eddie and jim
and lake katharine

1 – backgrounds of eddie and jim

Eddie Jones, or Edwin A. Jones, came from a long line of Welsh–Americans. Jackson County, perhaps because of its hills and its early mining industry, had attracted many Welsh immigrants before the Civil War. Eddie was born in 1899. His great–grandfather Thomas T. Jones had operated the old Jefferson Furnace in Oak Hill, south of Jackson. His grandfather Eben Jones founded the Globe Iron Company in Jackson. Globe, situated on Main Street four blocks south of the courthouse, utilized blast furnaces to smelt pig iron. The word blast refers to forced air introduced into the process to enhance combustion. Eddie’s father, John E. Jones, ran the company for many years and then turned the business over to Eddie. Eddie operated the business for several decades, but the demand for its products ultimately faded. Since the late 1960’s the furnace site has been a shopping center.

Eddie was a gentleman of many accomplishments. He played quarterback for the Yale University football team. He matched the then–world record in the sixty–yard dash. While at Yale he sang in the Whiffenpoofs, a world–famous a cappella singing group, and joined “Skull and Crossbones”, the secret student society. He married Katharine McKee in 1928.

One could hardly imagine a starker contrast to Eddie Jones than James J. “Jim” McKitterick, who was born in 1892. Of Irish heritage, Jim remained a rough–cut lifelong bachelor. A mining engineer, he extracted coal, silica sand, gravel, and clay in Jackson County. He sold coal to Globe Iron Company. He sold silica sand to the local firebrick industry, which produced bricks to line the fireboxes in industrial furnaces all over the country.

The photo below shows a ruin which had been the office of the McKitterick Coal Company in Jackson. It was located where the Amish in season sell vegetables on Chillicothe Street, across from OSCO Industries. Jim enjoyed wry humor. This building was sometimes called “the Pentagon”, or “the world headquarters of the McKitterick Coal Company.” Jim sold a lot of minerals out of this building.

Jim participated in local politics, and he served as the chairman of the Executive Committee of the Jackson County Republican Party. He was particularly proud of the local rally in 1940 for Wendell Wilkie, who ran for President against Franklin D. Roosevelt. According to a letter found in Mr. McKitterick’s papers, “[w]e did what we could for him and had 100,000 people out to see him. Jackson County, Ohio, went for Wilkie by slightly more than 1,100….”

2 – liars’ lodge

Well before Jones and McKitterick built Lake Katharine, Jim McKitterick entertained at his rustic cabin just west of what became the lake. He called it variously “Rock Run”, “No. 2 Cabin”, or even “the Love Nest”. Rock Run was the creek which later filled Lake Katharine, and the term was also used for the forested area through which the creek flowed. Jim finally settled upon “Liars’ Lodge”, an apt description for the cabin. As one can see from the photograph below, Liars’ Lodge was a modest log cabin which blended well with the surrounding woods. Jim and his guests spent innumerable rustic evenings there, enjoying good food, good fellowship, and perhaps a libation or two.

As early as June 2, 1937, Jim wrote to Eddie Jones about hosting a local Riding Club:

… all members of the Riding Club appeared at the Cabin Monday afternoon at 5:00 o’clock. We thought of you and drank to your health. This was the best party yet. Mick, Ivan, Norman, Kenny, Bill and wives were present as well as Katharine and myself. The meal was on Mick and Ray. The principal item of food was steak sandwiches served on buns. The steak was T–bone and porterhouse cut thin and everybody had two sandwiches. We had onions, radishes, olives, and potato chips galore. Also every known type of beverage. Contrary to usual custom this was one time the riding club did not break up at an early date. Everybody had a dandy time. The Cabin pays for itself every time we use it.

This letter mentions several other intriguing tidbits. Jim and Eddie kept a joint bank account and seem to have pursued some mining business together. Apparently at Globe a furnace was then being refurbished, with the old firebrick stripped away and salvaged.

Also in June of 1937, Jim sent out a notice that a partygoer at a different party had lost his hat. He addressed his notice particularly to Frank Delay, W.C. Martin, and Ben C. Bentley. Frank Delay, the father of Thomas Delay, was a local attorney. W.C. Martin, the author’s great–uncle, at that time operated the Jackson Dry Goods Company in downtown Jackson.

On December 7, 1939, Jim wrote in a letter about doing repairs at No. 2 Cabin:

Last week Lester and I put in three days and three nights of hard work repairing doors and building and installing shutters on the No. 2 Cabin (the Cabin right on the brink of Rock Run). We sent to Sears, Roebuck and Co. and got enough equipment to outfit this Cabin. In the very near future Lester, Ed McKitterick and myself are going out some evening after work and set up camp in this No. 2 Cabin. We will probably cook and sleep here for several days, taking care of our work during the day in the customary manner. This a dandy Cabin. We surely like it and know that we will enjoy it lots.

