The Historical Places of the Syracuse – Wawasee Area

In the late 1920s, Ken Harkless and Syracuse grocer Lou Seider, founded a marina called Wawasee Boat Service. Ken bought out Mr. Seider a few years later and continued to operate the marina known as Harkless Wawasee Boat Company, until he retired and sold it in the mid-1960s. Now it is Anderson’s Wawasee Boat Co.

The WACF property is the site of a tamarack log cabin overlooking the wetland area between Wawasee and Syracuse Lakes. Moved from 6097 E. (Kale) Island Ave. (Pier #723), the cabin is built from native Tamarack which was thought to have been harvested from the land where the cabin was located. WACF plans to utilize the cabin as an historical center and have occasional small meetings and gatherings there.

One of the greatest boom events in the history of Syracuse was the location in town of the Sandusky Portland Cement plant around 1900. Employing well over 100 people, this plant was located at the foot of Medusa Street along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The operation was located here to dredge marl, a primary ingredient of cement, from the bottom of the lakes. The cement plant operated in Syracuse until about 1920.

In Aug., 1948, another former dumping ground was transformed into Railroad Park; later renamed Henry Ward Park. Later, the IN Dept. of Conservation created a boat ramp along the east end of the park. Henry Ward, along with Samuel Crosson, platted the town of Syracuse and built the first dam and mill.

For many years Alva and Bertha Nicolai rented cabins (812 Front St.) to vacationers and sportsmen. It was the only place on Syracuse Lake to get gas, rent cottages, fishing boats, paddle boats, pier slips, along with a full bait, tackle and hunting shop. After a series of owners, it closed in 1997. The store, cabins and two-story house were taken down or removed in Feb., 1999, and by 2018, it became four lots with three homes.

The original wooden Syracuse train station was built in 1874 and remained at this location until 1916 when the Prairie-style brick station was built. The station was remodeled in 1960. By Jan., 1970, no passenger trains stopped. After an unsuccessful attempt to save the depot, it was torn down in Sept., 2012.

In the 1830’s, Samuel Crosson and Henry Ward built a log dam on Turkey Creek at or near the Huntington St. bridge site to harness the lakes for waterpower to run a gristmill. Sometime between 1915 and the early 1920’s, a concrete dam was built. The current lake level control structure was built in 1963.

Hoy’s beach takes its name from Dr. Clifford Hoy who lived in a residence adjacent to the beach.

In 1909, a public library was opened in the east basement room of the high school building (lower uptown parking lot) with somewhat less than a thousand volumes and Mrs. Ida Knorr as librarian. A new Carnegie library was built across Main Street, celebrating its formal opening on March 15, 1921. In 1965, a new addition was added on toward Main St. Ground was purchased behind the library (701 N. Harrison St.) in 2021.

Early on, Samuel Crosson donated an acre of land to be used for burials, and the Syracuse Cemetery Association was formally organized in 1882 when more land was donated. To this day, the association is self-supporting. Decoration Day services have been held there for many years.

Opened in 2002, the Syracuse Community Center offers a full-size gymnasium and two large community rooms with kitchen, a fitness room, and multiple programming offerings. The Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum is housed within the Community Center.

Lakeside Park was created in 1933 from a “city dump.” Generations of area residents and visitors have enjoyed the sandy beach, picnicking, Music in the Park, and 4^th of July fireworks displays. In 1990, saucer magnolias were planted along Long Dr. by the Syracuse-Wawasee Garden Club.

In the mid 1930’s, John Smoker of New Paris dredged out marshy ground to form a channel, along which he built cottages for his family. Smoker installed a seven-foot tile culvert, over which the road (Northshore Drive) was extended to Indian Hill.

Maxwelton Golf Club, one of the oldest in the state, opened in 1930. The rolling fairways, changes in elevation and the small undulating greens are very reminiscent of Scottish golf architecture.

Smith-Walbridge Camp opened in 1949 founded by Merl and Margaret “Maggie” Smith and George and Lois Walbridge. It was the first summer camp in the United States for marching bands, drum majors, cheerleaders, drill teams, golfers, baton twirlers and color guards. The camp property and facilities were sold in 1990.

On islands of swamp land created when Eastshore Drive was built, W.E. "Ed" Long created his Chinese Gardens in the early 1930s. His Game Lodge remains today as a private residence. A beautiful area that was once an eyesore, was transformed by Ed Long into a virtual museum of of Chinese architecture and and landscaping.

A lovely lake village established in 1897. According to “A Brief Chronicle of Pickwick Park” by Sylvia Freese Duncan, the Englishman who made the sale for the railroad suggested the name Pickwick Park after the famous novel by Charles Dickens. Until the early 1930s, visitors to Pickwick Park could disembark at a small station where Eastshore Drive crosses the tracks; passengers would then go south through the woods across the old Pickwick channel between the lakes. Nearby was the site of a railroad coaling station and Pickwick Lagoon where steam excursion boats were able to berth close to the railway station.

