File:Ambos Lake dam - DPLA - 0621b6fd0fd6a29a4c2a15e9e4a84d0d.jpg

Edmund F. Arras (center) and his future wife Elizabeth McDerment (left) stand with a third unidentified young woman (right) on top of a bridge spanning a dam along the edge of Ambos Lake, part of the Ambos Farm in Berwick. The dam was built by the estate's owner, Emil Ambos, and contained a screen to prevent the fish he stocked the lake with from falling into the waters of Alum Creek. Emil Ambos, a wealthy Columbus liquor merchant, purchased his 120 acre property from Phillip and Eva Schwartz in March of 1886 as a country retreat where he built amusing follies and rustic bridges. Ambos willed part of the estate to the City of Columbus with the intention it be used as a park, but plans for Ambos Park were denied by the City Council in 1898 on the grounds it was too isolated. It would later become known as Spring Lakes when owned by George M. Williams and served as a popular recreation destination for picnics, dancing and ice skating until its development into the Berwick Golf Course in the 1930's. Edmund F. Arras (7/7/1875-10/19/1951), a prominent Columbus businessman and entrepreneur, founded one of the city’s first property rental agencies in 1892. Trained as a lawyer, he graduated from OSU law school in 1896 and went on to hold positions in numerous civic groups around the city. He was particularly active within Kiwanis International and was involved with several local religious organizations. In 1913, he and his wife Elizabeth traveled to the World Sunday School Association Convention in Zurich, Switzerland. They continued on to travel extensively throughout Europe documenting their journey through photographs. Due to the timing of their trip, these photos comprise a valuable collection of images of European cities later devastated by war. The Arras family’s lantern slides and negatives include images from their 1913 travels through US east coast cities, Atlantic islands of the Azores, Madeira, Gibraltar and the countries of Algeria, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, England, and Ireland. Also included are images from their 1920 train journey from Chicago to the western US for the Kiwanis Convention in Portland. These photographs include images of Chicago, Denver and western National Parks. See OSJ 10 Apr 1898 p.1 "The new park for children given to Columbus by Emil Ambos"