Marylake

My camera is sitting on a shelf collecting dust. I have no desire to pick it up and especially have no desire to be outside. With heat indicies over 100 I'd rather stay inside. I know, that you know, I DO NOT LIKE SUMMERTIME!! Enough said about that! Anyway I was scrolling through some old summertime blog posts trying to get a little inspiration when I discovered a post I'd begun, but never finished. So I thought, why not share it now? I can do that from the coolness of my living room and it's an amazing place with an interesting history!

Nestled in the woods beside a lovely spring-fed lake sits a castle-like rock building built in 1926 as the Shriner Country Club which included a golf course, clubhouse, and swimming beach. During the late 1920's, the country club was popular with wealthy Little Rock residents, who drove 15 miles down a dirt road to attend dances in the ballroom. Although the country club did well for a while, the Shriners struggled to make payments on their construction loan during The Great Depression and were forced to close it.

a postcard view of the side away from the lake

found at http://www.rrmerritt.com/mabelvale/MHS_Brinkley.htm

After the country club closed, the land and the building were sold. That's when the inhabitants of the building gets interesting.

• 1937 - Property was bought by the infamous Dr. John R. Brinkley  who was known as one of the greatest quacks of the 20th Century! He preformed surgical procedures transplanting animal organs into humans. He used the building as a convalescent home for his patients. Needless to say, he was run out of town!

• 1944 - Little Rock's Baptist Hospital bought the property for use as a convalescent home.

• 1947 - Property was sold to R. G. and Evelyn LeTourneau with the stipulation that it be used for "Christian purposes."  The couple opened an interdenominational camp called "Pine Lake Camp" for underprivileged boys.

• 1951 - The property was sold to Carmelite Friars. The clubhouse became Marylake Monastery which serves as the novitiate house of our Province of St. Therese. Here men undergo a year of intense prayer, discernment, and training in the Carmelite life.

Jesus was given honor when the property name "Pine Lake" was changed to "Marylake" after was His mother. The former country club ballroom was converted into a chapel.

This beautiful swinging bridge was built in 1963 by Father Herman Estuan prior at Marylake. Father Herman studied the Golden Gate Bridge to get the proportions correct, and then he designed this suspension bridge, that leads over to the cemetery which was formerly the 9th hole of the golf course.

Even though Marylake is on a fairly busy road, there is a feeling of peace as you stand looking over the fence.

I've been there several times and every time I've seen dragonflies land on the fence posts.

The still lake is perfect for reflections and . . . 

waterlilies!

I hope you enjoyed this little history lesson about the great rock castle in the country. I have this insatiable appetite for information about historical buildings. I want to know when it was built, who built it, and who occupied it. I find if I post the information on my blog, I can remember where it is and revisit it.

Hope you're having a great summer!

Solitary Wandering

I learned a new word this week.

solivagant: rambling alone; marked by solitary wandering

I learned this word from Leigh who posted about it on Focusing On Life's blog. You can go right here and read her post. I began to think about this word and how it perfectly describes me when I'm at my happiest; wandering alone.

My solivagant journey led me through one small Arkansas town, two cemeteries, and along the banks of a river. I'll show you a view things I found along my journey.

 I found an acorn made of marble that was covered in lichen.

I found steps that went up and then went down.

 I found my initial carved in stone.

I found a vintage water tank covered in rust.

I found a garden hidden away behind a historical building

complete with a vintage Case tractor. 

I found a 1939 Ford truck.

I know this because Mr. H knows his Ford trucks.

I took this picture just for him!

I found a strange and ferocious door knocker.

I found Pole Man.

Anyone from Arkansas should take note of the very faded Razorback cap.

I found a delicious piece of coconut pie in a small country cafe.

I found a beautiful river that is known for it's rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout. 

Fishermen come from all of the world to fish in it's cold waters.

I found a wonderful old bridge, built in 1930, which takes you across the White River.

 I found myself alone as I drove across the bridge.

I found to my right an old train bridge built in 1905.

I found myself having a delightful day.

You should try it sometime.

Just stop in a small town or park and go wandering by yourself.

It's pretty wonderful.