Early fishermen were attracted to Old Kale Oram’s Island (KALE ISLAND), perhaps the lake’s first named place. King’s Grocery, which later became the Beacon restaurant, was located on Kale Island. The fact that it had pier access added to its popularity.

Established in 1912, fish were raised in ponds of the WAWASEE STATE FISH HATCHERY for release elsewhere in the state. Around the same time Lake Papakeechie was formed by building a dam that flooded the more than 300 acres of land including 6 or 7 small lakes amongst the hills at the southeast end of Wawasee. On the crest of the hill to the right of the dam is the Fish Hatchery custodian’s house. The terraced front lawn was formed as earth was being removed for construction of the pond embankments.

Settled in the 1840's by the Jarrett family, the area became known as Buttermilk Point in the 1890's when early excursion boats stopped there for refreshments. Charles Johnson purchased the property c. 1914, running a small zoo and amusement park for a time and gradually building a dance hall and Johnson's Hotel which was sold to the Hilburt family in the 1940's before being razed in 1972. From 1968-73, condominiums gradually overtook the entire site.

To the East of Jarrett's homestead, Elmwood Heights apartments was built in 1937, being razed in the 1980's and now occupied by condos.

To the West of Jarrett's homestead from c.1890's - late 1950's stood Klingaman's grocery and general store; replaced by Heil's Haven apartments until 1979 when sold and converted into mini-condos.

Cottingham Beach started being developed around 1906. Many cottages have remained in families for several generations. Several Centennial cottages are still enjoyed today.

BAYSHORE BEACH was created around 1940 by dredging fill from the lake bottom.

Clearing work on the McClintic farm was started in 1959 to develop the 400 lots of MARINELAND GARDENS.

MC CAIN PARK is an untouched shoreline, fringed with cattails, rushes, and spatterdock, where you can catch a glimpse of how it used to be!

LEELAND ADDITION was developed in the 1950s by the Lung and Riddle families, descendants of Annie LEE Anderson.

In 1910, Clark’s Needle was thickly overgrown with rushes. In the 1940s, developer Elwood George created HIGHLAND VIEW GARDENS. During the extremely low water in 2012, a sailor verified an old Indian trail stretching from the northwest corner of the sandbar to Ogden Point.

VAWTER PARK (basically extends from the white boathouse to the South Shore condos) was platted in 1887 by John T. Vawter of Franklin, Indiana. Highlights of this area: the All Saints Episcopal Church (PIER #473) was consecrated in 1907 with a new church built in 1999. In the late 1890s, Indiana University had a Biological Field Station about where the boat ramp is. The students’ social life included the Pottawatomie Club (now the empty lot, PIER #480). The propellers at PIER #491 are from the Portland Cement Company’s tugboat.

Three hotels, all of which burned, have occupied the site of what is now the South Shore Condominiums. The first Vawter Park Hotel, was built around 1900. Following a devastating fire in 1910, a second Vawter Park Hotel was built. South Shore Inn replaced it in 1919 until its demise in 1964.

Ideal Beach (PIERS #546 - 548) was an amusement area featuring a tall toboggan water slide from the 1920s through the early 1940s.

The Travelers Protective Association of Wabash built a clubhouse featuring individual bedrooms and common living areas in a comfortable dormitory style. Several TPA members built homes along Ideal Beach as a result of being introduced to the area.

SOUTH PARK (PIERS #561 - 590), developed in the 1890s by Charles Sudlow and Major Fletcher Marsh, included beautiful homes and Emerson’s Grocery and Sandwich Shop (PIER #582).

South Park continued around the point, where WACO (Wawasee Amusement Company) opened in 1915. It was on the Big Band circuit drawing crowds of thousands. The dance hall closed in the early 1940s, and the building was used as a roller rink. After it was torn down in the late 1950s, the Q’s Waco restaurant was built. In the 1970s, the land was divided into 4 lots (PIERS #603 & A, B, C).

Truesdell Lodge, a collection of rustic cabins, served fishermen and tourists for over 75 years. Mr. Brunjes (PIER #641) ran a small rooming house until 1921 when Matty Katzer purchased and enlarged it to become the Tavern Hotel into the 1950s.

The Wawasee Yacht Club, founded in the 1930s, maintains a clubhouse and anchorage. They have sailboat races during the summer featuring three classes – Lightnings, E-Scows, and Sunfish. A Junior Sailing Program teaches youngsters and beginners to sail.

One of the natural areas protected by the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation whose mission is to protect, preserve, and enhance the Wawasee Area Watershed for present and future generations. Trails and a boardwalk are accessible. WACF hosts a variety of programs throughout the year.

The area was named Oakwood Park when acquired by the Indiana Evangelical Conference in 1893 as a permanent camp meeting ground. The Park became filled with private cottages – always an atmosphere encouraging one’s spiritual growth. Since 1904, there has been a hotel here on a point of land once known as “Duck Point” with great, panoramic views of the lake. The present Oakwood Inn opened on July 3, 1996. The Oakwood Resort operates as a destination resort having the only restaurant on the lake proper.

