The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1908-08-21
COMPLIMENTARY TO PAW PAW
Detroit News Gives An Excellent
Write Up of Town and
Surroundings.

SURROUNDINGS.
The Detroit News Tribune has the
following TO say of Paw Paw and Maple
lake. The article was nicely illustrated
with cuts of some OF our public build
ings, streets, lake, etc.
"For many years this town, boasting
1000 inhabitants, the county seat oil
Van Buren, county, and located in the
heart of the fruit belt, cherished burn
ing ambition to be a resort town.
Every time Paw Paw people heard
Paw Paw Lake mentioned they exper
fenced feeling of envy for the lake,
which has achieved an enviable reputa
ton as summer resort. 1t is located
% miles west of here in Berrien county,
although 1t is often confused with the
town.
ut did rot seem that the ambition of
Paw Pawites would ever be realized.
70 be sure, they had the beautiful Paw
Paw river flowing through their town,
but in Michigan, where lakes are so
| abundant, you can't very well start
summer resort with nothing but little
river
4 raw dlSO uttueu
power TO operate her fine system OF
water works and electric lights, both OF
which are municipal plants. Some of
the enterprising inhabitants began to
wonder il the two needs OF the town
couldn't be combined. They conceived
the idea that, il dam were butt across
the river about a mile below the town,
| . ha Tor ial laL
and at the same time furnish abundant
water power for all municipal purposes.
The more they thought about it the
more feasible it seemed and they finally
got the plan under way. An enabling
act was procured from the legislature, a
special election called and $4,000 bonds
voted
Even then there were many obstacles
to be surmouuted. Some of the land
owners along the banks objected siren
uously. There followed long series of
litigation which was very profitable to
the lawyers, but not especially so to
anyone else, and which delayed the lake.
But finally the contract was let to a
Chicago firm. The work was completed
about year from the time it was COM
menced. Now Paw Paw people point
with pride to their made order lake
which covers about 500 acres and is the
handsomest, purest sheet of water in q
county that is dotted with beautiful
lakes. With one exception, it is the
largest lake in the county.
"Ihen the question arose as to VIVA
the lake should be named. After man.
suggestions the council ordained tina
it should be called Maple lake, ant
by common consent it was so chris
tened.
ALREADY rowboats and launches glid
about it's placid surface, bath house
and boat houses are being erected on it
shores aud happy picnic parties assem-
5 BILE in the beautiful groves on its banks
r And Paw Paw, happy and proud, feel
5 that ii is only question of short tim
@ before her long cherished dream of be
coming summer resort will be real
{ lied
THE lake is not the towns only at
/ traction, for residents are firmly con
$ WINGED that they have the prettiest littl
n town In western Michigan. It's street
d are bordered on both sides with rows 0
1 magnificent naples planted by the ear.
r settlers some 60 years ago.
THE top branches of these trees
, reaching far out, iuterIock and form
green arches over the streets. From
the court house the town looks like ont
big forest So prominent feature o
the town are its naples that it is oftel
, known as Maple City, although the 10
habitants do not encourage the changn!
of its name. They think that the nam,
of Paw Paw, taken from the dens
; thickets of that shrub which formerl!
= lined the banks of the river, gives it al
air of distinction which no other coulC
do.
Paw Paw is located IN the midst o
the celebrated Michigan fruit belt anC
is shipping point for all sorts of frul
during the summer. Especially is th
true of grapes. Within radius of eigb
miles of the town are thousands of acre
/, of vineyards producing immense quan
titles of fruit. 1t is estimated that tn
output for this season will be at leas
5000 car loads, the greater portion O
:, which will be shipped from Paw Paw.
"The county buildings, which occup.
an entire block in the center of tn
town, are among the finest in the state
tits the proud boast of the inhabitant
that there is not a rural county in Mich
igan that has as commodious, conven
lent and we'll furnished court hous
: and Jail as Van Buren,. And whe
. Maple Jake becomes firmly establishes
? as summer resort-well, you cant con
n vince the Paw Pawites that there
any other place where life is worth liv
> ing"