History of Lake Wabaunsee
Part 1
1929 - 1933
Preliminary Survey in 1929
In the early stages of the development of Lake Wabaunsee, it was known as the Mill Creek Lake Site. The site had been shown to members of the State Fish & Game commission in 1928 by local boosters, but the Commission had no funds to purchase land and were developing only on donated lands. However, the local group, accompanied by John Martin, who lived in Eskridge and then an attorney for the commission, prevailed upon the Commission to make a preliminary survey.
The preliminary survey was made in 1929 by J.R.Davis who reported the proposed site as "a lake of practically pure spring water, 150 acres or more in extent and the water near the dam 50 feet deep, can be made on the upper waters of Mill Creek in District 17, near the Kraus School House. The Dam would be approximately 1200 feet in length and about 60 feet deep in the bed of the creek". (The foundation of the Kraus School House is located at 315 Lake Shore Dr)
Davis ran lines entirely around the shore line, tested the soil which he found ideal for retaining water and recommended an earthwork dam, rip rapped with clay and rock. He reported to the commission "this site was the equal or superior to any lake site he had seen in Kansas so far".
While in Eskridge, Davis was a guest of the Eskridge Chamber of commerce and was accompanied on a tour of the site by John Martin, Roy Mudge, Frank Frost, Crow Shumate, George Lockhart, A.B.Haubold and others. In an effort to gain support for the lake, the Eskridge Chamber of Commerce sponsored a chicken dinner on Wednesday, September 18, 1929. Delegates were sent from the counties of Shawnee, Wabaunsee, Osage, Riley, Pottawatomie, Morris and Lyon. Some of those attending were:
Topeka: John Waters, Louis Hall, Earl Brown, A.J.Carruth, Milton Tabor, M.W.Jencks, Ralph Baer, L.C.Rahn, F.C.Gibbs, George W. Stansfield and W.H.Dickie.
Emporia: W.A.White, O.M.Wilhite, H.W.Glass, F.O.Stone, O.A.Korkendall, Whit Douglass, H.P.Norton, C.A.Bishop.
Manhattan: Dan Casement, E.A.Wharton, G.M.Breese, H.L.Wylie, B.W.Smith.
Alma: O.W.Little, A.E.Stuewe, A.C.Hunter, C.B.Henderson, I.A.Robertson, Frank Schmidt.
Burlingame: H.T.Stoddard, C.S.Carey, Bert R.Tanner, E.G.Spalding, M.G.Welliver, C.D.Beverly, J.H.Thew.
Harveyville: J.C.Gebhart, Louis Tomlinson, C.H.Houseworth.
Allen: H.A.Wilson, Ira Stonebraker, R.R.Mounkes, C.B.Taylor.
McFarland: F.J.Wagner.
Junction City: E.O.Stephens.
Kansas City: Clyde Kauffman.
Maple Hill: A.N.Winkler
The meeting was presided over by Bill Montgomery, President of the Eskridge Chamber of Commerce and speakers for the occasion were John E. Martin and Frank P. Frost.
POLITICS IN 1930-31
About the time the lake appeared to have the support of community leaders in several surrounding counties, politics was blamed for a complete setback. Just prior to the August primaries of 1930, Governor Clyde M. Reed stated that, "it would not be expedient to bring the matter up at this time". He was backed up in this opinion by Alf F. Landon, chairman of the Republican State Central Committee. Both Frank Pinet, chairman of the Fish and Game Commission and Dick Lee, a member, and a former Eskridge resident, had promised to approve the lake when it came up before the Commission, but Reed’s pressure prevented consideration.
Immediately, Frank Frost swung the support of his paper, The Eskridge Independent, from Reed to Frank "Chief" Haucke, of Council Grove, for the Republican nomination for Governor. Haucke carried Eskridge and Alma, but was defeated in the general election by Harry H. Woodring, a Democrat.
Shortly after the primary, the State Fish and Game Commission met and voted for a lake at Onaga. Frost contended that Pinet and Lee switched their allegiance on orders from Reed. Later on the Pottawatomie county lake project was abandoned and approval given for a state lake in Lyon county. The Wabaunsee project seemed doomed again, and for the next year or so, nothing of importance happened although a faithful few kept their vigilance.
