St. Joe-Benton Harbor News

Planning a summer get away in 1924 was streamlined by the Chicago Daily News with their Motor and Resort Guide—similar to using an app like Expedia today. 

For a mere quarter (about $4.30 in 2023), one could have the information at hand to plan a resort vacation, a motor camping trip, train travel to near and distant cities, or a foreign tour, allowing one to plan the vacation of “your dreams.” The Paw Paw Lake entry reads:

“Paw Paw Lake is typical of the inland lake resorts of Southern Michigan, which are thronged with the residents of the nearby great cities during the heated season. Every facility is provided for the entertainment of these guests, and there is a long schedule of yacht and motor boat contests to engage the innumerable fleet of watercraft of all descriptions. Dancing, bowling and golf are the favorite recreations when the list of water sports is exhausted, and resort life is very lively. Distance by rail from Chicago, 107 miles. Pere Marquette railway to Coloma and Watervliet. Busses meet all trains. Or Graham & Morton steamship via Benton Harbor, thence electric line to Paw Paw Lake, Coloma and Watervliet. On West Michigan Pike, M 11.”

The following resorts & hotels available include:

The Wigwam—F. F. Gross, proprietor

Pleasant View Hotel—L. Rosetta, proprietor

Naomi Resort—L. M. McMillan, proprietor

The Ellinee—E. H. Erickson, proprietor 

North Park Resort—Alfred Nordeen, proprietor

Whip-Poor-Will—R. Storick, proprietor

Boneless Camp—A. R. Linde, proprietor

The Tippecanoe—Richard Peterson, proprietor

Locust Beach, C. L. Newton, proprietor

Home Restaurant Taxi Service—drives to all points—W. J. Burre, proprietor

Habel’s Farm and Resort—Mrs. H. Habel, proprietor

Paw Paw Lake Golf Club—L. F. Boyer, president

Strong’s Resort—Strong & Sons, proprietors

The Wabana—Mr. S.  Ravenkamp, proprietor

Woodward Hotel and Pavilion—Valek & Mack, proprietors

The Colonial Inn—Frank Green, proprietor

The Florence Hotel—W. Henessy, proprietor

Adelphia Beach Resort—H. Callard, proprietor

Medow Brook Farm—Mrs. Corliss G. Blackman, proprietor

Star Hotel—O. R. Smith, proprietor

Original source can be found here.