Ed McKitterick was Jim’s first cousin and helped him in his mining businesses. Ed had served as Jackson County’s Clerk of Courts during the Depression. He also was an expert clay bird shotgunner.

3 – liberty township countryside

Eddie and Jim owned hundreds of acres of rough woodland in Liberty Township which they had purchased starting in the early 1930’s. They attempted to stock grouse, wild turkeys, and deer. Nowadays of course the woods are full of deer, and wild turkeys are common. Your author recalls in his younger years occasionally hearing grouse drumming their wings on fallen tree trunks at Rock Run. Recently, unfortunately, both grouse and quail have virtually disappeared from the local forests. In the nineteenth century in Jackson County most trees had been harvested to support local industry. One finds photos of denuded countryside. In places such as Liberty Township forests had reclaimed much of the hilly terrain by the 1930’s. Perhaps, however, animal populations lagged behind, and that is why Eddie and Jim were trying to stock the woods.

Jim and Katharine Jones particularly enjoyed riding horses on the trails through the Rock Run lands. Jim wrote to Katharine on March 27, 1940:

I do hope that you will make good use of the new Rock Run roads this season for horse–back riding. I have been giving some thought as to how best to place a horse for this. It would be so nice to have them stabled, at times, near at hand. I mean, stabled in or near the rough country. Yesterday I heard of another tract of land for sale near the rough country. There are 40 acres in this tract, I believe. There is a good stable on same, also small home, also good horsemen living on same now. I don’t know whether Eddie and I can extend ourselves to take this or not. Anyway it will be interesting to talk over. I have at least three tentative plans in mind. I want to do some riding this season if possible….

On the gravel road for automobiles leading to Liars Lodge, Jim placed signs on the blind curves warning motorists of horseback riders.

On June 25, 1940, Jim wrote a letter to an official with the Ohio Conservation Department, describing the lands under lease for a Liberty Grouse Management Area. Jones and McKitterick then owned 642 acres out of a proposed area of 1,007 acres. Jim was trying to sign up several landowners in the area to join in the Grouse Management Area. As it turned out, Jones and McKitterick purchased several of these parcels themselves, and made their own management area.

Jim continued to use No. 2 Cabin. In a letter dated December 6, 1940, Jim related a weekend gathering:

Anyway we had several good meals at the cabin and had a whopper of a meal Sunday noon. This consisted of beef stew with plenty of potatoes. Of course we had candies, dessert, etc. I don’t think B.C.B. liked the stew very well. The rest of us surely went for it, particularly young Bill Martin. Bill has a tremendous appetite. He can eat three times as much as I can.

Bill Martin had his Kodak along. In the afternoon we did some “mountain climbing”. This by twice descending and climbing almost perpendicular cliffs. I took a bunch of Kodak shots of the crowd as they were swinging from tree to tree in the process of getting down and up. I caught B.C.B. in some good postures. I hope the pictures turn out well.

The Bill Martin in the story was your author’s father, then twenty years old. He became a steadfast member of Jim’s entourage. He kept his hearty appetite all his life, and he continued to enjoy snapshot photography. Your author and his older brother John spent many youthful hours exploring the steep sandstone formations and shallow caves at Rock Run.

About this time also Jim reported that he and Eddie had succeeded in obtaining approval for the 1,000–acre game preserve at Liberty Township. The State would release fifty ruffed grouse per year for three years. Jim also anticipated stocking wild turkeys, deer, and raccoons.

Jim’s cousin Ed McKitterick also enjoyed parties. He wrote in a February 8, 1941 letter to Eddie Jones:

The party at the Liars Lodge Cabin got to going pretty strong about 9:00 p.m. The chief item on the bill–of–fare was two roast ducks. They were well cooked and exceptionally good. Anyway about 11:00 p.m. the Charleston Dance exhibition was in full swing. This was the best dancing that I have ever seen.

The party started to break up at 5:00 a.m. The last item on the list of entertainment was the singing of African spiritual songs. These songs were the best I have ever heard. I got in bed at 6:00 a.m. and the rest of the crowd got in about the same time.

Lester Vance as you know, is very conservative, but he said that he would have stayed three hours longer if the dancing and singing had continued. The Indians of old never had a bigger celebration in Rock Run than we had on Wednesday night, January 29th.

