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Classic Cottages of Walloon By Lauren Macintyre
The elegant Smith Cottage, circa 1906, on Indian Garden Point (Photo courtesy of the owner)
CLASSIC COTTAGES of Walloon
PART ONE
By Lauren Macintyre
Wandering along the shores of Walloon reveals a myriad of architectural styles, reflected in the charming classic cottages that dot the lakefront. These picturesque homes, whether rustic log cabin, Victorian cottage, vintage farmhouse, Sears kit house or cozy bungalow, stand as evidence of Walloon's rich history. Many of these vintage cottages date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, built as Walloon was emerging as a popular resort destination. The oldest dwellings on Walloon are generally believed to be the pristine VanDermark/Stone cabin (1875) on upper Lake Grove Road, and the well-preserved Weller/Cavell log cabin (1884) on Kurtz Crossing, both featured in previous issues of The Wallooner.
Some of Walloon's vintage cottages reflect the simpler lifestyle of the past and thus may be rather small. Happily, many have found new lives as guest cottages or studios. Others have been renovated or creatively expanded through additions to accommodate the needs of today's families. What is most inspiring, though, is that these picturesque cottages have indeed been preserved, a credit to those who cherish the lake's historic traditions.
Showcased in this article are ten lovely cottages that exemplify the vintage cottage styles seen around Walloon. They are of varying ages and locations around the lake, presented in no particular order. There are, however, scores of other delightful heirloom cottages around Walloon, so this article is just the first in a continuing series entitled "Classic Cottages of Walloon."
Beginning with the cottage shown above, here are ten classic cottages that reflect the vintage architectural styles of Walloon.
“COEUR DU LAC” DAVID & NANCY SMITH, OWNERS
Indian Garden Point Built in 1906, this pristine, sparkling white cottage aptly reflects the bygone elegance of the Indian Garden Hotel, considered by many to be the most fashionable of Walloon's hotels. The hotel is long gone, alas, but this home, built for the hotel manager, has been meticulously preserved and is the only part of the complex still in existence. Owned for 60 years by Robert and Mary Guenther, who took extraordinary care of it, this iconic cottage was purchased just last year by David and Nancy Smith. No strangers to Walloon, the Smiths, whose family owned a place at Wildwood on Walloon, were looking for an "original Walloon cottage, where the screen door squeaked when opened." They found all that and more in this exquisite historic cottage in its idyllic wooded setting. In their hands, this stunning home has become a cherished Smith family retreat that will grace the lake for generations to come.
WILES/KRIMENDAHL HOUSE KRIMENDAHL FAMILY, OWNERS
North Shore Drive Built on the historic site of the old Pines Hotel, the gracious Wiles House hearkens back to the day when the finest homes on the lake lined North Shore Drive. The house, which dates to at least 1920, was purchased by Ivan Wiles, head of the Buick Division of General Motors and his wife Mary Louise in 1940. On the lakeshore in front of the beautiful house is a quintessential Walloon boathouse. Noted sailors, the Wiles family maintained a legendary 17 Sailboat on their lakefront for many years as well. The house also has a distinctive guest house in the rear where the risers on the stairs are artistically painted with the lyrics to the fabled song "Walloon, Walloon." Today, Link Wiles Krimendahl, a knowledgeable and dedicated Walloon historian, along with daughter Liz lovingly preserve the cottage and its historic Walloon artifacts.
"CEDAR COTTAGE" JACK & VICKY HOBEY, OWNERS
Eagle Island Rich in history - this house is the oldest remaining building from the Eagle Island Resort - the Hobeys' lovingly restored home, which fronts on Lily Pad Bay, was built in 1914 by Dr. William Roever of St. Louis. It later became part of Hilltop Camp, and the children of Charles Lindbergh stayed in the house while at camp. The Hobeys, who purchased the house in 1996, added rooms and restored the others to their original glory. This impeccably maintained cottage with its elegant interior showcases many of the original architectural features and serves as a charming setting for the Hobeys' extensive antique furniture and Walloon history collections. Note the 1914 date in the gingerbread on the gable.
