THE REPUBLICAN

June 8, 1883

 

ANOTHER CHAPTER

The Correspondent of the Sunday Telegraph graphically Describes

 

Waupaca and the Chain o’ Lakes, Greenwood park, Lake Park and Dr. Calkins Mineral Springs

 

            Irving P. Lord is the correspondent in this city for several newspapers, among them the Sunday Telegraph.  In the last paper the leading summer resorts of the state were graphically described by their corps of correspondents.  Irving was born and brought up in Waupaca and knows whereof he speaks in regard to the lakes and surroundings in this locality.  We cheerfully reprint the article entire believing that whatever may be and in favor of Waupaca as a good place to rusticate will be the means of finally getting more people to make their permanent home here.

WAUPACA.

            Waupaca has become one of the leading and most popular summer resorts in Wisconsin.  It is a modest little city of less than 3,000 inhabitants, and is situated on the Wisconsin Central railroad, 130 miles north of Milwaukee.  Right in the heart of the city are two beautiful lakes called Mirror and Shadow, and the Waupaca river winds its way from the dense woods north, through the heart of the town and along past the cultivated and rich farms on the south, and empties into the Wolf river at Gill’s Landing.  Of all the cities or villages in Wisconsin, the visitor will find none coming nearer being a utopia than Waupaca.  The houses are all neat and tidy; the lawns green and tasty; the business houses large, light and airy; the people cultured, free-hearted and hospitable.  On all sides of the city the landscape is most enchanting; the hills and valleys, diversified with beautiful groves, cultivated fields, bubbling brooks and nestling lakes, present a picturesque appearance.  The drive in and about the city afford an excellent opportunity to those who delight in such pastimes.  Waupaca itself is a lovely place in which to spend a few months during the summer but the visitor has other attractions right at hand.  I refer to the already renowned.

CHAIN OF LAKES

            2-1/2 miles west of the city.  These lakes are thirteen in number, and vary in size from one to five miles in circumference.  They are all connected by natural channels of running water, and because they are thus connected have received the title of “Chain of Lakes”.

            The extent of the lakes is about six or seven miles.  The larger ones are dotted with lovely little islands which rise from the clear waters and almost seem to beckon you to their cool and shady shores.  The islands are all named and are known as “Maple Island”, “Strawberry Island”, “Crescent Island”, etc.  The latter has a rustic clubhouse built on it, owned by the Waupaca Rowing Club, an organization of sociable and well-to-do gentlemen who spend part of every summer at the “Chain o’ Lakes” and delight themselves and others by frequent practice with their paper shells and sculls.  The Rowing Club is a fixture at the lakes, and the old visitors who come every year say that they just as much expect to see them as they do the islands.

WHICH STUD THE WATER

            When I speak of fishing my modesty and regard for the truth prevails.  But it is safe to say that the fishing is as fine as can be found in the state.  Large numbers of pickerel, perch, white black, yellow and striped bass are caught.  Last summer a prominent clergyman from St Louis, while rusticating at the lakes, made it a point to go out fishing every morning before breakfast, and spend an hour in piscatorial sport.  He always returned at precisely 7 o’clock and never brought in but one fish.  This fish was sure to be a black bass and would never weigh less than six pounds.  Considerable sport was made by the guests because of this daily coincidence, viz:  Black bass, 6 pounds or over.   Just before he left for his home in September, he admitted that when he was out for his morning fish he resolved never to bring in a fish that weighed less than six pounds, and that he often caught and threw back into the lake 25 or 30 bass, just because none of them happened to be large enough to tip his pocket scales at the six pound notch.  He wouldn’t even carry in a

FIVE POUND, FIFTEEN OUNCE BASS.

            In all the lakes is an abundance of fish, and as the county laws prohibit the spearing or catching with nets, the fish increase rather than diminish in numbers.

            Facilities for bathing are fully up to the times, and, as the bottom of the lakes is fine white sand and gravel, and the depth of the water slowly and gradually increases from the beach, there is little or no danger of a person suddenly getting beyond his depth.

