A Picnic at the Wilderness
Church members and their families take the morning train for a day of swimming, rowing, and impromptu acrobatics at Lake Wilderness.
The Ladies' Aid Society of Rev. H. T. Shepard's church at Black Diamond went to Lake Wilderness on the Wednesday morning train, taking a company of children and other friends with them. The party went for a good time, and they had it. Conductor Buckhalter put the party off at the most convenient place at the lake. When the children wanted a swing a couple of acrobats were developed on the spot who climbed one of the tall limbless trunks and fastened the rope in the desired place. Mr. A. Turnbull very kindly placed all his boats on the lake at the disposal of the picnickers and the water was dotted with rowing groups all day long. When evening came some of the small boys had a fire built, somebody had found a big tin can and somebody else had found a spring, and the tea and coffee were forthcoming for those who were not satisfied with lemonade.
“The party went for a good time, and they had it.”
Lake Wilderness in Maple Valley has transformed from a private timber-company-owned getaway for local workers into a sprawling public park. The 1893 scene captures a moment before the area was extensively developed for modern suburban recreation.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.