The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1949-09-08
THROUGH
Hazel.
EYES
BY Hasel Bronnon

BY Ha,el Brmnon
The Holmes County State Park
has been closed, along with five
other parks in the state, because
the money has run out. At least
that Is the reported cause.
Il seems shame that 80 much
money has been spent on the
Holmes park only to have it clos
ed for the remainder of the year.
Il has been closed temporarily at
other times.
Thousands Of visitors enjoy the
park every year and il there is
any way funds can be secured to
operate 1t for the rest of the wear
It would certainly meet with the
approval Of the citizens Of Holmes
county.
During the fall the Holmes park
y used considerably by various
groups and organizations over
the county for various types of
recreation--and it is a pleasure
n the fall to ride down through
the winding road to the lake and
see the trees in their fall dress.
incidentally, since the Board of
Supervisors purchased few ad-
ditional acres and the lake has
been made little larger it is re-
ported that the muddy waters will
be no more. The water was mud
died by acreage around the lake
which drained into it. There is
expected to be, by next summer,
clear water for the swimmers to
enjoy. This is welcome news in
deed.
Speaking of improvements over
the county-have you gone to
Castalian Springs lately?
Castalian Springs, as everyone
knows, is the property owned UNI
I'll just recently by the c. S. Hill
family, and the site Of what was
many years ago a fashionable
watering place. People were said
to have come from miles around
to drink the famous waters and
recover from malaria which pre-
vailed at that time, particularly
IN the Mississippi Delta.
Castalian was purchased some
time ago from the Hills by the
Mississippi State YMCA and has
been the scene this year of a num-
Der Of camps. Altogether 737 boys
and girls and adults from all parts
of the state have been in camp
there from April 23-July 5th. The
na3mber- would have been more !
than 1000 but due to the polio
epidemic two camps were can
celled. Attendance at camps next
summer is expected to reach at |
least 1900.
Since the State Y has pur-
chased the property a great num-
Der Of improvements have been
made. Five cottages have been
built and completely furnished
and sanitary facilities installed;
. recreational building has been
erected; the tennis courts inn
proved; the spring has been
cleaned; the main hotel building
which has 81 rooms has been COM
pletely redecorated inside and |
out; q butane gas system install
led for cooking; a new well |
drilled and hot water system in
stalled throughout the hotel with |
two new shower rooms built and |
existing ones completely reno
waited; a dam has been built rails
ing the water level Of the lake
about four feet.
While a great deal has already
been accomplished still greater
Improvements are needed and are
expected to be effected before the
camp reaches the standards de-
sired by state Y leaders.
They have hoped to build q
swimming pool with circulating
water and get the tennis courts in
first class shape; to build five
more cottages to take care Of the
crowds; finish the athletic field
for sports. When this is done the
lake will be used for fishing and
boating. The lake is three or four
acres larger than formerly due to
the erection of a dam thereby
raising the water level.
At present Y officials are busy
trying to stock the lake with fish
and are engaged in program
trying to protect the squirrels for
the enjoyment of the campers. In
order to do this they have posted
the Castalian property-but eX-
plain they are doing this only to
protect the Y from lawsuits in
case anyone should 60 into the
lake without permission and with
out . lifeguard being present and
drown-and to protect the squir-
tels and what few fish there are