Association be- cause of the probable prohibitive price that would very likely have been demanded if it had become known that the Association itself was directly inter- ested in the purchase. To provide funds for this undertaking the following gentlemen each agreed to take an additional share of the stock of the Associa- tion at its par value of $100.00: Dr. Alexander Had- den, John Davidson, William Johnson, Charles R. Gregor, Robert Betty, Alfred B. Ogden, Alfred B. Scott, William A. Avis and Francis McMulkin. The deeds of the "Wolf Pond" property were transferred from the President, as Trustee, to the Association on March 22nd, 1887.
To turn for a moment from buying to selling, it is of interest to note that on this same date, the President reported that he had received an offer to buy the "Old Farm" on the grounds of the Associa- tion (about 100 acres) and authorization was given
HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
to negotiate for the sale of this property, reserving the road through the same to the Association. Dis- cussion had taken place some time before this as to what to do with the farm-whether to lease it or to hire a market gardener to cultivate it. However, the sale did not materialize and the farm is still a part of the Club property.
As most of our members know, this old aban- doned farm lies on either side of the Mast Hope Road about two miles from the Club House, and, until a few years ago, some evidence to mark the site of the house that formerly stood on that spot still remained in the form of a small section of crum- bling stone foundation. In 1895, the old barn on this property was removed and placed near the Club House barn where it was used for the storage of hay for several years. About a year ago this old building, still in a good state of preservation, was made over into a very comfortable men's dormitory.
There was still the western shore of Wolf Pond which was not Club property and it seemed espe- cially desirable that it be secured for the following reasons: All of our Club members are familiar with the dock and summer house at the far end of Wolf Lake called "Fisherman's Landing," but few know the origin of the name. The "Fisherman" was one Abe Lovelace who lived at Hawley, but who had built a shack at this particular location on Wolf Lake where he fished during the summers, mostly with set lines, and apparently supported himself comfort-
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-
Beach Ponds.
Homesdale & Narrows burg Road
Harrowsburg
-
N
Homesdale
Road to Narrowsburg.
N.Y. L. E. A .W. R.R.
Sullivan Co.N.Y.
Erie & Wy.R.R.
1
0 SKIN 27:4 MM
Smith Road.
Mest Hoppe & Homesdale Road
Mast Hope Creek
Ten Mile
River.
S
Wolf LAKÓ
Cranberry mats
forest
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Lake
-8 miles
Clu d
MỸ
PIKE
...
Road ...
Wescolang
Ma b
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of the
Lands
Imild
of the
Kimble
Del
FOREST.LAKE
Hudson Canal
D LacKa waxen
ASSOCIATION and Surrounding
Homesdale Branch
Glen Eyre -
ands
Tac Kawaxen River
Drawnby Mauser
COUNTRY
LATER MAP OF THE CLUB PROPERTY, INCLUDING WOLF LAKE. 1894
Delaware River
CO.
Roza
PA
prirod
C
1
Publica
Fand
Wesco lang
Tink
7-1078407
HADDEN
Aptivy
M& Elobell
Lands.
Dec Kers Mills
W-FE
--
1
1
1
44 miles
Road to Club House
1
Flood Dam
Gvarity R.R.
-
Kč
Road to Hawley
Little
ACREAGE
ably by the sale of his catch. He is said to have augmented his income by the sale of rattlesnake skins to the women of the Club for wall decorations, and to have furnished entertainment on occasion to boating and fishing parties by the music of his banjo and guitar. The destruction of the rattlesnakes, de- sirable as that was, apparently did not, in the minds of the Directors, compensate for the tremendous damage to the fishing, as besides "Abe" many others were indulging themselves generously in the gentle art.
The fourth purchase or the second Wolf Pond purchase, was the result of the efforts of the Club, for the above reasons, to secure complete control of Wolf. The purchase consisted of 540 acres includ- ing the whole of tract 178, known as the Samuel Wigton tract, which secured the lake shore, to- gether with parts of tracts 1 and 2 lying to the south and west, which were the Ramsey and Condell tracts, respectively. It was made through a syndicate of Club members, who received notes of the Associa- tion without interest which were payable in four years from May 19th, 1891.
Summing up the first four purchases, including the 200 odd acres acquired by the tax settlement above referred to, there were, up to the beginning of 1893, about 3,074 acres of land belonging to the Club. There was then an interval of nearly thirty years during which no further purchase of land was made.
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HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
The fifth purchase, the deed of which was dated January 24th, 1920 (another date, October 12th, 1921, is also found in the records), was of the John Jennings tract 7824, consisting of 422 acres lying in the vicinity of Wolf Lake outlet. A reference to the map will show this tract as situated west of tract 178 and north of part of tract 1. This land was pur- chased by contributions from thirty members, and to Fred M. Johnson, Frank E. Davidson, Charles W. Campbell, Charles K. Thomas and William L. De Bost, is due the credit for carrying to completion this important addition to the Club's property.
The sixth purchase on December 1st, 1922, was of the Case property, designated as tract 28 and con- sisting of about 412 acres. This tract lies north of part of tracts 31 and 30 and northeast of tract 27. In more easily understood terms, it lies northeast of Mount Ogden and on both sides of the Casetown Road.