            A large number of row and sail-boats, and a beautiful little steamer, the “Silas F. Wright”, are always in readiness for those who delight in boating.

            One peculiar feature of the Chain o’ Lakes is the fact that sudden gusts or squalls are never known upon its surface, and no boat has ever been known to have been capsized from such cause.

            The shores of the lakes are high and dry with dense foliage and heavy timber, in which the woodman’s ax has never sounded.  The woods are in a perfect state of nature, and have been purposely left so in order that the desire of city guests might be satisfied.

THE GREENWOOD PARK ASSOCIATION,

(W. A. West, president, A. J. Van Epps, vice-president, Chas. Churchill, Secretary, W. J. Chamberlain, treasurer.) own 48 acres on the shores of Hick’s Lake, (one of the “Chain”) and have erected a small but beautiful hotel, known as the Greenwood Park house.  They also own several neat little cottages surrounding.  The hotel will be managed this season by Mr. George M. Chamberlain, an experienced and popular landlord, who will aim to please and entertain the guests of the house.  The hotel will be run in modern style, and the table furnished with all the delicacies of the season, besides plenty of fresh milk, cream, butter and eggs, for which this country is so noted.  A livery stable with quiet carriage and saddle horses, is owned by the management and kept for the exclusive use of patrons.

            The Association own a large number of row and sail-boats and under the management of Mr. A. J. Van Epps.  Visitors can depend upon getting just what they want and at the same time be assured that the boats are safe and seaworthy.

LAKE PARK

            On the opposite side of the lake from Greenwood is Lake Park, a beautiful location commanding one of the finest views of the lakes.  Lake Park is the property of Dr. G. H. Calkins, of Waupaca, and besides being a desirable location for cottages and campers, there are three valuable mineral springs on the premises.  The waters contain ingredients of a very health-giving nature and have actually cured several cases of dropsy.  Dr. Calkins is a physician of many years experience and he makes the positive assertion that the water from one of these springs contains more diuretic properties than any medicine he ever tried.  No analysis has ever been made of this water but its curative powers are an admitted fact, and it will soon take its place alongside of Bethesda and other mineral waters which are in no way its superiors.  These springs are bound to become almost a household word wherever dropsy and kidney disease are known.

THE HOTEL FACILITIES

at Waupaca are excellent.  “The Waupaca” is a new hotel built by the Wisconsin Central railroad company, and all trains stop here for meals.  The house is run under the management of the Messrs. Curran Bros., two of the most popular and zealous hotel men in the state.

THE VOSBURG HOUSE

is one of the institutions of the city, and is a handsome three story brick structure, fronting the public square.  The hotel can accommodate about 100 guests.  Mr. F. B. Vosburg, the proprietor, spares no pains to make his guests “at home”, and it is often that persons from the south, after staying at his house during the summer, almost make up their minds to stay all winter with him too.  The table is bountifully provided with just such things as one wants when spending the summer at a rural resort.

THE LEWIS HOUSE

is under the able management of Mr. Chas. W. Ogden, and can take good care of a large number of guests.  Last summer this house, as well as the others, had more guests than they could well enter into, and it would be well for parties who contemplate coming to Waupaca and the “Chain o’ lakes” to immediately make arrangements concerning accommodations.

            There is one thing worthy of notice showing how closely Waupaca is connected with the Chain o’ Lakes.  A glance at the map will show that Mirror and Shadow Lakes in the city are connected by the south branch of Waupaca or Crystal river which stream flows southwest through the beautiful suburban villages of Crystal River, Parfreyville and Rural and finally connects with one of the Chain o’ Lakes about eight miles from the city.

            In regard to the islands in the above article, Myron Reed last winter, secured some land scrip with which he purchased two of the principal ones mentioned, upon which he proposes at no distant day to erect a fine summer residence, and we learn Mr. Reed proposes to give the Boat Club the use of one of the Islands as long as they desire it, for their club house.