Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-06-18
De Funiak Springs.

from the land of flowers, we alluded to
the growth and success of the town of
Lake de Funiak. One year ago when
we left the place, there were perhaps
twenty or thirty rough implanted houses
in the place, three or four small stores;
depot and telegraph office in box
car, and hotel of which we will not
express our opinion, as it might injure
the proprietor's business. There are
now several hotels, the largest of which
is the Chautauqua Hotel, built on an
eminence overlooking the lake--a beau
tifnl little sheet of water. just one mile
in circumference, and perfect circle.
The hotel is handsome structure,
capable of accommodating several hum
dred guests, perfect in all its appoint
ments, with electric bells and all mod
ern improvements. The fare is excel
lent and attention given to guests all
that could be desired. Surrounding
the lake are several cottages built in
modern style, tastefully painted and
finished inside in native woods. These
with the buildings of the Southern Chau-
tauqua, have SO changed the appear
ance of the place that one who had not
seen it for year would never know it.
There are a good many families from
the North that are spending the sum-
mer there, and intend to make that
their home all the year round, while
many of the leading southern families
OF that section are building cottages
there for the summer The Chautauqua
Assembly grounds are surrounded by a
fence and comprise about a half section
of land, including the lake. This does
not prevent the building of private resi-
dences within these grounds, but it is,
in fact, an extra inducement to build
there. There are now no less than fif-
teen or twenty buildings in process of
erection or under contract, and the
prospects for the future are more en-
couraging than at any time since the
place was started.
Across the lake, opposite the Hotel
Chautauqua, is the poets and artists
corner, the prettiest spot on the Assem-
bly, grounds. Four springs of crystal
water, among and around which Mr..
Leander Stone, of Chicago, has ar
ranged to locate Botanical garden.
will form the most attractive feature of
the ''corner." Ella Wheeler Wilcox.
Sara Jeanette Duncan of Canada, j. Z.
Gross and John Durkin, artists. and
others have lots and will build cottages
in this locality, We saw letter ad-
dressed to the secretary of the Chau-
tauqua Assembly, from Joaquin Miller,
in which he wrote that he "would be
down early and build castle in our
model city" meaning Lake de Funiak.
DR.. c. +. Deems, pastor of the Church
OF the Strangers, New York, has located
the southern branch of his American
Institute of Philosophy at this point.
The first session will be held the coming
winter. The Presbyterians of the state
have secured site and expect to COM
mence the erection of a college building
in the fall. Bishops Walden and NAL
lalieu recently visited the lake and have
secured large tract of land upon
which to build university in the near
future. The NJ f. church has no school
within three hundred miles, and the
one to be erected here gives promise of
being superior institution.
A company of Chicago gentlemen,
headed by M. z. Hatfield, M. D., will
erect fine sanitarium soon. The same
gentlemen have also begun the collec-
ton of specimens for Historical muse
UNI located near the lake. Numerous
volumes have been contributed toward
a library, the building for which has
been promised by wealthy Louisville
gentleman.
The Florida Chautauqua Assembly
held here last spring, is universally pro-
nounced success. The ampitheatre
in which the exercises were given is the
bestin the United States. The pro-
gramme was equal to any ever given at
the original Chautauqua in New York.
A programme even more brilliant and
attractive has already been formulated
for the next session, which will open
the last of February and continue three
or four weeks. The highest literary,
artistic and social talent of the country
will gather here. In our opinion, no
other winter resort offers greater at
fractions, and we predict a brilliant
future for De Funiak Springs.