Shortly afterward, in a letter to Eddie Jones dated February 11, 1941, Jim related a weekend at Liars Lodge cabin:

I am pleased to report that Lester Vance and I spent Friday night, Saturday night, and all day Sunday in Liars Lodge cabin. The weather was bad and right up our alley, of course. The snow was falling and the temperature was hanging around the twenty degree mark. We asked at least twelve people to go out to the cabin with us and our invitations were turned down in every instance. Lester and I had the best time in the world. We cooked just what we liked and in such quantities as we liked. Our regular menu consisted of T–bone steak, flour gravy, and cocoa for the evening meal; one–half pound of sausage each, pancakes and cocoa for breakfast. On Sunday afternoon we made two pounds of chocolate nut fudge candy. Our last meal, Sunday evening, consisted of Philadelphia cheese, Campbell’s tomato soup, and crackers. Lester had eaten so much candy during mid–afternoon that he was unable to sit down for the last meal. This is the first time that he ever welched on me.

The icycle [sic] crop is excellent. There are millions of them. I have had some of the best icycle shooting this winter that I have ever had.

For icicle shooting, one finds sheets of ice cascading over sandstone crags in the woods. You blaze away with pistols and rifles until you cut away the support for the icicles, and the ice crashes down into the gorge below. Some skill is required, but the resulting noisy destruction of ice formations seems to satisfy an inner instinct.

Eddie and Jim continued to develop the acreage. In a letter dated April 7, 1942, Eddie reported that Jim with ten workers were planting 10,000 trees at Rock Run. One of the tree planters was young Bill Martin, who within months enlisted in the United States Army. He trained in the Air Corps supply service, based at Patterson Field in Dayton, which became part of Wright–Patterson Air Force Base. The Air Corps was part of the Army and not yet a separate service. Bill wrote to Jim about his early days in the Army in 1942:

Well Jim I am finally in the U.S. Army, and so far I am really enjoying it. I have been drilling every day, rain or shine, except when I had K.P. — worked pretty hard there, 5:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. This place is really a large place, they have those Douglas Stratoliners here — they are used for transportation of troops etc. All types of Bombers, including Flying Fortresses, all types of fighting planes — 400 [miles] per hour jobs. I have seen some R.A.F. planes too. The B–19 is at Wright Field and it is up in the air every now and then. Patterson is considered one of the best fields in the U.S. The most popular place in the evening is the P.X. they have a landslide in Beer sales every night. The food here is the best in the Army….

Mr. Martin served in the Air Corps for a little over three years, helping to supply the airfields in England and across France and Germany. His rank upon discharge was Technical Sergeant, and his military service remained very important to him for the rest of his life.

Meanwhile Jim and Eddie continued their recreational and business association. In a letter to Bill Martin, Jim described a trip he took with Eddie:

I left Jackson on August 30th with Eddie Jones. We went to his iron mines at Iron Mountain, Michigan and then went on to the north shore of Lake Superior. We engaged an Indian guide and really went into the wild fishing for speckled trout. I had never seen any before. Eddie caught eight and I caught five. We had a grand time. In making the trip after speckled trout we first traveled on an old gold mining road by truck, then we hoofed it for four or five hours, then we travelled by canoe several hours more. After reaching camp we fished many surrounding lakes, some one-fourth mile long and some six or seven miles long.

We also spent one day with a commercial fisherman on Lake Superior. We saw him pull up his nets and secure 200 lbs. of lake trout. Some of these were as large as 30 lbs. In addition we saw four moose and heard another breaking through the bush.

4 – the dam project

In late 1943 Jim and Eddie commenced the dam which would obstruct Rock Run and create Lake Katharine. In another letter to Bill Martin, this one dated January 3, 1944, Jim described the process:

We located the dam about one–half mile down stream in Rock Run below No. 1 cabin. It is on the Whetstone Farm, one of the last purchases. If you will recall Dan Whetstone had two barns, an upper and a lower one. Anyway the dam is just over the hill from his lower barn. We laid out a beautiful winding road that turns two half wheels or half moons descending into the valley level. In other words the road turns back on itself twice. This makes a very easy grade. The road is cut right through the forest and is cut right into the hillside and cut and blasted through certain rock cliffs. The road is a humdinger.

We picked a narrow place for the dam, the narrowest and the best place in the whole of Rock Run. Rock walls are on each side of the dam and it is only 176 feet from wall to wall across the valley.

Right underneath where the dam will be we dug a trench eight feet deep, ten feet wide and 176 feet long. In the bottom of this trench, that is eight feet down, we hit solid sandstone for a distance of 30 feet out in the center of the valley. On either side of this solid sandstone we encountered quicksand up to a depth of possibly 12 or 14 feet before solid rock was reached. We put 21 test drill holes down to sandstone under the dam location so that we knew exactly what lay underneath.

