The Quinn home on Kale Island, a log cabin built in the 1800s, will be among the highlights of Kale Island for the July Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum’s Centennial Homes Program. Photo provided Wanda Quinn Isenbarger.

News Release

SYRACUSE — Under the siding of the Quinn home on Kale Island is a log cabin built in the 1800s. The cabin, possibly the oldest on Lake Wawasee, is the original size, with a loft — except for the upstairs dormers, a small back porch and plumbing.

Visitors can enjoy learning about the history of the home along with other highlights of Kale Island during the Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum’s Centennial Homes program, at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 10, in the Syracuse Community Center across from Lakeside Park on Long Drive.

The park owes its existence to W.E. “Ed” Long, who made his name in the baking industry in Chicago, and blessed the community with many innovative ideas — most well-known being his gardens on Kale Island.

Betty Harkless Appenzeller lived on the island and left a legacy through her paintings of many well-known places in the lakes area. We would be remiss not to share the history of King’s Grocery which many knew as The Beacon restaurant, the root beer stand and across from it, the area now known as WACF’s “Between the Lakes.”