REVIVAL OF INTEREST IN 1932
Persistent efforts of a few optimistic boosters began to take life again in 1932 after a couple of years of disappointment. Frank Pinet resigned as vice-chairman of the State Fish and Game Commission, and Dick Lee was replaced by Governor Woodring.
Writing in the Independent on March 17, 1932, Frank Frost said: "Heretofore we have never had occasion to indulge in any special commendation of the acts of Governor Woodring. Being on the other side of the political fence, we have not intruded at the state house on any of the governor’s meditations. But in ridding the Fish and Game Commission of Dick Lee, former Eskridge man who sold his birthplace for a mess of Clyde Reed pottage, Gov. Woodring is entitled to a unanimous vote of thanks of this community and Wabaunsee County."
On December 1, 1932, the paper said, "Bill Montgomery, of Eskridge, perfectly aware of what a splendid asset a state fish lake would have been to Eskridge, had we gotten it, still thinks about what might have been and is still hopeful. He grows somewhat optimistic in the following communication to the Independent:
(Letter quoted in part): "Now, it seems to me there is a way by which we can still get this lake and make it pay besides, and that is by our building it ourselves, and using that great reservoir of water for our waterworks system. It is not a great distance to pipe water and it would be an unfailing supply. Stock the lake with fish and sell fishing permits; also duck hunting permits; rent to private individuals a concession for a bathing beach with boats.
"The building of the lake would provide work for local unemployed and if done now, when commodity prices are so low, could be done for an astonishingly low figure. If this lake could be built in five years, thousands would come here to fish, hunt and camp out. Scores, perhaps hundreds, would buy sits for cabins around the lake and spend weeks there every season. Our accessibility to Topeka and Emporia would lend support to this project."
(Bill Montgomery worked at the Mudge Store in Eskridge, but left in August, 1933 to enter the insurance business with Pacific Mutual.)
A YEAR OF ACTION -- 1933
By June 29, 1933, interest in Lake Wabaunsee was regenerated by a new group of boosters joining the ranks of those who had been fighting and losing up to this time. But now there was a strong surge of sentiment, given a transfusion by the advent of public funds being made available to alleviate the hardships brought on by the great economic depression. Local proponents of the lake regrouped and were poised and ready to make hay when the government’s financial sun began to shine.
The County Engineer, B.C. Painter, had been investigating the site of such long controversy, and told the Alma Chamber of Commerce that he believed it would be possible to construct the lake at this time. It was also indicated that the County Commissioners now would support the lake project.
Interest shifted into high gear in just a few days. On Monday, July 3, 1933, a petition signed by 122 citizens of Eskridge was presented to the City Council, asking for an investigation of the possibility of securing a waterworks and sewage system for the city.
A joint committee, three members of the city council and three members of the Chamber of Commerce was appointed to look into the matter. Mayor Shumate appointed Ivan Conrad, A.E. Peoples and R.C.Day. Jack Waugh, president of the Eskridge Chamber of Commerce appointed Frank Frost, Preston Dunn and Dr. H.G. Pratt.
It was planned to finance the project with help of federal aid money which had recently been made available to congress. A refund of 30 percent on an approved project would provide $25,000 of the cost with the remainder to be paid by long-term, self-liquidating bonds. Congress had recently allotted $17,000,000 to Kansas for public works construction funds. There was also the possibility that federal aid might be secured to finance the entire project.
On July 27, 1933, the Eskridge Independent carried this headline: "Fish Lake Project is Revived and Chances Are Better Than Ever." The story opinioned that the "movement for a state lake in Wabaunsee County, dropped when it became a political football, crystallized in rapid action during the past week."
A joint meeting of citizens from Eskridge and Alma was held with those from Eskridge: Dr. C.W. Walker, Dr. F.C.Stewart, Dr. H.G.Pratt, W.K.Waugh, Jack Waugh, Bill Robertson, W.C.Shumate, C.R.Moore, B.C.Taylor, R.C. Day and Frank Frost.
Arch Robertson, president of the Alma Commercial Club presided and a motion was carried to appoint a joint committee of two each from Alma and Eskridge to proceed. Alma named Jerry Fields and O.W. Little. Eskridge named Frank Frost and Crow Shumate.