Anyway we sent to Cleveland and rented good pile driving equipment and drove 6,000 board feet of oak piling so as to prevent water flow under the dam when the lake fills up. Then we filled the whole trench up with good impervious clay rolled in place in eight inch layers with the 17–ton bulldozer caterpillar and a sheepsfoot roller. We got a peach of a job and are well pleased. It has cost us a good bit already. In the year 1944 we’ll take another whack at the thing if War regulations permit. We’ll just have to take our chances on this.

About the same time the State Conservation Department brought twenty deer up from Portsmouth and released them at Rock Run.

On July 3, 1945, Jim gave a progress report to Bill Martin:

Eddie Jones is building a very fine cabin in Rock Run. It is being built very close to the Sam Music cabin and very close to the line of pine trees you planted up and down the hill at this point. The brush, briars, and trees are practically all cut in Rock Run where the lake water will cover the same. The spillway and drain pipe are entirely completed at the dam site. We are ready now to build a dam proper. This will require thirty thousand cubic yards of earth. If a little more War pressure is taken off, we will probably start the dam construction yet this year.

On November 15, 1945, Eddie wrote to a Dr. Hazard of the University of Michigan’s Bureau of Fisheries about stocking the “proposed lake site”. Eddie was interested in stocking smallmouth bass, bluegills, and crappies. He even tossed out the idea of stocking trout in the lake. Dr. Hazard responded on December 4, suggesting that Eddie start with 50 bass fingerlings and 100 bluegill fingerlings per surface acre of water. He cautioned that trout need very cool water.

Jim made a list of the loads of fill used to construct the dam for Lake Katharine. In August of 1945, there were 2,331 loads; in September, 3,861 loads; in October, 7,204 loads; and in November, 211 loads. Each load consisted of approximately 2.25 yards of fill dirt, so a total of 13,607 loads used 30,604 yards of fill dirt. On February 4, 1946, Jim determined that the lake had filled to within 42 vertical inches of capacity. Seven days before, the lake was 45 inches below capacity, so the lake had filled three vertical inches in a week. Alongside the dam a spillway had been cut through sandstone, so the lake level could be controlled. A drainage valve could also be used to empty water through piping to the dry side of the dam and thence downstream.

5 – enjoying lake katharine

The gentlemen did not delay in enjoying the lake. In a letter dated February 6, 1946 to Eddie Jones at Acapulco, Mexico, Jim described some wintertime activities:

We have been kicking up our heels since you left. I believe that you left town on Wednesday, January 23rd. Anyway, on Monday, January 28th, the Globe Iron Company and McKitterick Coal Company office forces could restrain themselves no longer due to the beautiful intriguing ice covered lake offering itself for our use and pleasure.

To go back a little bit and explain this more fully, will say that on Monday and Tuesday nights, January 21st and 22nd, the thermometer dropped to points below zero. The result was that from Wednesday morning, January 23rd, until Tuesday morning, January 29th, there was a foot of ice on the lake and it was possible, with entire safety, to walk on it and skate on it.

On Sunday morning, young Frank Delay, young John Martin, Ed McKitterick and myself combined a pistol shooting and skating affair on the ice at the lake. I have a pair of good No. 12 skates attached to the leather tops. John Martin used these on Sunday morning and he skates like a zephyr. Gordon Will and his father came down Sunday afternoon and I got Gordon to put the skates on and he proceeded pronto to fall down five times. I have been doing a little skating but I am very careful to do this when there is no gallery present. In fact, I skate in seclusion and I make sure that I am in seclusion.

Now referring back to the Globe party. With all this ice present on a newly constructed lake, our respective office forces could hold themselves no longer so we joined forces and had a fine party at Liars Lodge on Monday night, January 28th. Without going to the length of enumerating each person present, will say that everyone was present from both offices.

Willard McGhee and yours truly did the planning as to food, water and other details. I drove in to the cabin early taking Mildred, Imogene Green and Ed McKitterick, as well as the supplies of food and water. The remainder of the party drove to the new Lodge belonging to you and thereupon proceeded to walk upon the ice to a point near Liars Lodge and then climbed the steep hill leading to the cabin….

Young John Martin, who “skates like a zephyr”, was your author’s uncle and young Bill Martin’s brother. Young Bill Martin was your author’s father.