Lake Grove Road “Treetop” is located in an idyllic, historic West Arm setting where the popular Lake Grove Hotel once stood, and the steamer “Tourist” docked. Built before 1906 as a winter house for the Jacob and Martha Rehkopf family, owners of the Lake Grove Hotel, this house also handled overflow guests from the hotel in the summer. Since 1992, this beautifully maintained house has been owned by siblings and longtime Wallooners Chip Frentz and Barbara Hoganson. Chip and Barbara's grandparents stayed here in the early 1900's. This house, along with the laundry, ice house and garage are all that remain of one of the lake's last great hotels, but all have been lovingly preserved by the Frentz/Hoganson family. "OTTAWA HOUSE"
DAN & SUE DUVAL, OWNERS
Indian Garden Road Pictured above is the south wing of the summer home of Dan and Sue Howard Duval, which is the original cottage they bought in 2000. Dan and Sue, a longtime Wallooner, meticulously preserved the original cottage shown on the left in the photo. The house, which may date to 1930, is built on part of the original Wooden Landing homestead. The Duvals built a large wing that doubled the size of the house, added a deck on the lakeside and covered both wings in log siding. Two additional houses in the rear were renovated and converted to a guest house and a quilting room, and a large garden and wildflower meadow were subsequently added to the complex.
BURNS FARMHOUSE CURT & LINDA MATTHEWS, OWNERS
Burns Farm Road Built in 1885 by farmer Thomas Burns, this farmhouse became the summer home of Curt and Linda Matthews in 1973. Curt, grandson of celebrated Wallooner Charles Wilson, president of General Motors and later Secretary of Defense in the Eisenhower administration, renovated the farmhouse with the assistance of Irv Burns, grandson of the farmer who built the house. When Curt and Linda purchased the house it had no running water or electricity, simply a hand pump and an outhouse. The Matthews added all the amenities as well as a living room wing with a fireplace, eventually siding the house with cedar shake shingles. The picturesque property was further enhanced with the addition of a beautiful barn with guest quarters.
PRESLEY COTTAGE GREG & LOIS PRESLEY, OWNERS
Indian Garden Road Greg and Lois Presley happened across this little cabin on Indian Garden Road through friends in 2001 and snapped it up. The cabin dated to the mid 1940’s as a simple, one-room fishing shack. Whereas others saw it as a teardown, the Presleys, owners of Presley Architecture, saw enormous possibilities. They altered interior space and added on to transform a small summer cottage into a stunning, 800-square-feet year-round residence. In the interior they kept the original roof rafters, roof boards and flooring to maintain that vintage cottage ambience. A charming lakeside porch, side deck and new barn in the back for a home office and storage were then added, all of which complement the classic look of the cottage.
GUEST COTTAGE CHUCK & CAROLYN SANBACK, OWNERS
Lake Grove Road Built in 1941, this little cottage sits on the historic site known as Murphy's Point, where the Hemingway children of the nearby Windemere cottage camped and played, and where traces of steamboat docks are still visible. The point is also thought to have served as the setting for one of Hemingway's The Nick Adams Stories. First owned by Marion Davis and her mother, it was purchased by Chuck and Carolyn Sanback in 1982, serving as the family cottage until they built a larger home. Now the Sanbacks maintain it as a popular rental whose guests return every year, inscribing lovely accolades in the visitor log. As one guest wrote, "The measure of a place and time is the desire to not leave them. So it has been here. A gentle and kind place…" "NOD-A-WAY"
JILL ICE COOK & JOE ICE, OWNERS
Lake Grove Trail Built in 1907, this vintage cottage was the second one owned by Charles and Lou Wilhoit, who first came to the lake in 1896 from Middletown, IN. Located on Indiana Avenue (now Lake Grove Trail) near the site of the historic Baer's Den Hotel, the Wilhoits commissioned local builder George Depew to build the house at a cost of $450, and named it "Nod-A-Way." A stone fireplace, bedroom wing and indoor plumbing were added later. Cherished by the family for more than a century, Nod-A-Way has been home to six generations of the Wilhoit/Ice/Smith family. Ownership has always remained in the family. Today, siblings Joe Ice and Jill Ice Cook, great-grandchildren of the Wilhoits, are the proprietors of the beloved cottage.
Third Street Standing on land in Watson's Addition to the original Village of Talcott, this picturesque log cabin was most likely built in the 1940's. For many years the "'Lil Log Cabin," as it was named, was part of a large piece of property owned by longtime Wallooner John McIlwraith, owner of Associated Box Corporation. The McIlwraith family enjoyed the well-appointed cabin for decades, as did many of the company's executives. The interior of this charming log cabin features two stone fireplaces, custom furniture and cabinetry and a large master bedroom addition, much of it done in the 1950's by local craftsman Burt Burns. Its pristine condition is well preserved today by Carole Griffin, who purchased the cabin as a family retreat in 2019.
