Around the Lake
The beautiful Maxinkuckee

Where it is - - What it is - - Who are there - - The Club Houses - The Fishing - The Boating - A Delightf ul Summer Resort.
Correspondent Indianapolis Hearld.
Much has been said from time to
time, by fishermen and "campers
out", of that beautiful lake with
that wonderf ul name, "Maxinkuc
kee." It has become famous in
verse, as shown by the poem which
stands at the head of this article
written by Jeerome C. Burnett, for
merly of this city, beginning:
All, here is a scene for the painter -
A gleaming and glorified lake
but since the day's the verses refer
to, I am very much afraid that
friend Burnett will have to pay another
visit and give the modern version
of the situation. Not being
"a poet born," I leave the "poet'
license" to its legitimate off spring
Lake Maxinkuckee, as many of
our readers know, is situated in
Marshall county, Indiana, about
twelve miles south-west of Plymouth,
and nine miles west of Argos.
Leaving Argos by the "south
road," you drive through a sandy
and swampy country, largely covered
with huckleberry bushes and
scrub oak, with here and there
a paitch of corn and wheat, and occasionally
a house or two to break the
monotony.
A drive of nine miles
brings you to the village of Maxinkuckee
or as it is now called, Frizzletown,) which lies on the hill
about a quarter of a mile from the
lake. The name Maxinkuckee, or
Muxinkuckee, its it is called by the
old setlters, seens to be of two origins.
Many claimed that the lake
was named after an old Indian
chief "Muxinkuckee," who came
annually with his squaws to fish in
its clear waters, which at that time
abounded in salmon, pickerel and
bass. The more romantic claim
that the name is "Maxinkuckee,"
and means clear water. As for
myself I am inclined to the beliei
that the lake was named after the
old sachem, but there is no doubt
that the lake,- is exceediiigly clear.
The reader may take which version
he or she pleases.
Within the last two or three
years a remarkable change has
come over the placid sheet of water
and its surroundings and the fishermen
of
"DAYS GONE BY"
would hardly recognize their once
favorite fishing ground. The occasional
"dug-out" and flat-bottomed
scow has given place to 'clinker
built' boats and white-sailed yachts.
The occasional tent of the fisherman
is seldom seen and in its
place we find cottages and club
houses of large proportions, filled
with families from the heated towns
and cities of the vicinity. Such
has become the fame of the pituresque
spot; and each year adds to
the numbers who live upon its
shores during the summer and f ull
months.
Passing through the village of
Maxinkuckee we soon reach the
lake shore.
Take a sail with me
in the yacht which floats lazily on
the water.
Sailing along the north
shore we soon reach the cottage of
Mr. J. B. Dill, of this city." He
has erected a snug and substantial
house, built largely by his own
hands. The cottage stands about
ten feet above the water line, and is
pleasantly situated. Mr. Dill and
family are summmering here and enjoy
it immensely.
A few hundred feet to the westward we find the
NEW CLUB HOUSE
now in progress of erection by
Messrs. Shortridge, Morris and others
of this city. It is situated on a
bluff some twenty-five feet high,
and in fine position to command a
view of the lake.
This house is
two stories in height with double
verandas along its entire front;
fllghts of steps lead down to the
landings, and all, when completed,
will be an acquisition to the lake.
The name of the house I was not
able to ascertain.
Continuing along
to the westward we come to "Shady
Bluff," the summer home of Mr.
Edward R. Wheeler, of Plymouth.
Here is a delightf ul house, beautifully
situated, facing south on the
lake. Mr. Wheeler has made it a
home in all senses of the word. The
yard is terraced down to the beach.
In the lake, a short distance out,
the "Arleta" floats at anchor, raising
and falling with the Waves, her
white canvas lapping lazily in the
wind. The beach in front of Shady
Bluff is the favorite bathing ground
the people on this side of the
lake, the shore and bottom being
fine sand, and clear of obstructions.
Sailing past Shady Bluff we cast anchor
in the bay directly in front of
the grounds belonging to the
INDIANAPOLIS BOATING AND FISHING CLUB
We step into a row boat which has
"put out" for' us, and are soon landed
at the dock in front of their club
house just finished.
Here we are
received by the genial Dr. Heiskell
and Mrs. Fred Baggs, who kindly
offered to "show us 'round."
The I. B. and F. C. have about three
acres of ground with a frontage of
about tlhree hundred feet on the
lake.
The ground is finely situated
and is all that could be desired for
the purpose. With commendable
energy the club have erected their
houses and fenced their grounds and
built their docks within the last
forty days.
The house is two stories
fronting south, with two wings of
one story extending east and west,
giving a total frontage of one hundred
and eighteen feet, along which
extends a roomy piazza for the comfort
of the guests and members of
the club.
Roomy hammocks are
suspended between the posts, and
we are greeted with pleasant words
from familiar faces as we pass along.
The wings of the house are each
divided into five bed-rooms, all of
which open out on the piazza, and
all of which are neatly furnished.
The main building is used for dining
and reception rooms with large
folding doors between, making it
capable of being thrown into one
large room for dancing or other
purposes.
The c ulinary department
is located in the rear of the dining
room in a separate buildiing.
The
second story of this building is used
for sleeping rooms, and is occupied
by gentlemen exelusively, and has
been "dubed" by the euphonious
title of "Hilarity Hall."
The reception
room is furnished with easy
chairs, a sofa or two, and the indispensable
piano.