Now that they had a lake, the gentlemen needed a boat. This was easier said than done. From a letter to Eddie Jones dated March 1, 1946, Jim reported his progress:

Three boats are now on the Lake. Cliff Bennett gave me a boat. Wes and Vancil Albert hauled the same to the Lake and it promptly sunk in ten inches of water. Herb Evans and Mont Wood hauled Mont’s boat to the Lake for the use in getting to the valve. It sank in about thirty minutes time. Vencil and Wes got into some kind of a deal and bought an excellent steel rowboat. This is a good safe boat and a dandy from all viewpoints. Although the paint was in very good shape, they gave it a coat of aluminum paint on inside and out with green trim on the gunwales. These boys are proud of this boat and I am sure that it will be a very creditable addition to the Lake. A few days ago, Vancil and yours truly went to the Lake at Hope Station and as by arrangement with Mr. Herman Dubois, we secured his eighteen foot canoe and two paddles. This is now located in the Guest House at your Lodge awaiting the use of yourself and family.

The “Wes” in this story was Wesley McKitterick, Jim’s brother. Jim went on to write that he plugged up three leaks in the canoe with roof cement and took a ride on the Lake with young Bill Martin. In the photo below, the gentleman in the canoe is unidentified. The footbridge in the background crossed the lake and led to Eddie’s Derry Ormond Lodge. It no longer exists.

On December 16, 1946, one of Jim’s guests, a gentleman named Bill Rimmele, composed a poem in honor of Liar’s Lodge:

LIAR’S LODGE

If you don’t like the smell of pine
or midnight winds that wail and whine
or eerie sounds that twinge your spine,
don’t go to “Liar’s Lodge”.

If you don’t crave wide open space
with beating rain upon your face
and comfort in a fireplace,
stay clear of “Liar’s Lodge”.

If you don’t care for silvery lakes
or savory coal–stove buckwheat cakes
the homey smell an oil lamp makes,
you won’t like “Liar’s Lodge”.

If you’re afraid of towering rocks
breathtaking climbs with slips and knocks
or using cans to wash your sox,
why stop at “Liar’s Lodge”?

If you abhor the streams and bogs
and back away from sawing logs
preferring only “Sunday togs”,
avoid the “Liar’s Lodge”.

If you’re allergic to the moss
or broken springs on which to toss
or rodents small your path to cross,
don’t speak of “Liar’s Lodge”.

If you can’t stand the hounds at night
or shadows of a fire light
and rustling leaves give you a fright,
don’t bother “Liar’s Lodge”.

If you despise a door that creaks
and shiver when a night bird shrieks
or fret about a roof that leaks,
you’d hate the “Liar’s Lodge”.

But if like me, you like it wild
enough to be Nature’s child
preferring ruggedness to mild,
you’ll go for “Liar’s Lodge”.

Your cue is then to contact “Jim”
because the “Lodge” belongs to him.
You’ll find his face with smiles abrim —
he’s proud of “Liar’s Lodge”.

Your pleasure is the only fee
which meant a million bucks to me
and to the man who made it be —
my thanks for “Liar’s Lodge”.

Obviously Mr. Rimmele had attended one or more of Jim’s parties, roughing it at Liar’s Lodge. The cabin had no electricity, no running water, and no indoor plumbing. Visitors had to make do in camping mode. The poem accurately reflects the rustic charm of the experience.

In a letter dated July 14, 1949, Jim reported that Eddie Jones’ boys camp opened the following Saturday. About 40 boys were expected to attend. This is the first mention in the letters of Camp Arrowhead, which became a well known boys’ summer camp, featuring canoeing, swimming, hiking and camping.

Later on, one of the campers was an eleven–year old boy named Bob Greene. Bob became a nationally renowned columnist for the Chicago Tribune. Mr. Greene wrote about remembering Camp Arrowhead in a column which was published on September 12, 1990. He related a telephone call from Randy Heath, who at that time reported for the Jackson Journal–Herald. Click here to read Bob Greene’s story about Camp Arrowhead. Click here to see pictures and other material about Camp Arrowhead.

6 – eddie and jim plan for the future

Years passed and both gentlemen continued to enjoy their property. They began, however, to think about what comes next. Eddie mentioned passing his share of the Lake Katharine lands to his children Brooks and Gloria. In a letter dated January 18, 1963, Jim touched upon a few matters:

Referring to your letter of December 28th, it was a grand party at Liar’s Lodge. I believe 21 were invited and they came to a man. You were missed at the party everybody signed a paper expressing the wish that you were present. I think they were going to send you this and “kid” you about your new River Boat, hoping, of course, that they would get a ride on it sometime. I don’t know just how serious they are in sending you the names of the well–wishers. At least I don’t have it.

The River Boat was probably the pontoon boat that Eddie placed on the lake and fished from. It featured a canopy and seemed a comfortable way to navigate about the lake. Then Jim changed the subject:

Another thing. The greatest threat to the property is its commercialization. If one–half of the property is commercialized the other half would suffer greatly in value, let alone convenience, beauty and enjoyment. It is unthinkable to commercialize the property as to timber cutting and mineral mining. Possible also as to establish building lots for sale.

