Martin's Lakeview Cabins

Martin's Lakeview Cabins as described in the old brochure: "Air-conditioned, modern housekeeping, family style meals if desired. Drift wood lamps, etc. Reasonable daily rates, special weekly rates. Write Jake Martin, Pontiac, Mo."

The cabins before they were converted into a single house

Many of the older resorts required you write for reservations. The Arkansas properties did not have phone service in the early years. The only phone in the area was at Guy Johnson's store. It is also interesting that they all suggest you contact the man of the house... when it was likely the lady of the house who took care of the reservations.

Jake was the night man at the boat dock while George Labuta owned it from about 1959 until 1964 when my parents, Joe and Alice Morgan, bought it. Velma Martin was a great baker. I remember going to their house for treats at Halloween - we could always expect some great home-baked cookies. They were the first thing we would eat.

Martin's had to be one of the first resorts in Pontiac. They were just down the road from our resort, Indian Point Lodge. Jake and Velma Martin's family joined them a little later. I don't remember all of them, but their grandson, Tom, became a good friend of mine. He went to Gainesville High School with me, and we played baseball together. I lost tract of Tom for many years after they left the resort, but in the late 1980's, when I became a Champion Boat dealer, our paths crossed again as he was the parts manager for Champion.

The Martins sold the property to Frank Lewis and his son, Kerry, in the mid 1960's. The original house was in really bad shape, so the Lewises moved into the house, which had been converted from three cabins.

Above: The house (originally three cabins) as it looks today.

The brochure said "great lake view." I don't really remember a lake view, but I guess in those days we took that lake view for granted. Everyone had one! Kerry told me when his out-of-town friends drop by, all they want to do is sit and look at the lake. You can see about 2 1/2 miles up the lake past Point 13 from his property. It is spectacular.

Kerry is a full-time resident now. He is involved in the community and the local volunteer fire department.