944 South Shore Dr

Section 34 History 1835-1922

All existing buildings on the lots which were once 936 S Shore, and 944 S. Shore and one cottage was built in 2001.

Mar. 1903 - ?

1947 -1973 - John M. "Jack" & Emily K. Pearce

1958 Lake Directory - Jack M. Pearce - , 1021 W. Maple, Kokomo, Ind.

Beth (Pearce) Muehlhausen wrote:

I grew up at 944 S. Shore Dr. (every summer until I was married) in a tiny log cabin my dad built with his own two hands. His name was Jack Pearce, and he actually owned the property from 1947-1973 (I think you've got 1953-61).

I married a guy from Maxinkuckee and we continued to bring our 4 kids and frequent the lake regularly until 2000 - in fact, we rented my dad's old place for the last 11 years of that time.

We'd always thought we'd end up getting that place back, but when my husband's family places evaporated and we could no longer afford to buy when it came up for sale in 2000 (due to the escalation in prices), we LEFT (a shocking reality) and purchased a place on a small 340-acre lake in southwest Michigan. While we enjoy being up there, nothing will ever replace the heart-bond we have with Maxinkuckee.

This is what I wrote in my journal on our last night at Maxinkuckee in June of 2000. Each word was selected carefully. It now hangs on the wall at the Michigan lake house next to a picture of my Dad's Maxinkuckee log cabin:
Here where my heart first grew roots,
A little piece of me must stay.
I cannot fully leave this place I love
But will take the essence of the cottage with me,
Leaving an element of my so ul behind.



My husband, Fritz Muehlhausen, was raised in the James I. Barnes cottage on the West side - which used to be the Arlington Hotel. It burned partially and was remodeled by Fritz's great-grandfather (James I.'s father) - I think his name was John E.

...the Arlington Hotel burned down completely. That is not accurate according to family history. The addition on the south side of the lawn burned, and the main portion was remodeled to create the cottage that stands today and still belongs to my husband's Aunt, Virginia Barnes Kniesly

1979-Aug 82 - Lester E & Mary M. McGrff

Aug. 1982 - June 1994 - David H. & Jocye A. Swedes

Aug. 2000 - Joyce A. Swedes Trustee

Jan 2000 - Aug. 2000 - Joyce A. Swedes Trustee

Aug. 2000 - Joyce A. Swedes Trustee

2000, Aug - 2005 - LEL Associates LLC

2000, Aug -2014, Jul - James S. & Margaret M. Irsay

2014, Aug-2016, Apr. - James S Irsay

2016, Apr- 2020- James S Irasy Trustee Of James S Irsay 1989 Trust

915 South shore also owned by James S. & Margaret M. Irsay This is to be the care taker's dwelling, garages, a basement tunnel that is sealed concrete and it holds all maior mechanical systems and the tunnel carried water, steam, electric and cables and pipes to the main dewelling 944 S. Shore.

Aug. 2000 - 2013 - James S. & Margaret M. 'Meg' Irsay

It is said that there is a tunnel under the road to the other side of road. To the property at

"When I built my house in Culver, Indiana, I built an underground tunnel that’s like a mile long between the buildings. And I did it because that’s the kind of cool thing you like to find in old mansions. I have kind of a cosmic sense of humor. Hundreds of years from now someone’s going to walk through that and say, ‘Why on Earth did he build this tunnel?" Another stated "He lies... that tunnel is closer to 2 miles, and connect the helicopter pad in the top of the big Barn on the south side of Mystic Hillsnow Horsehoe Farms at 17052 SR 110 to his garage on South Shore... the original 18' deep tunnel had a flaw... it was 4 feet UNDER the lake... hmmm, wonder what happened there???" This barn is described as:
A Tennis-entertainment complex with a small office area and one end has a garage with mezzanine besides having and area with a kitchen, sleeping area with a bath.


Another source yet states that all heating and cooling are piped in through this tunnel

W 50' WD ALG W SD COM 275' S 648.5'W

Commencing at a point 275 feet South 648-1/2 feet West of a point where the Aubbeenaubee Reserve intersects the meander line of lake Maxinkuckee in Section 34, Township 32 North, Range 1 East, thence North 81 degrees West 203 feet: thence due North to the margin, of said lake Maxinkuckee as the same now is or may hereinafter be; thence Easterly along the margin of said lake Maxinkuckee to a Point due North of the Starting Point; thence due South to the place of beginning. Excepting 125 feet off the entire West side of said lot.