To the east of the
main building has been erected an
ice and cooling house, which is complete
in all its parts.
To the east of the ice house is a
delightf ul little island formed by a
small brook, and named the "Retreat." The grove of iron wood
trees on the island is lined with
hammocks, which are seldom
empty. Here, swung by the lake
breezes, the lover can woe to his
heart's desire, oblivious of the surroundings.
It is a favorite spot
with those of tender years, though
it did strike your correspondent
that some who never again will
see their thirtieth summer, were
among the group.
The water for the use of the
place is obtained from
A SPRING
which flows up from the bottom of
the lake, some ten feet out from the
shore. The spring has been encased
by an iron cylinder two feet in
diameter, and the water raises up
and overflows fully three feet above
the surface of the lake. The water
is very pure and cold.
The club has ten row boats for
the use of its members, and will
add a "sailor" or two next year.
The total cost of the improvement
and grounds this year will reach $2,000.
To the people of Indianapolis
no better place can be found,
nor so cheap, at which to spend a
few weeks of real enjoyment and
rest away from the heat and dust
of city life.
Indianapolis people
will do well to patronize this home
resort beforw going long journeys
at heavy expense, to come home
worse off, rather than benefitted by
their "reg ular summer vacation."
Adjoing on the west of the I. B.
and F. C's. grounds is "Point
Pleasant," the finest location on the
lake. On this projection Messrs.
B. F ulwiler, J. S. Hale, Milton
Shirk and John Miihlfeld, of Peru,
and Mrs. Lizzie Wiggins, formerly
of this city, have erected a substantial
and comfortable house for the
use of themselves and invited
friends.
The "Peruvians"' have named
their summer resort "'pleasant"
and it is most admirably named,
for they know how to make it
pleasant for you when you call down
at "three.''
After quaffing a glass of delicious
butter-milk" ( ?) from the spring
house, we wore "taken in tow" by
Messrs. Muhlfled and F ulwiler.
They have about an acre fenced.
The house is two stories with
DOUBLE PIAZZAS
in east and south sides. The upper
story is used for sleeping rooms
and the lower for dining and reception
room The club has four
row boats, the "Blossom," the
'Peru", "Fire Fly" and "Oscar."
The Oscar is barge built, with
cushioned seats and canopied top.
They also have one sail boat, the
Nancy Lee".
Bidding goodbye to
our new-found friends we are
rowed out to our sail boat in the
Blossom.
The Peru people have spent some
$1,500 in fitting up their place.
Shipping anchor we now take a
"long tack" along the extreme
north west shore of the lake, passing
the occasional tent of the
"camper out" and the "lone fisherman
in his boat, waiting for the
fickle bass and perch to bite; along
past the cottage of Mr. Palmer, of
Plymouth.
Then a little to the
south, until we cast anchor opposite
"Lake View" the castle of contentment, belonging to the good
people of Plymouth.
Landing, we are cordially greeted by Commadore
Hill, of the yacht "Arrow,"
who with his crew, consisting of
yachtsmen Thayer, McDonald and
Oglesbee, escort us to the "Lake
View," up two flights of stairs,
some thirty or forty feet above the
bosom of the lake.
LAKE VIEW
is situated on the ncirthern shore,
onl a handsome bluff, and commands
view of the entire lake. The club
owns some fifteen acres.
The house
is two stories with double verandas
both front and rear, giving delightf ul
views both on lake and land.
It is occupied only for the benefit
of the families of its members and
invited guests.
The house is the
best built one on the lake and com-
plete,- the grounds and improvements
costing the club over $3,000.
The club owns six boats, the "Elephant,"
the "Arrow." the "Anna,'
and the "Kittie Mack."
The
members of the club are Messrs.
Wm. Hill, Jos. Westervelt, N.
H. Oglesbee, Horace Corbin, H. G.
Thayer, Daniel McDonald, Chas.
S. and Chester O Buck.
The meimbers of this club are especially
attentive to all visitors to
the lake. Making our adieus (and
with many thanks) we again take
sail, this time for a long one.
Passing Marmont, a hamlet lying cosily
on the hillside, along by the outlet
to Little or Mud Lake where the
water lilies grow; out beyond Long
Point, by the Rochester club house
way up on the bluff
Through the
reed banks, until vve come to the
southeast shore, down by the cottage
of Robert L. McOuat, and the
boat houses of Mr. H. B. Scott,
both of this city; and we come to
our starting place, having had a
most pleasant sail, and in all a most
delightf ul afternoon.
From a week's experience we can
say that we found good boating,
splendid water, fair fishing, "brownest
of sunburns," excellent bathing,
the freshest air, the soundest
sleep, the fewest of musquitoes,
it has ever been our good fortune
to enjoy at any one of the western
resorts, besides meeting many of the
charming people of the State.
NO STYLE
or fancy dressing is necessary—a
good flannel shirt, coarse heavy
pantaloons, strong shoes, a big
straw hat with a shoe-string band,
and a bathing suit, are all any man
or boy needs; a good flannel dress
and other etc , etcs., is all any lady
needs to be able to spend a week
or so so at this resort. A call to the
'diminition grind' reminded as of
the fact that our visit was over
and after the usual regrets over the
shortness of life and things that
couldn't be, we silently packed our
valise and de'parted for the classic
shores of our native river. H. B. P. - -- Peru Miami County Sentinel, Thursday, July 29, 1880
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