The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-03-29
AROUND LAKE WEIR

IOA AS1oSOA lObCQ lnC1 vi 1l1dllo ID a
winter resident on Lake Weir This
is the venerable but vigorous A. P.
/ Blake, who has for some years passed
the winter in his very pretty and
comfortable home near South Lake
Weir. The fires of life's activities
now burn less brightly than when he
most successful railroad builders and
developers of property. He counts
his life's work done and mingles lit
tie with the public, but a cordial well
come awaits all visitors at his home,
and he is keenly alive to current
events and pronouncedly so as re-
CARDS the development of Lake Weir
Mr.. Blake was the founder of Hyde
Park, the wealthy suburb of Boston,
which has recently been brought with
in the corporate limits of that city.
He was also the promoter and build
er of the Revere Beach railroad which
burrowed its way beneath the hills
and connected Boston directly with
one of the most desirable sea beaches
in that vicinity. This railroad, the
concept of. Mr.. Blake's far-seeing
brain, has developed a number of fine
towns and its stock is quoted at a
high premium.
In all the big enterprises of long
and eventful career, Mr. Blake has
manifested unerring instinct in the
development of property; moreover,
he is widely travelled on both CONT
nents, and his location on Lake Weir
at the conclusion of his active bust
ness career is eloquent of the attrac-
lions of our beautiful lake country
| l had delightful visit with Mr..
Blake few days ago at his home,
and in sending me his check for
500, as a contribution to the build
| ing fund of the club house of the
Lake Weir Yacht Club, he wrote a
letter which sounds a note whose
echoes should not cease until the pro-
Iject he so cogently advocates has
been achieved. l take the lib
erty of quoting his letter:
II have no doubt your Lake Weir
Yacht Club will be of value by bring
| ing together the people in a spirit of
cooperation that will result in the
adoption of practical measures for the
development of the whole Lake Weir
county, besides adding very much to
the enjoyment of all.
"A practical and experienced hotel
man who builds good hotel at any
of the desirable points on the lake
shore will not make mistake. |!
have spent about thirty-five winters
| in Florida, and am very familiar with
all parts of the state, and it is clearly
my Judgment that Lake Weir and the
surrounding country possess more ell
ements of attraction and desirable
ness as a great health and pleasure
resort than does any other section
| of Florida. AS soon as honorable
men of enterprise adopt measures to
familiarize the general public with
it's real merits, it will very rapidly de-
velop by the location here of desira
| BILE families and numbers of hotels,
to an extent that will establish it as
most pronounced and leading resort
/ in the winter-resort state of our great
country.
"One of the most important and far
reaching measures that should at
once be taken up and pressed to a
successful solution is mutual agree
ment on the part of owners of the
land around the whole lake shore to-
dedicate to public use, for all time,
strip of land 125 or $50 feet wide,
| extending back from ordinary high
water, for the purpose of ultimately
developing a magnificent boulevard
around the entire lake. This meas
ure is of vital importance at this ear
" stage, when it is so simple and
easy of accomplishment. AS time
goes on, this far-reaching feature VIII
give greatly increased value to the
lands Immediately fronting the lake,
and also to the whole surrounding
country, and will lead up to condi-
tions that will make Lake Weir and
vicinity the greatest asset Marion
county will possess. This project.
therefore, should enlist the fayora-
Bile cooperation of the whole coun-
| ty."
Anything that l might add would
be in the nature of an anti-climax.
merely say that l know beach road
around the lake is receiving the at
tention of the board of county COM
missioners, and it is very favorably
regarded by some of them.
| 1t has always been a mystery TO-
II