Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-05-28
A TRIP TO MACATAWA A.
a PLEASANT RESORT Now OPEN.
The First Excursion OF the Season
Railroad Men and ke~spapeF Men
Unite in Celebrating.

The custom of setting apart SOME portion
Of each year a. . respite from labor, AID
seeking rest and roeuperatlon Of mind and
body al the soa shore OF among the hilis slad
green woods Of the oonntry has long been
popular, and appears w be growing mere IL
favor each year. To the favored few. whom
fortune hss smiled prosperoasly upon. a
season of travel extending through months
or even year. II possible, bat the toiiing
masses. and the majority of business men
ana their families must seek the needed re-
taxation less excessively, both regards
time and money. For the benefit of such
among the busy people of Michigan nature
evidently designed the surroundings of the
now famous Macatawa Park. aud the artistic
hand of man has gone far TO supplement her
work by the addition Of many needed con
veniences for the tourist of dap or week.
Yesterday party consisting of j. X v.
Agnew, general superintendent of the Chi
cag0 a West Michigan Railway, j. III. Car
penter, general passenger agent, Nm- A.
Gaveti. assistant general passenger agent,
A. B. Turner. of the DAILY Eagie. W. b.
Weston, of the hrcatag Leader, George
Locke. of the DAILY Democrat, MoKSIS6
TELEGRAM scribe and Messrs. hortlander
and Seltzer, artists. took special ear on the
9.lJ a. IN. train for
VISIT TO MACATAwA,
and after rapid run of about forty minutes
over the G. a ". NJ. railway found them
selves at the depot ia the steady, slow w-going
but prosperous town of Holland. Here they
were joined by Mr. Rose, travelling freight
agent of the road: Il. O.. Churchill, agent AT
Holland; +. Conley, master of transporia-
tion; ii. Walsh, President of the Park Asso-
citation; W. III. Rogers, editor of the Holland
Nelos, and W. l.. Cooper, of Spring Com
pany he special car was switched of, and
IN few minutes the party were landed on
the dock at the head of Black Lake, where
the fine steamer "Macatawa lay IN waiting,
resplendent in new paint and as fresh a.
daisy. She is owned by Capt. L. j. Harring-
ton, Jr., and during the winter has been
heightened out and reiitted, and l. now ia
first-ciass trim for her seasons work.
very pleasant ride of
SIX MILES BY WATER,
over the placid surface of Black Lake,
brought the party To the Park, when,
after stroll of "A few minutes about the
grounds, they sat down 10 an appetizing
spread in the commOdIous dining room OF
the Park Hotel. The reporters of the com
pany partook daIntiIy of the delicacies set
before them. They had evidently eaten
hearty breakfast or were IN feeble health. but
Great Moses, how those railroad men did
eat, Chickens and broiled steak and fish
and onions and potatoes disappeared as by
the touch of magic-but let Us not call those
masticating memories back. The dehcacles
above enumerated have disappeared forever
from human gaze,
THE HOTELS
are the Macatawa House and the Park Ho-
tel, both of which are neat coy and and are
we'll kept. The Macatawa House has ample
accommodations for about 20 guests, while
the Park Hotel, with the large addition now
| in process, and which will be ready for use
by July !, will be able 10 accommodate GO
people. There are now 10 cottages built on
various parts of the grounds and several
more will be built this season, while there
are many splendid locations for campers,
who prefer to bring tents with them. A
! skating rink i0xlD0 feet l. now building.
| Persons who desire to build cottages will be
| given half rates for transportation for lum-
| lum, furniture, etc, by the G. a W. NJ. R'y.
FISHING, BOATING AND BATHING.
The fishing at Macatawa is, probably, as
/ fine as at any point IN Southern Michigan,
and bass and pickerel are caught IN great
numbers, while the facilities for pleasure
| boating are very good. large number OF
excellent new boats are kept in readiness for
| the accommodation of tourists and pleasure
seekers. They are owned and managed by
/ Mr. Scott of the III catawa House. Several
1
| new bath houses will be erected this season
/ for the use of bathers.
The c. a. W. NJ. railway has made ample
arrangements for
| ExcUEsIoSIsTs
| from Grand Rapids and other points. Par
| ties going TO Macatawa can leave the city at
| 9:I5 4. NJ or 1926 L. n. and returning can
| leave at l2:30. i:25 or $50 L. NJ. giving
ample time for recreation at the Park. the
/ fare for the round trip. including boat II
/ only Sl.OO. Special trains will be run Tor
| $50 or more persons. leaving early IN the
| morning and returning late AT night. so "a to
| allow an entire day at the Park. Special
rates will be made for such excursions.
MOONLIGHT RIDEs.
The managers of the railroad propose. If
! there l. a demand FOR them. to give OCCASION
al excursions in the evening, leaving the city
at g. m. taking a moonlight ride 10y boat
on Lake Michigan, and returning IN time "a
/ reach the city 10y abOut III =. IN. Tins class
/ of excursions should become very popular,
a. they can be taken after business hours and
in the coolest part of the day.
THIN FIsB.
| Thanks TO the faithful work of the State
/ Fish Commissioners lake Michigan - well
| stocked with fsh There are millions Of
I them there and as If aware that Aacatawa
I Park il a place Of resort. they sport about IN
/ that vicinity to tempt the cupidity Of man
in fact several members Of the party ycster
/ day thought they were rather toe
numerous. and TOO fresh. and after
the manner Of lack Walton. they laid
their plans 10 hook out some of this
fnny tribe and salt them down. Mr.. Car.
penter in his capacity of General Passenger
| Agent. furnished free pas-es 30 AT apph
| canfs number II very large fsh we're
/ caught by members of the party by the
/ mental process--that is, IN their mind but
I Mr. GRvett was the boss fisherman. Nov d
/ IFLFaRAN reporter viii not lie. he could not
do u II be tired; but he asserts that Mr. trR
/ vett caught bag fish with q hook and hns
/ that must have been twenty feet long. III
/ fact u Wa impossible % tell how big the
I hsh was. for IL broke IN two ia the midGiF
I and Mr. fisYaft only hauled ont TIRE frs
half When the party finally left Mr.. Iur
uer vas sitting on TIE pier diligently ang
In e.. he - Dar LII