Known as “the kettle” because of its shape, Conklin Bay was named for fishing guide Bill Conkling and his family who had a cabin well before 1844 on Conkling Hill in what is now Oakwood Park. At times, the “g” is dropped from the name on maps.

Huge barges of marl were unloaded at the Slip in the early 1900s to be taken on the “Mud Line” to the cement company in Syracuse. After the cement factory closed, the Slip was converted into a marina in 1922.

Created from farmland originally belonging to Nathaniel Crow, Enchanted Hills subdivision was platted August 30, 1961.

The Wawasee Inn (1892 - 1919) replaced the Cedar Beach Clubhouse on a high bank which was excavated to build the Spink-Wawasee Hotel opening in 1926. Behind the hotel, the Wawasee Golf Course opened in 1913, built by Frank Remy. The Wawasee Airport was built in the early 1930s. In the late 1940s, the hotel became Our Lady of the Lakes Seminary for nearly 25 years before being reorganized into a church-operated boarding school called Wawasee Preparatory School closing in the late 1970s. The hotel was converted into today’s Spink Wawasee Condominiums (PIER #003).

Nordyke Park was developed by Addison Nordyke, a charter member of the Cedar Beach Club. He was involved with Nordyke, Marmon, and Company, Indianapolis.

Eliminating the Sunday drive to Ligonier, the Church of the Little Flower, built by the Noll family who lived nearby, was dedicated in 1929. It was used as a Catholic church until 1965; now known as Noll Hall, it is used as a retreat center for priests and nuns.

Sand Point begins at the base of the hill to the east of the former church and continues until the ground gains elevation onto Ogden Island. A former marshy area, Sand Point was filled by mules and developed in the early 1900s. Before that, it was possible to enter Johnson’s Bay between Sand Point and the original Ogden Island, named after Charles Ogden

The original Col. Eli Lilly cottage is one of Wawasee’s earliest and still retains many of its summer cottage features. Grandson Eli Lilly first visited at a young age in 1888 when the cottage was fairly new and returned every summer until just before his death in early 1977. The Lilly family was instrumental in the development, protection, promotion and naming of this lake; it previously had been called Turkey Lake or Nine Mile Lake. Col. Lilly borrowed the name Wawasee from Waubee Lake (at one time called Wa-was Lake).

With its source in neighboring Noble County, TURKEY CREEK flows into the lake from the southeast, exiting through the channel into Syracuse Lake, flowing over the lake control structure eventually flowing into the Elkhart River, through the Great Lakes into the Atlantic Ocean. The Continental Divide just south of Wawasee causes those lakes to empty into the Mississippi River and on to the Gulf of Mexico.

Ross Boat Livery started in the 1930s on YACHT HARBOR. Since 1946, Griffith’s Marina has been a family business. Along Turkey Creek Road was the Turkey Creek Golf Course.

Connected by a bridge to the mainland, MORRISON ISLAND gets its name from the William T. Morrison family who settled here after the Civil War.

On the northeastern side of the lake is a bay along which lies WAVELAND BEACH. Before seawalls, you could walk along the beach all the way to Natti Crow Beach. When this long stretch of beach was first developed, there were a number of small cottages on grounds leased from Nathaniel Crow. The Guide restaurant (and one-time grocery) was about a half-mile inland.

The Nathaniel Crow farmhouse, built on this high ground overlooking the lake, was later expanded into the Crow’s Nest Inn - a summer resort inn operated by Albert & “Mattie” Crow Fick from 1911-1921 when Albert died. There continued to be some room rental, but the building was mainly a restaurant facility until sometime between the late 1930’s/early 40’s. In the 1940’s and ‘50’s, the Wawasee Playhouse operated out of a large barn in back. Beginning in the late 1960’s, the former inn became home to the Crow’s Nest Yacht Club until at least the 1990’s. The family sold the property in 2021, and today houses are built on the lots. Behind these properties is the Lake Bethel/Crow Cemetery where the church bell has recently (2023) been relocated.

More Nathaniel Crow property became Natti Crow Beach, also known as the Sheep Wash, a name derived from the custom of farmers driving their sheep across the broad, flat sandy beach into the water to wash their wool coats before shearing.

Cedar Point is a glacial kame formation – natural mound of glacial drift - created during the most recent ice age, which retreated about 10,000 years ago. Evidence of trade among the Paleo-Indian population was discovered in the late 1800s in the form of shell items and other Indian relics. Houses are built on both the high road and the low road on Cedar Point.

Formerly named MARY K. BOLAND point for a Chicago lady who died suddenly at her Lake Wawasee home in 1926. Now commonly called Waco Point, it was also known as Lake View (Lake View Hotel built 1896 - PIERS #596 & 597) or Black Stump Point (large stump, black from decay, stood upon the sandy point near the water’s edge).