I believe very serious thought should be given to a joint agreement whereby the owner of one–half of the property would of necessity get permission of the other 40 or 50 percent ownership before any commercial timber cutting or commercial mineral mining would take place…

… We can talk these matters over when we get together.

On January 28, 1963, Eddie replied by letter to Jim from the Beach Club Hotel in Naples, Florida:

I am quite in accord with your last letter concerning our Lake Katharine properties. As stated previously, I think I will make arrangements to have our properties appraised and give them over to Brooks and Gloria.

As to any agreement as to the future of the territory, I feel that a strong letter of intent would suffice, at least in the case of my children and the next generation, as both Gloria and Brooks know that my wishes concerning the lake area are that it not be commercial and that it remain in its natural beauty. I don’t know who will be the heirs of your Estate. However, I feel pretty sure about my side of the picture and it’s very difficult to set up an agreement which would last with changing circumstances over a generation or two. It would be a very difficult thing to do and no doubt would be subject to being broken through legal process on changing circumstances.

I will be in Jackson in a couple of weeks and I hope we can talk about this.

So Jim and Eddie are thinking about how the natural area can be preserved after they are gone. They wonder what kind of agreement would be enforceable in the light of changing circumstances?

7 – lake katharine state nature preserve

There matters lay for several years until Eddie Jones received a letter dated January 3, 1973, from Stephen D. Warner of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, in the John Gilligan administration:

Lake Katherine, with her densely wooded hills and valleys, as I am sure you’ll agree, is one of the most beautiful areas in Ohio. This was evident to me upon first becoming acquainted with the area while working as a Naturalist for the Girl Scouts at Camp Arrowhead. Seeking permanent protection for this outstanding area, I met with Mr. Merrill Davis, and he suggested that I contact you with this proposal.

The opportunity for us to permanently preserve Lake Katherine in her original, unspoiled state is now at hand. The Natural Areas and Scenic Rivers Section of the Department of Natural Resources has been charged with the responsibility of inventorying, investigating and dedicating Ohio’s unique natural areas as “State Nature Preserves”.

Mass recreation, organized sports, camping, picnicking, and all other types of use not in concurrence with the basic rules and regulations governing all state nature preserves are not permitted. Law enforcement agents of our Department and Caretaker/Naturalists assigned to these areas are very stringent in enforcing these regulations. Management practices are limited to those necessary to protect or preserve the natural features and to allow limited use of the area.

The latter refers to hiking trails for photographers, bird watchers, wildflower enthusiasts, and nature lovers in general. Interpretive devices may be used in some cases, even an interpretive center may be developed along the “buffer” area of a nature preserve. Nothing detrimental to the natural features of the preserve would be implemented either by us or anyone else.

This prohibits the construction of highways, power or pipe lines, oil wells, strip mines, campgrounds and other similar detriments to the nature preserve. The Articles of Dedication for an area state that the “highest and best use of that property is (forever) as a nature preserve”. Nothing short of a public crisis can interfere with this dedication.

You may stipulate certain provisions for management and usage of the area if your desires differ from our basic policy. The Articles of Dedication are a very flexible contract between you and our department, and should be molded to fit your wishes for this nature preserve if you so choose to preserve the area. Once the specifics are settled and the Articles of Dedication are signed, the terms of such are binding to both parties. To be certain that our management/usage of the area is in accordance with your desires, I would suggest that (1) you have your attorneys scrutinize the “rough draft” of the Articles of Dedication I will prepare for you upon your request, and (2) you have a “reverter clause” stating that unsatisfactory usage by our Department will clause the “Dedication” to become void (this usually applies to gift only). You have no commitment until you and the Director sign the Articles of Dedication.

One final consideration is that our natural area section has available a 50–50 matching funds program through the Federal Bureau of Outdoor Recreation. The amount of purchase or value of a gift to our Department is credited towards buying additional adjacent lands (Mr. McKitterick’s, possibly?) for inclusion into the nature preserve.

You probably have many questions and thoughts on this matter, so at your convenience could we meet and discuss the possibilities?

I’ll be looking forward to meeting you and hopefully to help you preserve a very significant part of “Ohio’s green heritage”.

This letter is the fundamental document from which Lake Katharine as a state nature preserve sprang. In previous years, Eddie Jones had operated Camp Arrowhead as a boys’ camp. After the boys’ camp closed, the Girl Scouts used the property for their summer camp. Mr. Warner became familiar with Lake Katharine as a Naturalist for the Girl Scout camp. Merrill Davis, a prominent music teacher in the City of Jackson School system, had directed the Camp Arrowhead boys’ camp. Mr. Davis pointed Mr. Warner to Eddie Jones, and this letter resulted. The owners had been thinking about how to preserve the natural area, and the state government developed a program to acquire lands for natural preservation. It was the right idea at the right time, introduced by the right people. It took several more years, but Jim and Eddie ultimately accepted Mr. Warner’s proposal.

