In May 1913, Mr. &
Mrs. John Capek and their young son Clarence arrived from Chicago to
take possession of their new summer hotel in Maple Grove known as
“Clarence Resort”. Located on the north side of White Lake in
Montague, it offered guests a fine private beach, boating facilities,
and good fishing. It was equipped with electric lights and had all the
modern conveniences. Rates were very reasonable, for either long or
short reservations. The Clarence Resort was famous for its delicious
food and comfortable accommodations.
In 1921 a large 32
x 60 foot annex was built a few steps from the original hotel, which
contained an additional 15 furnished bedrooms and two bathrooms on the
second floor over a spacious ballroom and balcony on the main level.
All 30 rooms were outside rooms with hot and cold running water.
John Capek was a
tailor by trade and operated a tailor shop in town during the off
season. He died in 1938. Mrs. Anna Capek continued to run the Resort.
In September 1944, Anna Capek married Ira Flagstad.
In June 1946 it
was announced that Anna Capek Flagstad had sold Clarence Resort to Mr.
& Mrs. Charles R. Wolfe of Chicago. The name of the resort was then
changed to Edgewater House. The facility advertised as having 12 rooms
and a three-room cottage. It is not known how long it operated as a
resort, as no other ads or mention of it appeared in the local
newspapers.
Then in May 1971,
it was written that Mr. & Mrs. Ray Stevens and Mr. & Mrs. Walter
Kozicki had purchased the former Capek Resort/Edgewater House from Mr.
& Mrs. James Matthews. Not sure when Matthews’ purchased it. It is
presumed that it had become a private home, and continues that way to
this day.
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