Some Big Times at Loon Lake Resort (1905)

Columbia City Commercial Mail ~ Friday, July 28, 1905

Gay doin's at the lake last evening. Everybody enjoyed an old fashioned square dance. Mr. Weeks was the whole orchestra, making music on the violin. Frank Quinn was floor manager. Among those from this city (aside from those in camp) were the following: Dr. D. S. Linville and wife, Mabel Lee and mother, Maggie Strauss, Scott and Billy Brand, J. C. and Harry Miller and Jeff Pincheon. Those who did not participate were interested onlookers. Everybody had a good time.

Jule Leininger's, Mrs. Ray Eisaman and Lizzie Leininger spent the day at Loon Lake. Mrs. Will Humbarger and son Nova and Ira Hively were guests of Sam Bowers at Idyll cottage yesterday. Mr. Goodrich caught a nice string of fish yesterday.

The lawn tennis court is quite an attraction, being used continuously. Croquet is also a means of amusement to the numerous guests at the resort. Camp Swihart had visitors yesterday. Ed Lillich, Chas. Dew, Geo. Harter and several others spent Wednesday afternoon at the lake.

Huntington parties are encamped in the Whitelock cottage. Parties from Markle and Marion are booked for next week. Quite a number will break camp Monday. All regret not being able to stay longer. Reilly Ferguson's band is to spend Sunday at the lake. They are all artists of great merit.

Quite an excitement reigned in camp last night for a short time. In lighting the big gasoline lamps to illuminate the club house for the dance a leakage or something, caused the oil to ignite and drop on some oakum lying on the floor. The flames flashed up in Esta Goodrich's face, for a moment blinding him, and had it not been for Dr. Grim's cool headedness and prompt action a conflagration would have been inevitable. The doctor's hands were severely burned in a couple of places. Esta's eye lashes were singed but aside from this no great damage was done.

Claremont W. Hess and Miss Margaret Alexander, of Michigan, are guests of Miss Eileen Goodrich at Loon Lake. Clare has grown quite a beard since we last saw him, but is looking well. He says he suffers considerably from muscular rheumatism contracted in Korea. He contemplates going on another trip in September.