Arlington Hotel & Arlington Annex

Arlington Hotel
and  
Arlington Annex  

The Culver Hearld
22 May 1896

Arlington Hotel
As an ideal summer house, the above named house, which is beautifully located on the southwest shore of Lake Maxinkuckee and a short distance from Culver City, stands perhaps without a rival.

In erectiing his hotel Mr. Knapp, the genial proprietor, constantly had in mind the convenience and comfort of his future guests. To be fully convinced of the fact one need only visit the place and see how skillfully and tastefully everything about the house has been arranged.

Long Point projects out into Lake Maxinkuckee several rods and supports a good, substanial steamboat landing. Parties debarking from the boat have no hot and wearisome hill no climb, but instead upon have a short, delightful walk to the beautiful and shady grove that is situated upon the shore.

The building which faces the lake and catches the fresh invigorating breeze that day and night sweeps across its surface is spacious and complete in every detail. Its. rooms, including all the sleeping compartments up and down stairs, have plenty of light and are well ventilated.

As an architect Mr. Knapp is much deserving of much credit for the skill and genius he has exercised in designing and building such a model summer house as certainly will please the fance and provide the greater comfort for ohis many city friends whos patronage he solicits.

One of the leading features about this new resort, which undoubtedly will prove to be a strong drawing card, is its excellent fishing privileges. For many years Long Point has bee regarded as the best place on Lake Maxinkuckee for one to drop his hook and line and this opinion is prevelent. It is claimed by some that nearly all kinds of fish can here be taken from the water almost any day during the season.

Another superior advantage which this uncommonly beautiful resort possesses and which the majority of the peole will appreciate is that in case of sickness in the night or any other time the services of a good physician can be secured.

The distance to Culver City, which does exceed one and a half miles, is ove a good road and can be made in a very short time with a horse and buggy, which in case of emergency can be procured from the landlord of the hotel.

Takingt everything into consideration a most attractive, comfortable, and convenient location for one to enjoy the warm summer months connot be found anywhere. In introducing this royal and unique summer retreat among the various and beautiful and popular resorst alreay bordering on Lake Maxinkuckee Mr. Knapp has done acommendable work. Person who come here this summer for leasure and recuperation will be highly delighted over the courtesies extended them by the proprietor, Mr. A. J. Knapp, and his amiable wife. There is also in connection with the hotel a fine steamboat which is used exclusively for the accommodation of the guests and which meets all trains.

Here is the article as written:
The Arlington Hotel
On The West Shore of the Lake

After the Vandalia Railway opened a thoroughfare to Lake Maxinkuckee, A. J. Knapp, while advocating his calling as a conductor of the same, was in a position to hear that many desired a hotel at the lake that would open early in the Sprint and close late in the Fall, the club houses seldom opening before June and closing the first of September.

During the spring of 1886, Mr. Knapp employed the well-known firm of Calloon & Co. of Crawforsville, Ind., to build a hotel. It was named the Arlington, and opened to the public during the month of April; it proved a successful venture from the start. As time passed many cottages were built on the west shore, and campers came by the hundreds.

Mr. Knapp, finding the hotel too small, began building additions. Finally he rented the Alfrey Cottage, one of the largest on on the lake, for a number of years. It was connected with the hotel by a porch thirty feet wide, and combined porches of hotel and cottage were over three hundred feet lake front, and the grounds well shaded with grand old oaks. In April 1892, Mr. Knapp placed the steamer "Lloyd McSheehy" on the lake.

On January 30, the Arlington was burned to the ground with heavy loss to the owenr. Mr. Knapp immediately engaged Mr. C. K. Howell, one of the laeding architects of South Bend, to furnish a desiiign for a new hotel. Mr. D. G. Walter of Culver City, had the building completed by June 1^st, and the public conceded that the archetict had planned for their comfort a monern and a model hotel.

The Vandalia officials quickly recognizing the rapid growth on the west shore, and the great number of people summering there, built a bepot near the Arlington Hotel and named the station Arlington.

In fact the growth has been so closely interwoven with that of the Railroad Company that the liberal and far-seeing policy of the latterin aiding every effort looking towar advancement is visible in all directions.

Long Point is sitiuated between Lake Maxinkuckee and Lost Lake, its romantic nooks, its natural bowers, its grand old oaks, its sloping lawns and lovely cotaages, its charming views of both lakes form pictures over which the artist might linger for hour upon hour. It would be difficult to attempt to place, in order of their attraction, the many centers of interest in and about Long Point, and as the vicinity has been in the past, so will it continue to be in the future - a place wher all can visit with pleasures and profit.

James Whitcomb Riley, Hoosier poet, used to come to Lake Maxinkuckee and write of the beauties thereof. His nephew, Edmund Eilet, in the years at the beginning of the new century, would spend summer weekends at the lake, stopping at the Arlington.

That at about 11:18 Sunday morning a man passing by in an automobile spotted flames. He shouted "You are on fire!" as he rushed into the kitchen. The cook ran upstairs and told the landlord, Mr. Deschler, who ran up to the attic and discovered that a portion of the kitchen chimney was on fire. The Culver Fire Company came and nearby cottagers helped to put out the fire. Most of the first floor furniture was taken out. The fire swept through the second floor and many quests were unable to retrieve their trunks. The nearby cottages were saved, but the Arlington was destroyed.