These men went to Topeka the following day seeking information and interviewed Geo.S.Knapp, chief engineer Division of Water Resources, State Department of Agriculture; Governor Alf M.Landon, Mr Eidman, design engineer for the state highway commission and George A.Clark, former chairman of the State Fish and Game Commission and "father" of the state lake system. All were in favor of obtaining a lake for Wabaunsee County and pledged support.
Governor Landon advised the committee that there were four ways to obtain aid: flood control, unemployment relief, state highway commission with funds supplemented by the State Fish and Game Commission and the reforestation project.
It was believed by the governor that the best possibility for immediate action was in the reforestation project and he sent a letter to Giles Atherton of ElDorado, chairman of the State Fish and Game Commission, asking him to put in an application to Washington immediately for a conservation camp to work on the lake.
In a reforestation project, the United States Government established Civilian Conservation Camps, which engaged in building dams for lakes, cleaning and clearing lake beds and building roadways around the waterline, etc. It was also pointed out by Governor Landon that it might be necessary to finance a right-of-way for the lake and donate it to the state, since the Fish and Game Commission had no funds to buy lake sites.
On Monday night, August 21, 1933 a meeting of county residents was held in the high school to hear details of a proposition to build a state lake and recreation park on what was known as the Kraus property, five miles northwest of Eskridge.
Giles Atherton stated that he expected to get aid from the federal government in the form of a Civilian Conservation Camp if the state was given a clear title to the land needed.
Various methods of raising the money to buy the land were discussed but the one which found the most favor was for a holding company to save out enough land around the lake to provide cabin sites, within 100 feet of the water and to sell these at $100 each. The state required 100 feet back from the high water line for public purposes, including a roadway clear around the lake.
Jack Waugh, chairman of the meeting, named Dr. C.W.Walker, Dr. F.C.Stewart and Frank Frost as a committee to finance the project according to the plan. Negotiating with the owners of the land for a price on it were the county commissioners, O.W.Little and J.B.Fields of Alma and Frank Frost and W.C.Shumate of Eskridge. Named to the committee on the sale of sites were Dr.C.L.Youngman, Dr. L.M.Hodgson of Harveyville and I.A.Robertson, O.W.Little and Ray Krutsinger of Alma.
The first residents who pledged to buy lots to finance the project were:
Dr.C.W.Walker W.C.Shumate Oscar Warren Dr. F.C.Stewart Frank P Frost
R.C.Day John E.Martin John Meeker J.F.McKee J.H.Stephenson
W.T.Eckles W.K.Waugh Dr.H.G.Pratt Roy M. Mudge W.H.Robertson
Carl R. Moore C.L.Rissler J.Y.Waugh Ivan Conrad S.E.Guthrie
Elmer Bundy A.Samuels Dr. R.R.Humphrey R.J.Lockhart Clayton Trivett
Preston Dunn Cloise Meeker Marshall Harkness F.O.Stark L.R.Kraus
Mrs. Perle Parmiter Dr.J.W.Cook J.H.Dunn, Jr W.H.Duff Alma Johnson
Melvin Tucker Will Butefish Ed Chapman of the Toeka State Journal and a speaker at the meeting also pledged to buy a lot.
The deadline for an answer to the proposition was set for September 1, but an extensin to September 15 was granted. By August 31, 1933, the pledges for the lake were over 100, or the equivalent of $10,000. The lake site cost was estimated to be about $15,000.
On the next appeal for lot sales, the following persons pledged to buy:
T.W.Wilson Eugene Martin Roy Robertson Vern L McCoy Day Brothers
L.E.Mahon L.W.Schiesser Kansas Power and Light by G.H.Willard Emil F Anderson
Walter H. Sorrick Clinton L.Scott Judah Mix N.E.Watson A.J.Wright
Oscar Warren F.C.Stewart George C.Cook E.E.Simmons C.H.Zinn
G. Snoddy H.N.Griggs Carl Harrold Beverly T Young Allen Gibby
J.W.Austin Harry Mossman V.G.Newell Everett Peterson Carl Belt
H.E.Rice Ralph Bozarth A.B.Haubold J.H.Wittemore W.R.Logan
F.D.Tendell K.M.Lockhart Roy B.Shaw A.H.Richter R.R.Stucky
By September 7, Eskridge had 84 contracts signed, Alma over 24 and Harveyville 3. Additional pledges of 72 from Topeka and one from Emporia brought the total to 184.
