The Palatka news and advertiser., 1916-01-28
0CK[AWAHA HUNTING
AND FISHING CLUB
Buys a Thousand Acres of
Land from Florida Farms
& Homes, Inc.
New Org aniz alton to Erect Sumptuous
Club House with all Club Features.

Orange Springs, is coming into its
own again, and unless we greatly
mistake, the health giving proper
ties of the waters of the great
springs will soon be discussed in the
social life of the metropolis, and the
place, with it's great club, one of the
real social attractions of Florida's
winter.
James R. Murphy, who recent
lily returned from New York City,
when seen yesterday reported that
he had consummated the sale of 1000
acres Of land in the vast holding in
Putnam and Marion counties of the
Florida Farms and Homes Inc, for
$4,000 to the Ocklawaha Hunting
and Fishing Club of Orange Springs,
incorporated under the laws of Flori-
da. The land is purchased for the
propagation of game in that territory.
The formation of this club is the
result of recent visits of E. D.
Dewitt, of New York City, general
Manager of the Editor and Publisher,
and Marshall Geer, of the New
York Cotton Exchange, both of whom
were entertained on the Etowah,
Noah Tilghman's boat on cruises up
the St. Johns and Ocklawaha rivers
where the picturesque scenery, the
wonderful springs at Orange Springs.
and the hunting and fishing created
the lasting impression that the coun-
try hereabouts was truly a sports
mans paradise and the place where
real recreation and relaxation could
be had.
The officers of the club are
Edwin D. Dewitt of New York City
President, John W. Ledbetter of
Rome, Georgia, 1st Vice-President
Marshall Geer of Short Hills, N. j..
I2 Vice President and W. T. Led
better of Palatka, Secretary.
A number of prominent members
of the New York Stock Exchange and
New York Cotton Exchange have in
terested themselves in the club. .
The club will be run on very higt
class lines and will probably be ir
charge of John Barron, who was
formerly associated as steward anc
manager of many of the big clubs
throughout the North and East.
Mr.. Murphy has been enter
tanning quite a number of sports.
men, all of whom have gone back with
the one idea that this is the greatest
hunting and fishing territory they
have ever visited.
The membership of the club will
be for the rod and gun enthusiasts
and those who love the chase and the
club will be open for their families
where they can enjoy bathing in the
health giving waters of Orange
Springs in the midst of winter, ant
boating, canoing and fishing on the
numerous lakes surrounding Orange
Springs as we'll as the Ocklawaha
river and the best of hunting of al
kinds in season and truly enjoy life
of "Out in the open" in Florida
balmy climate.
John w. Ledbetter who has just
returned to Palatka from New York
CITY to look after number of de-
tails in connection with the clubs af'
fairs reports that without any solici
tation the applications for member
ships have already reached numbers
to insure the absolute success of the
club
The architecture of the club will be
in keeping with its location in the
beautiful grove of sturdy live oaks
overhanging with shaggy Spanish
moss that lends charm and beautiful
picturesqueness to the springs. II
will be three story semi-bungaloW
effect of the California type and con-
tain so rooms with private baths
spacious lobby, porches, sun parlors
outdoor sleeping porches and have al
modern appointments.
The news of this undertaking i;
very gratifying inasmuch as it means
the erection of sumptuous club,
house that will cost 100000, to be
erected Immediately adjacent to the
spring at Orange Springs.
Mavnicke & FRANKIE, architects OF
New York, are to draw plans for this
club house and the decorations are t.
be designed by an expert in that line
so that they will be in keeping witt
the grandeur, beauty and picturesque
ness of the surroundings at Orange
Springs.
The springs have been put in per
feet shape. A beautiful concrete cir
cular wall 100 feet in diameter and 6
spillway, also a promanade have
been completed by Mr.. Thomas Shinr
of Palatka who was awarded the con
tract jointly by J. w. Townsend
of Lake Butler, and James R. Muir
phy representing the Florida Farms
& Homes, Inc, who are the joint own
ers of the spring together with Al
acres af land in the town site.
The improvements already unde
contemplation for Orange Spring'
have caused more speculation in rea
estate circles in that particular 10
cality than has been heard of in man!
year. Mr.. Murphy is receiving ;
great many applications for town lots
He will shortly let contract for tn
erection of an office building AM ;
number of houses for his employees.
Needless to say, we wish Mr.. Muir
ply we'll in his undertaking, as he ha
manifested a very progressive spiri
since coming here, and we are sur
that his activities, in the section o