The seventh purchase was of a triangular tract of land of about 30 acres, called the "Kimble Tri- angle," two sides of which coincide with parts of the boundaries of the Club's holdings on tract 32 and tract 1. One apex of the triangle runs to within a few feet of the southwestern shore of Wolf Lake and it was to protect the lake property that the pur- chase was made. This land was bought on October 29th, 1924.
The eighth purchase was of a tract of land irregu- larly triangular in outline, containing about 505
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ACREAGE
acres and lying almost due north of tracts 27 and 28. For the reader to visualize this parcel of land more clearly, it may be stated that it covers a stretch of water on Rattlesnake Creek beginning somewhat above the bridge at Decker's Mills and extending along the creek for a few hundred feet above Flood Dam. In a general northerly direction it extends over to Beach Lake outlet along which it runs on one bank for perhaps one thousand feet. A small part of this tract, its northern apex, lies in Wayne County. As far back as 1921, the advisability of purchasing this land was discussed and about a year later subscriptions were received from twenty-two members, amounting to $2,400.00. It was proposed to form a Holding Company to purchase the land and to hold it subject to the Club taking it over at a later period. It was not until sometime in 1924, that a company called the Forest Brook Holding Company, was formed, the land in question pur- chased and the title obtained. The officers of this company were Joseph M. Merrill, President, John A. Miller, Secretary, and William L. De Bost, Treasurer. On May 6th, 1925, this company transferred its pur- chase, as a gift, to The Forest Lake Club.
The ninth purchase, and the last one made up to the present time, was known as the Dibble prop- erty. There were two plots of ground between the property purchased by the Holding Company and that owned by The Forest Lake Club. One was a plot of 42 acres, formerly owned by Warren Case
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HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
and later transferred to John B. Kemp. The second was a plot of approximately 96 acres, the Dibble property, situated east of the Casetown Road and south by east of the Kemp tract. This was bought by the Club September 30th, 1925, constituting thereby a connecting link between the Holding Company's purchase and the land already owned by the Club.
The following is a summary of the approximate acreage of The Forest Lake Club:
Purchases:
Acres
1
1,500
2
563
3
471
4 540
5
422
6
412
7
30
8
505
9
96
Total
4,539
In October, 1914, G. Elliot Brown, then an asso- ciate member of the Club, and occupying a cottage outside the Club grounds at Lake Teedyuscong, otherwise known as "Tink Pond," offered to ex- change a plot of land about 50 feet wide running from the Club property to this lake, for a strip of
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..
wULF
AXI
7
.
---
CLUB
Itak, PorD
FOREST LAKE PIKE COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
SCALE P+46 1001
-
MAP OF PRESENT CLUB PROPERTY
ACREAGE
the Club property of the same size adjoining his land and fronting on the Rowlands Road. The proposi- tion was accepted by the Board, the exchange au- thorized, and the matter consummated in May, 1916. This added no territory to the Club acreage but gave direct access, on Club property, to Lake Teedyuscong.
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XI
TRANSPORTATION
T HIS subject seems to deserve a brief chapter. Fifty years ago the Club was much farther from New York in point of time than at present.
The railroad journey was slow and decidedly ardu- ous. There were long waits at Turners (now, Har- riman) and again at Port Jervis and Lackawaxen; and refreshment, liquidly speaking, not only could be obtained at these ports of call, but was obtained; in fact, it was practically mandatory; for when Mast Hope or Rowlands was at last reached, there was still over an hour's travel by horse stage. In the very early days, the enthusiastic fishermen and hunters often had to walk from the station up to Camp Wil- liamson, but as soon as the Club House and barns were built, arrangements were made to meet the guests; and the first reference to this plan is found in a record under the date of July 15th, 1885, as follows: "Resolved that a stage be sent on each day (Sunday excepted) to the depot, to connect with the 1:22 P.M. train from June 1 to October 1." This conveyance was evidently of the buckboard or farm wagon type capable of carrying perhaps half a dozen passengers, and so, in February, 1887, the Chairman
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TWELVE PASSENGER STAGE
N.SSY
TRANSPORTATION
of the Executive Committee was authorized to pro- cure for the use of the Association a suitable depot wagon-large enough to carry about twelve persons -with baggage. The wagon was bought and shipped to the Club House early in April of the same year. About this time there seemed to be better and more frequent train service by way of Rowlands and in July of this year (1887) the road from the Club House to Tink Pond was ordered re- paired for the greater convenience of the guests.
In January, 1888, a new wagon house was con- sidered and plans were presented and approved for building a shed 105 x 16 feet-a combined wagon house and workshop, at a proposed cost not exceed- ing $250.00. This was on the site of our present garage.
In March, 1888, at a Board meeting, the President reported that he had arranged with the Erie Rail- road to sell to the Association, round trip tickets to the Club House at $5.50 each and in consideration of the Association furnishing transportation to and from the station, a rebate of $2.00 on each ticket was to be allowed. In February, 1896, a letter was received from the General Passenger Agent of the Erie Railroad, discontinuing the rail and stage tickets. An excursion rate of $5.30 was offered, also a ten-trip ticket for $20.00 and a fifty-trip ticket for $88.75; but, under protest, this order was re- scinded and the prior arrangement put in force.