On September 15, 1933, the state lake and recreation park in Wabaunsee County was officially adopted as a project by the State Forestry, Fish and Game Commission. The project was adopted on the basis of deeds to be given the state for the land required in the bed of the lake, 204 acres, together with a 100 foot strip around the water’s edge for road purposes and additional land as required for the development of the project.
A meeting was held on September 19 for the purpose of forming an organization and having it incorporated under the laws of Kansas. Nearly 100 attended this meeting in the Odd Fellows Hall with LaRue Moreland, a member of the committee on incorporation presiding. Dr. C.W.Walker was named chairman and O.W.Little of Alma, secretary. Frank Frost was elected President and Jack Waugh of the Security Bank of Eskridge, secretary-treasurer. Named to the board of directors of the corporation were Hal G.Weaver, Judge C.E.Carroll and A.E.Stuewe of Alma; R.C.Day, W.C.Shumate, Frank Frost and Jack Waugh, Eskridge; Charles H. Sessions, managing editor of the Topeka Daily Capital and Ed.B.Chapman of the Topeka State Journal.
The name of Lake Wabaunsee was adopted for the organization and the membership limited to 250 with voting rights in the organization. The corporation was chartered on Thursday, September 21, 1933 by the Secretary of State.
Later in October, word was received that the Department of Emergency Conservation Work had definitely discarded approval of the Lake project because the title to the land required was not in the name of the state. The title had been held in escrow pending approval of the project. Although Governor Landon personally guaranteed the title would be in the name of the state, the DEC scrapped the project.
Plans then formed to use transient unemployed. George G Bunger, an official of Home Owners Loan Corporation, a former resident of Eskridge, introduced a delegation to Marvin and G.F.Price of Topeka, officers of a state department having to do with the relief of transient unemployed. Upon inspection of the lake site these two men expressed themselves as delighted with the site and said it would be ideal for their purposes. They then asked and received authority to take the matter up with the state for a transit unemployed camp with the same setup as the state had with the CCC.
On November 2, 1933 a telegram was sent to Frank Frost by Randolph Carpenter, Congressman for the Fourth Congressional District of Kansas, advising him that Maurice Lewis, director of transient relief activities of the Federal Emergency Administration had directed John G.Stutz, at Topeka, to proceed on the Lake Wabaunsee project.
The state was obligated to furnish the money for machinery and equipment and a meeting was held in Topeka with Governor Landon to discuss methods of obtaining money so work could be started at once.
In the week following, authority was received from Washington for the directors of the transient unemployment relief fund to expend the necessary money for hand tools, such as saws, spades, shovels, etc. To be used by the men employed on the lake site, thus settling the matter of financing for equipment.
Recruiting headquarters for men for this work was set up in Topeka and it was expected that an advance crew of 15 men would be sent immediately to get the camp ready for the reception of at least 200 men. This camp was the first of its kind to be set up in the state. The camp was under the rules and regulations of the State Health Department.
Governor Landon had applied for a loan of $200,000 from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation to be used in financing additional state projects. The loan was to be repaid so much a year out of the earnings of the Fish and Game Department. Part of this money would be allotted to the Lake Wabaunsee project.
A meeting was held in Topeka on November 23, 1933 With Governor Alf M. Landon, Mr. Price, Mr. Marvin, Mr. Stutz, Mr. Atherton and the Lake Wabaunsee Board of Directors at which time the deeds to the property required to start the lake were discussed.
R.R.Roby, an engineer employed by the State Fish and Game Commission was sent in to supervise the project. The federal government was to feed, clothe and shelter the men and provide hand tools. The state was to supply engineering and other technical men, sand, cement, concrete and steel in whatever quantity required.
Building the bunkhouses, dining and recreation halls, was in the charge of George Rinner, Topeka, building contractor assisted by 20 carpenters. It was expected that the full complement of 200 to 275 men would be at work as soon as quarters were completed.