July
The picture on the left is of Acker’s Point Resort as it was originally built. In 1891 John Acker built the building on Long Lake to take advantage of the CK &S railroad and the ability to connect with the metropolitan areas it served; Kalamazoo, Delton, Hastings and others. John obviously saw an opportunity to benefit from the resort business and the desire for people wanting to “get out of town for a vacation”. Notice that it had two stories with wrap around porches. The siding on the first-floor was brick and they were surely made locally. The lumber used to build the building was also most likely from local timber. There were sawmills in the area, and they were probably steam driven and possibly water wheel driven. There was a sawmill in Cloverdale, but we will learn more about it in March and April.
The picture on the right shows the building as at it is presently, with some changes such as the windows and a third floor. Prior to the windows being installed in 1962 the two floors were covered with screens and roll-down canvas to protect from the weather. There are pictures of the building with these screens and it did not seem very attractive! The third floor was added in about 1995 to incorporate two more rentals with decks overseeing the lake for the resort.
The original land of 62 acres was granted to Thomas Bissinger in 1858, then sold to Anna Kahler in 1865 and sold again in 1868 to Konrad Kahler. In 1868 the land was sold to John Acker and his wife Elizabeth and they settled on the farm when it was all woods. So, it was 23 years later when the resort building was constructed.
John Acker sold the resort to his nephew Ed and then Ed sold it to B. F. Brubacker in 1906. He only owned it one year before he sold it to Homer McCowan. There was a story that Brubaker sold it after an infant, possibly his, drowned in Long Lake. Mr. McCown owned it for 35 years and sold it to Rollie and Myra Harris in 1941. In 1977 they sold it to the present owners John and Carole Smith.
Over the span of 125 years the sign over the building entry door to the resort has changed. It was originally Acker’s Point Resort. Then it changed to Pleasant View Hotel. And then Hotel McCowan. And then Acker’s Point Hotel. And then in 1941 it changed again to Acker’s Point Lodge as it is today.
The picture on the right shows the building as at it is presently, with some changes such as the windows and a third floor. Prior to the windows being installed in 1962 the two floors were covered with screens and roll-down canvas to protect from the weather. There are pictures of the building with these screens and it did not seem very attractive! The third floor was added in about 1995 to incorporate two more rentals with decks overseeing the lake for the resort.
The original land of 62 acres was granted to Thomas Bissinger in 1858, then sold to Anna Kahler in 1865 and sold again in 1868 to Konrad Kahler. In 1868 the land was sold to John Acker and his wife Elizabeth and they settled on the farm when it was all woods. So, it was 23 years later when the resort building was constructed.
John Acker sold the resort to his nephew Ed and then Ed sold it to B. F. Brubacker in 1906. He only owned it one year before he sold it to Homer McCowan. There was a story that Brubaker sold it after an infant, possibly his, drowned in Long Lake. Mr. McCown owned it for 35 years and sold it to Rollie and Myra Harris in 1941. In 1977 they sold it to the present owners John and Carole Smith.
Over the span of 125 years the sign over the building entry door to the resort has changed. It was originally Acker’s Point Resort. Then it changed to Pleasant View Hotel. And then Hotel McCowan. And then Acker’s Point Hotel. And then in 1941 it changed again to Acker’s Point Lodge as it is today.
August
These four pictures show the area to the Southeast of the entrance to the Lodge.
The upper left photo shows two cottages, Maples and Elms. At one point they were one building and used as a dance hall. They were separated and converted to cottages. The picture was probably taken some time in the 40’s based on the cars parked by the Lodge.
The lower left picture shows part of the loading ramp used to move ice blocks from the lake to a train car. More on this when we get to January. To the right of the lodge and hidden in the trees is a two-story building which was used to house the ice harvesting crew. It was eventually remodeled to have only one story and divided into two cottages.
The upper right photo was probably taken in the late 40’s or early 50’s, based on the vehicles. Notice that the lodge now has screens on the wrap-around porches. The lower left photo does not have screens on the second floor. Also notice that the first-floor attachment has been removed.
The lower right photo was taken some time before 1937 since the railroad rails are in the foreground. And the ice loading structure is no longer there. The last ice was harvested in about 1915 when refrigeration became available.
The upper left photo shows two cottages, Maples and Elms. At one point they were one building and used as a dance hall. They were separated and converted to cottages. The picture was probably taken some time in the 40’s based on the cars parked by the Lodge.
The lower left picture shows part of the loading ramp used to move ice blocks from the lake to a train car. More on this when we get to January. To the right of the lodge and hidden in the trees is a two-story building which was used to house the ice harvesting crew. It was eventually remodeled to have only one story and divided into two cottages.
The upper right photo was probably taken in the late 40’s or early 50’s, based on the vehicles. Notice that the lodge now has screens on the wrap-around porches. The lower left photo does not have screens on the second floor. Also notice that the first-floor attachment has been removed.
The lower right photo was taken some time before 1937 since the railroad rails are in the foreground. And the ice loading structure is no longer there. The last ice was harvested in about 1915 when refrigeration became available.