In 1879, seventy-five Europeans come to Kodai for the ‘season’ the summer months. In 1883 the new hill station had a permanent nucleus of 615 residents, and by the mid 1900 s there were about a hundred Europeans living in kodai. Who were they? Probably missionaries, retried civil servants and army officials, coffee planters and a small smattering of entrepreneurs like Mr.Tapp who, later, started a cafe the Tea House, opposite the Boat House. You could order a tray of hot scones to be brought to yuour boat, or a bowl of strawberries and cream, But we cannot talk about boats without introducing the lake, and this cannot be done unless Sir Vere Levinge is brought into the picture. Before his time the lake was a swamp where boys shot snipe, shepherds watched their flocks and sambar and even tiger came down for a drink in its streams. In 1867 Sir Vere, Collector of Mudarai from 1860, decided to settle in Kodaikanal. He was the type of citizen we rarely see, someone who actively nurtured his surroundings for the good of everyone. (Today, he’dbe called a conservationist). He introduced new varieties of fruit, vegetables and flowers, improved and built roads and was every willing to donate his own money for public works. But his major achievement was the creation, in 1863, of the lake. Apparently spending money from his own pocket, he had the swampy valley bunded to form the star-fish shaped attraction that lakhs of tourists walk around, sail on and admire.
It was put to use immediately; boats wer bought, a boat club started. Those early British and American residents and visitors took great pleasure in the outdoors, and soon every little stream and forest had a name. Many of these names have an interesting history. Chandler Falls was so named because one Mrs.Chandler carried a stout stick, but in spite of this, she had an accident one day. She heard a snap, and fell into the steam, Thinking the “snap” was her leg breaking, she lay in the stream yelling for help. When lifted out it was discovered that it was the stick, and not her leg, which was broken. And so chandler falls born.
Another early Kodai resident must be mentioned here, whose name ha been given to a dormitory in Kodai International school. Viriginia Boyer was a missionary based in Rajamundry, and later transferred as a teacher to Koai. In May 1922 after her furlough she boarded the “Egypt” for the journey to India. But 29 hours after setting sail, the ship was rammed by a French steamer and sank. Survivors who were rescued on lifeboats remembered her as a heroic figure who helped and calmed panickig passengers, She finally gave up her place in a lifeboat so that all members of a family could be saved together. She herself went down with the ship.