On January 17, 1973, Eddie responded to Mr. Warner:

I am interested in the contents of your letter of January 3rd and want to meet with you at some future time and discuss the possibilities. It seems unlikely the state would be interested in a project of this kind unless it includes the complete 1700 acres which surrounds Lake Katharine, which would mean acceptance of the plan by co–owners James J. McKitterick and me. Could such a plan be worked out whereby an appraisal be made and the area turned over to the state on a part sale—part gift basis and, at the same time, allowance of the owner the privilege of use of their own lodge houses and the lake — that usage governed, of course, by the restrictions and regulations the state might dictate for the preservation of the area.

Such a part sale and usage clause might possibly be looked upon with disfavor from the Internal Revenue — however, if such could be worked out it might appeal to Mr. McKitterick because I do know he is strongly in favor of preservation of the property in its natural state and I, too, am interested in that feature.

I would appreciate a “rough draft” of the Articles of Dedication and at some later date when I return to Ohio (May) I will be very anxious to discuss with you the possibilities in greater detail.

By this time Jim resided at the Jenkins Memorial Nursing Home. On July 3, 1973, Mr. Warner wrote to Jim to explain what transferring the Lake Katharine — Rock Run area to the State would mean:

In the several meetings and field trips to your Lake Katherine natural area, many facts have been accumulated, proposals and ideas have been discussed, and in short, a good deal of progress seems to have been made towards the permanent preservation of Lake Katharine in her unspoiled pristine state.

The most significant point uncovered to date has been the mutual concern of yours and the Department of Natural Resources to protect the area from any type of disruption or alteration. Our opinion is that Mother Nature should be given free reign to manage this outstanding area as she sees fit, and that man should not interfere — only observe and learn.

For your evaluation and comments on the project as it now stands, I’ve tried to summarize the important points and considerations.

First of all, your concern is what we would do with the property if and when you decide to transfer it to us. The rules and regulations you find in the enclosed booklet applying to Interpretive Nature Preserves would apply to Lake Katherine. The only exceptions to this would be those you so stipulate to us beforehand, and that are included in the Article of Dedication. The specifications that you have so incorporated in the Articles of Dedication are unchangeable forever. A reverter clause will be inserted at the end of the Articles stating that all rights to the property shall return to yourselves, your heirs, or other entity as you may wish if ever there is a use of your property that is not in concurrence with the Articles of Dedication.

A full–time caretaker/naturalist for the preserve will be employed to administer and control the use of the preserve, enforce the rules and regulations, and, in general, oversee the area.

Restricted access is a strong point in our favor so far as protecting the preserve. All persons or groups wishing to visit the preserve are required to obtain written permission from our Department (we give them close scrutiny). They are informed that they must remain on the trails provided for public use, that no collecting, hunting, fishing, mutilation of plants or otherwise destructigve act is to be allowed. The preserve will have no roads except those now existing; no grazing, horseback riding, concessions, rentals, etc. shall be allowed....

I’m sure this will need further clarification and discussion, so let’s get together soon for a meeting. Notify me at your convenience and I’ll come to Jackson. Should you have any questions before our meeting, please feel free to call or write.

In the meantime, Eddie had been thinking about the advantages of transferring the property to the State. He shared his thoughts with Bill Martin in a handwritten letter dated July 7, 1973:

After several long distance calls and inquiries from all directions, it seems the Department of Natural Resources will just about let Jim and me write our own ticket for the permanent preservation of the Lake Katharine area. Now we want it in writing — at least in letter form, for Jim and me to study before asking for an Article of Dedication — for us to study again before any decision is made.

Yes — they say we can keep our acreage — your cabin — my lodge — and Jim’s cabin and area immediately surrounding will not be deeded. We are to enjoy the lake & surroundings as always. A reverter clause — to return the property to us, if they do not live up to the articles — Restricted access to others — no collecting, hunting, fishing, plant picking, etc.

Appraisals will be made and should Jim and I approve of the amount the state to purchase part and we to take advantage of tax savings on the portion donated.

This thing seems to be too good to be true and we will have to study it thoroughly to be sure there are no unseen objections. I want to keep Jim completely informed of this letter — He may rest assured no action will be taken — unless we both agree and he is thoroughly informed.