Friday Finds & Randomness

 

gasping

heart beating a little faster

chill bumps

amazement

awe

pride

 

Those words don't even begin to  describe my feelings when I saw this gorgeous American Bald Eagle. I've seen eagles in captivity, but never in the wild. The feelings that washed over me are just indescribable!  I had seen this nest a couple of times, but was never fortunate enough to see the eagle.  The nest is probably six feet across and in the fork of an enormous tree. Those aren't little twigs the nest is made of, but limbs and branches. On a recent trip to Northern Arkansas I took my sister hoping we would get lucky this time and spot an eagle and we did!  Not only did we see the parent, but we finally spotted the eaglet. Thrilling! I'm so grateful we were able to find and see this majestic bird. (This find was from a couple of weeks ago, but I never got to share it, so I'm sharing it today! Forgive the lateness.)

 

Linking with Kim's Friday Finds.

 

 

 

Randomness from the week:

 

#1

I made a quick trip to my daughter's this week to see my oldest grandson in his school program. The program, that featured Broadway music, was wonderful and so uplifting. These kids are fantastic singers!  Anyway, one of the stops we had to make before the program was at their library where they were quick to point out this fascinating sculpture and it's shadow. The boys know how much I like shadows.  Isn't this a fantastic shadow for a library wall? I can't imagine how those square books come from all those circles and shapes!

 

 

 

#2

On the way home I took a couple of photo detours. Our family has a love of all things railroad. It started with our son and continues with all our grandsons. You show me railroads, bridges, and water and I'm a happy camper!

 

#3

Look what I spotted growing wild along the road under the bridge...these pretty hot pink and yellow columbine flowers. Hundreds of these sturdy plants were growing along the rocky ledge.

#4

My photo detours often lead me to older downtown areas looking for historic buildings. I seem to always find such wonderful surprises tucked away. This time it was a little park in between two buildings. On each wall was a display of beautiful mosaic pieces featuring the sun.  I would love to know who the artist is, but there were no signs!

 

#5

I'm trying not to be envious of these wonderful windows and their large ledges! 

 

 

I hope to bring you a little more of my photos from my detour next week. I just can't seem to find time to keep everything going!  But, I'll try!

Enjoy your weekend!

 

A Sense of Place ~ Icons

In the class "A Sense Of Place" that I'm taking with Kat Sloma, we've been exploring ways to take photos of icons. The definition of an icon is "a person or thing regarded as a representative symbol of something."  I began to think of an iconic image that would represent central Arkansas, where I live. I thought about the State Capitol, the Clinton Presidential Library, the River Market, the Old State House, the Federal and County Courthouses, but I just couldn't settle on any of them. None of them held much appeal.  I finally realized what was bothering me; I'm not much of a structure photographer. I prefer nature, being outside, and fresh air. Finding an icon in nature was not a problem, we are after all called "The Natural State."  I decided I would photograph the Arkansas River which is an important resource of the state as well as being beautiful. I went to our downtown area, which sits on the south bank of the river, and walked along the  River Trail. It's a beautiful trail winding through parks, sculpture gardens, and even a Medical Mile with healthy exhibits.

 

 

 

 

There are several bridges that cross the river; three for vehicles, one for trains, and two are walking bridges. One of the bridges I wanted to be sure and take pictures of is the Broadway Bridge which was built in 1923. Due to structural failure it is scheduled to be torn down.  As you can imagine it has been quite the topic around central Arkansas; those that wanted it repaired and those that want a new bridge. The new bridge won out.

 

 

 

 

This is one of my favorite sections of the River Walk. I love being right on the water's level and seeing down the river. The last bridge is the railroad bridge with a section that raises and lowers to accommodate river boats, tugboats, and barges.

 

 

 

 

Speaking of tugboats...I saw two going up river while I was walking the trails. I find it fascinating that tugboats can push so much weight.  This turned out to be my favorite image of the day. I know, I didn't just focus on the river like I had planned.  How do you stop once you get started?  There's just so much to see down on the river.

 

 

 

 

I grabbed some of the local cuisine for lunch and ate outside near the river. The River Market area is know for it's good food; another example of an icon!! This is a very delicious chicken guacamole sandwich.

 

 

I hope you've enjoyed seeing these a little more of where I wander with my camera.