Clear Lake Chronology

1868 Fitch Phelps located in Colfax Township. He purchased a large tract of pine land, built a mill and engaged in lumbering. He cleared a large farm and made his home on the shore of Clear Lake.
1879 Asa and Mary Smith bought 72.5 acres on the west and southwest shores of Clear Lake. They farmed and built the Clear Lake Resort − Smith’s Landing − on the west end of the lake.
1884 Lakewood Association was established on 49 acres on the north shore of Clear Lake. By 1925, 25 cottages had been built. There were 28 cottages by 1980.
1885 West Clear Lake Resort was established on a part of the Smith farm which bordered the lake.
1919 Meceola Country Club purchased the Gate’s farm on the northeast part of Clear Lake.



1930 BA-NA-GA-MIG Association was established on the southeast shore of Clear Lake.
1967 On January 9, the Mecosta County Board of Supervisors authorized the establishment of a Lake Board on Clear Lake.
1967 In August, a feasibility study for improving Clear Lake was carried out. The purpose of the study was for restoring and maintaining the level of the lake. The study warned that “continued development of year round homes on the watershed will likely contribute to pollution and increase the nutrient level to a critical level. Anyone building a new home on the lake should be encouraged to build as high as possible and well back from the water.”
1967 In November, Beechwood Estates of 16 lots was established.
1968 On April 16, the legal Lake level was established by the Mecosta County Circuit Court at 1,066 feet above sea level.
1969 On October 2, the Clear Lake Board approved the extension of the special assessment of 14 mills on the property owners in the township for Clear Lake improvement.
1970 On January 7, a test well was driven on the DNR Public Access property for the purpose of finding a water supply (aquifer) to pump water into Clear Lake. A well was driven 497 feet.
1971 Meceola Country Club drove two wells. A four inch well was driven to a 182 foot depth. A six inch well was driven to a 99 foot depth. The two wells combined could produce 285 gallons per minute.
1974 BA-GA-NA-MIG Association sold lots 13, 14, and ˝ of 17 to Keith Cripe. Complaint was brought to Court on April 2, 1975 by Mr. Cripe to determine his rights in selling the lots.
1976 In February, Birchwood Estates of eight lots was established.
1981 During the summer, an environmental study of Clear Lake was carried out under the direction of Ferris State Environmental Management Study Center.

Stories and Legends about Clear Lake

1885 The Early Days at Smith's Resort and Hotel
1914 Two Lives Lost
1919 History of the Meceola Country Club
1925 The Legend of the Headless Fisherman
1942? Captain Binney lands his Navy plane on Clear Lake
1997 Obituary for Virginia Van Wie
1999 A black bear visits Clear Lake
Current An unedited history of Clear Lake's cottages