Bill Martin had built a cabin on a small tract of land abutting the lake. Eddie hired Robert W. Talbott of Jackson Appraisers, Inc. to appraise the lake, surrounding lands, and buildings. Mr. Talbott reported values of $2,300,000 for the land, totaling about 1,500 acres, $535,000 for the 85–acre lake, and $287,010 for the Camp Arrowhead buildings and various cabins.

On December 20, 1973, Eddie wrote Jim a letter discussing the state of the lake project:

Greeting and best wishes for an enjoyable Christmas. I sent you a couple of boxes of oranges and grapefruit and I hope you and perhaps some of your friends at the home enjoy them. I hope they arrive in good order and find you well.

When I left Jackson a month ago the lake project was moving right along and I have recently heard from Dan Washam at the bank and they are now getting together a description of the properties involved. Should the state accept our project, as we have discussed so many times in a series of meetings and the appraisal of the property is approved, I believe you must realize that this will be a great step forward in straightening up what might be an uncomfortable situation for our Estate settlements when such events happen to you and me. This will be a glorious achievement and certainly a crowning blow to the many business successes you and I have had.

Should it go through, as outlined, you must realize that the lake has been appraised at an amount exceeding three million dollars and should we not do something about straightening out those matters the Adjuster of our Estates may even have to consider selling the land to satisfy the tax matters even though the Estate appraisals may be considerably lower, or half that figure. This deal, no doubt, will be a tremendous benefit to our heirs and it would avoid clumsy legal juggling in the future.

Dear Jim, have a happy holiday and I hope you continue to get better and get well enough to again roam the hills and valleys of beautiful Rock Run with me.

Katharine sends her love.

Unfortunately Eddie and Jim could not finalize the transfer before Governor Gilligan’s administration ended as the year 1974 expired. James Rhodes replaced Gilligan. The money for projects like the Lake Katharine preserve dried up. The parties differed upon the appraisals of the property, and Eddie and Jim pretty much gave up hope of a deal.

Then the public servant Stephen Warner made one last try to get the parties to agree. He wrote a letter to Eddie Jones on February 5, 1976:

In the past month since our conversation, I’ve given considerable time and thought to the Lake Katharine project. We seem so close to a most significant event, yet not moving with the assurance of attaining it. In hopes that a clarification of where we now stand will expedite this matter, I offer you the following information.

The possibility of the pision of Natural Areas and Preserves leasing your property for management as a nature preserve was investigated and found to be not allowed by the Natural Areas Law (S.B. 113). Even if this were legal, no assurance could be afforded in the lease agreement that permanent protection would occur for the preserve. The situation therefore violates the section of the Natural Areas Law that directs us to accept the dedication of only those areas that we are able to adequately protect and preserve.

There are many significant natural areas in Ohio that our limited funds are being used toward the purchase of the fee simple rights, thus preserving them in perpetuity. A potentially short term benefit gained by a lease or other temporary arrangement would preclude some amount of these areas being added to our system.

In addition to this, there is a strong feeling in the Department to allocate no additional funds to the Lake Katharine project until we are given an indication that an expedient and positive settlement can be negotiated. The Department has to date spent over $20,000 in legal and appraisal fees, and has devoted much staff time to this project. We realize, however, that you have experienced a comparable situation with no real gain either. This is not to indicate that we regret having done so or have given up. I hope to never reach that point when there are no further options available to bring Lake Katherine into the protection and custody of the state nature preserve system.

Monies are still encumbered for one–half of the amount of our appraisal value and can be used to finalize the project at such time as we agree on a settlement. This figure is the one the Department must abide by in order to receive federal funding I am not sure how much longer I can have this money held if we remain in a stalemate....

My intention is, I admit, partially to ask you for a decision, but also to inform you of the situation from this end of the project. We are essentially at a standstill until we hear from you.

Please consider this aforementioned information with the remembrance of my sincere interest and hopes for Lake Katharine’s preservation.

Thank you for your continued patience and cooperation in this matter.

This last letter from the State had its desired effect. Eddie promptly sent Jim a copy of the Steve Warner letter.

Finally, on April 1, 1976 Eddie wrote Jim from the Beach Club Hotel in Naples, Florida:

I believe Steve Warner’s letter to you was a masterpiece of good reasoning put down in good honest style. While the figure the state will pay for the Rock Run area isn’t up to my expectations quite, nevertheless, all things considered, I do believe it is the kindest treatment we can give that lovely spot — and hope for only the Good Lord knows what might happen to that area after years decide to have things happen to us. It won’t be good. We will have a good profit and know the land is being preserved in its beautiful natural state and that means a lot to you, as well as Bill Martin. Perhaps we better go along with the deal.

All good luck to you —

Your sincere friend,

Eddie J.

And so they went along with the deal, and Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve came into being. Click here to see a copy of the original signed Articles of Dedication.