The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-01-24
LAKE KERR ENTERTAINED
THE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL

II is evident that Marion county
has several warm places in it's heart
for the industrial school. which the
pupils and their teachers not only de-
serve but are most appreciative of.
They have received the hospitality
Of several localities in the county, and
wherever they go they make a good
impression and leave the memory of
neat and happy, pretty and we'll
behaved crowd of girls.
The last place to give them a good
time is Lake Kerr, where they spent
a pleasant day Thursday.
Lake Kerr is one of the prettiest
places in Florida and one of the least
known. But thirty years ago, it was
one of the leading northern colonies
of the state. Some time in the early
eighties it was settled by number of
northern people, mostly, we believe,
from Michigan. They set out large
number of orange groves, they built
the towns of Lake Kerr, Michigan
City, Norwalk and other places, and
they were making the wilderness
bloom when the great freeze came
down like wolf on the fold twenty
five years ago. Then most of them
became discouraged and quit. A few
stuck it out and stayed with the ma
tives, some retained their homes and
joy the climate, but most have de-
parted never to return.
1t might have been better for most
ofsthem if they hadn't been able to get
away. There is a fertile and pretty
country around Lake Kerr. The orange
groves could have been replanted, like
others in the county have been; also,
they would have soon found that or
anges are only one of the many good
things this section can produce. There
is much of the finest farming and
stockraising country around Lake
Kerr. The waters are full of fish and
the woods are full of game; it is a
paradise for the hunter and fisherman
Lake Kerr is almost as fine a lake as
Lake Weir; it would make a splendid
resort for yacht club. In fact, this
region has been singularly favored by
nature, and before many years pass
it will regain it's old-time prestige.
The drawback to the Lake Kerr
region at present is the absence OF
improved roads. 1t is cut off from
Ocala by a wide belt of sand anC
scrub. In the old days, people were
more familiar with Palatka and De.
Land than with their county capital
1t was a long days drive to Ocala
thirty miles away. and another long
days drive to return. At present, al
automobile can butt thru the sand OF
the route in two or three hours, but i
is hard going, and keeps the place
isolated as compared with other part.
of the county. Whenever the count!
can build good road thru the wilder
ness, there will be a score of visitor
to where there are now one.
The reason for the picnic the othe
day~was that Mr.. George Schneider,
Michigan man with a winter home a
Lake Kerr, and also a frequent visito
to Ocala, where he has relatives an,
many friends, had visited the indus
trial school and readily came to tn
conclusion that nothing would pleas
the girls much better than a picnic b
the lake. There was only one obstacle
transportation 1t was some contrac
to haul the schoolfull such long way
However, Mr.. Schneider and hi
friends soon overcame that difficulty
by chartering the OcaIa Iron Work:
bic truck. which with the cars belong
ing to Mrs. A. n. Gallant and tn
school proved equal to the occasion
The Star man was invited to q
along, and as he likes both the schoc
folks and Lake Kerr he was glad t
accept. Early Thursday morning, Mr.:
Gallant came by the Star office to pic
up the editor, who having slept wit
all alarm clock tied to his ear was u
in time. On arriving at the school W
found Mr.. Floyd Van Horn, who wa
captain, crew and cook on the passer
ger liner, carefully distributing abou
thirty girls in regard to their weigh
in their places on his big truck. Thes
girls were well equipped for the tril