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HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
Referring back to 1888 the rates for transporta- tion at this time were as follows:
To and from Mast Hope
May 30th to September 15th. . $ .50 per person
September 15th to May 30th. . 1.00 per person
To Lackawaxen 3.00 per person
Narrowsburg 3.00 per person
Hawley 2.50 per person
Rowlands 2.00 per person
The Mast Hope rate was raised to 75¢ the follow- ing year and 50¢ charged for the transportation of a trunk each way and in 1891 the stage fare was again increased to $1.00.
In May, 1893, arrangements were made by the Club to provide a team of horses and a suitable con- veyance to hire to the guests the coming summer and this may have originated the hay rides to West- colang and the trips to the Gravity Road that were so often enjoyed by the young people in the early part of the "Mauve Decade." About this time the bicycle era was in full swing and considerable pedal- ing, and not always soft pedaling at that, went on at Forest Lake. Bicycle meets were the last word, though no record has been found of trips to the top of Mount Hadden or around Wolf Lake. So things went joggingly along for several years.
Following the bicycle epoch the first automobiles began to appear at the Club and, slowly at first, but
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TRANSPORTATION
with increasing rapidity came the real horseless age. The honor of having driven the first motor car to The Forest Lake Club belongs to George Mulligan and Raymond Terry. This car, which belonged to Mr. Terry, was a runabout of the vintage of about 1900. Two days were consumed in making the trip and the arrival at the Club was greeted by the lighting of red fires and the cheers of half the countryside. About a year later, Mr. Mulligan, in his Winton, again essayed the journey, accompanied on this occa- sion by three other intrepid adventurers, Elmer Gregor, James Frame, Jr., and Harold Williams, who rendered able assistance, chiefly in repairing and changing tires. A complete halt for twenty-four hours, when a new shoe became absolutely essential, was forced upon them at a hamlet somewhere be- tween Middletown and Port Jervis, that answered, when called, to the more or less euphonious name of Bullville. Here Mr. Mulligan and Mr. Frame re- mained to guard the car during the night while the two other pioneers "hopped" a freight back to Middletown to get the tire. A violent thunder storm came up, thoroughly drenching the two guardians, the while Messrs. Gregor and Williams were enjoy- ing at least some of the creature comforts at Middle- town. However, all were united again the next morning, the new shoe put on, the journey con- tinued, and, to complete the story, they arrived at the Club the fourth day out of New York, having
HISTORY OF THE FOREST LAKE CLUB
negotiated the last ten miles on three ragged tires and a rim. This misadventure, far from discourag- ing other attempts, seemed to stimulate the hardy ones and close upon the heels, or to be more exact, the wheels of George Mulligan's car, came Joseph Van Vleck, in his White Steamer, which "choo- chooed" up from the vicinity of New York via the Hawk's Nest Road in 10 hours, having beaten the previous record by 3 days and 14 hours. Joe Van Vleck carried, besides his family, an axe, compass, and two long planks to make it possible to pass over the "thank you mams."
From then on we moved faster and about 1906 or 1907 the horse-drawn vehicle was permanently dis- placed by the automobile as a means of guest trans- portation between the Club House and the station. The first car owned and used by the Club was a Stoddard Dayton, which was purchased from Mr. Weston. In November, 1909, the President was authorized to enter into a contract with a company to be formed to carry passengers to and from Mast Hope Station, the Club to receive free transporta- tion for its supplies in exchange for the chauffeur's board. This company, made up of Club members, was formed because the Club itself was disinclined to assume responsibility for the new method of travel. This arrangement went on during the seasons of 1910 and 1911 but at a loss to the Transportation Company, and in November, 1911, a committee was
[IS2]
SPIKE TEAM EN ROUTE
F
HAWK'S NEST ROAD
TRANSPORTATION
appointed consisting of Joseph Lahey and Joseph Van Vleck, to devise a plan to reimburse the com- pany for its losses and adjust the Club indebtedness. The committee made its report on May 21st, 1912, and on the same date the Executive Committee was authorized to purchase from the Club Transporta- tion Company the automobiles and other tangible assets for the sum of $1,000.00 to be paid on or be- fore September 15th, 1912.
About a year and a half later the Executive Com- mittee was authorized to sell the old automobile, the amount received to be applied to the purchase of new cars at a total cost not to exceed $1,600.00. Acordingly, in May, 1914, a new Ford touring car and Ford truck were bought at a cost of $450.00 and $1,070.00 respectively. It should here be remarked that during Mr. Weston's term as President he was al- ways more than generous in tendering the use of his own car for carrying passengers between the Club and Mast Hope, whenever the traffic was unusually heavy or the Club car hors de combat as not infrequently was the case.
In 1922 some revision of the transportation rates was made, including a ruling as to meeting guests, which read as follows: "If owner meets guest or member in his own car, a charge is to be made as if the said guest or member had been met by the Club car. If owner of car or one of his immediate family is met by owner's car, no charge is to be made."
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