Lake Leelanau, Michigan

Lake Leelanau is an unincorporated community in Leelanau County, Michigan, near the lake of the same name, Lake Leelanau. It is situated along M-204 at the "narrows" that separate North & South Lake Leelanau.

History

Native Americans who first inhabited the area called this land "ke-ski-bi-ag," which means "narrow body of water," [ [http://www.leelanau.cc/government0550.asp Leelanau County website re Lake Leelanau history] ] and called the lake itself "lee-lan-au," which means "delight of life." [ [http://www.infomi.com/city/lakeleelanau/ Info Michigan website] ] See Leelanau County for a more complete discussion of the etymology of the name.

As French settlers began arriving from Canada in the middle of the nineteenth century, the settement became known as "Le Naro," owing to its location near the narrows. [ [http://www.infomi.com/city/lakeleelanau/ Ibid.] ] The narrows connect North and South Lake Leelanau. The early settlers called the river and the lake "Carp Lake," a term still used by some locals. [ [http://www.annmariemitchell.com/lake-leelanau.php Real estate agent website re Lake Leelanau] ]

In 1854, a dam was built on the Leland River, near the northwest end of Lake Leelanau, raising the water 12 feet and increasing the size of the lakes.

The Schaub family came in 1855 and took up farming; they planted the first vineyard in Leelanau County, and wine was sold locally and shipped to other markets such as Detroit and Ohio. [ [http://www.annmariemitchell.com/lake-leelanau.php Ibid.] ]

In 1867, a fur trader named Andre de Beloit tried in vain to drill for oil, ultimately hitting an artesian spring which still gushes today at nearby Fountain Point resort. [ [http://www.fountainpointresort.com/history.php?id=16 Fountain Point Resort website] ]

In 1871, the first post office was established as "Provement," believed to be shortened from "improvement." By 1924, the post office was renamed as Lake Leelanau. [ [http://www.infomi.com/city/lakeleelanau/ Info Michigan website] ]

In 1887, a Catholic school was built named St. Mary of the Assumption. The original two-story wooden building later burned down, and a brick building was erected in 1928 next to where the former building had stood. [ [http://www.Stmarysll.org St. Mary of the Assumption Parish Catholic Church and School website] ]

Community today

The village of Lake Leelanau includes its hearty year-round residents; however, as summer comes to the Leelanau Peninsula, vacationers flock to the area to enjoy its scenic beauty, boating, fishing, friendly restaurants, quaint shops and quiet charm along the narrows. This tranquill life was celebrated in a series of essays written by Kathleen Stocking. [ [http://www.press.umich.edu/titleDetailPraise.do?id=9279 Reviews of "Letters from the Leelanau, Essays of People and Place" by Kathleen Stocking] ] [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE4DF113CF934A15752C0A967958260&sec=&pagewanted=print New York Times book review, January 27, 1991] ]

In the surrounding area, sightseers can take short trips to Leland, Suttons Bay, Glen Arbor, Michigan, Northport and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This community is also in prime cherry country, with several orchards and wineries nearby. [ [http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&rls=GGLJ,GGLJ:2006-42,GGLJ:en&q=wineries&near=Suttons+Bay,+MI+49682&sa=X&oi=local&ct=title List, map of wineries in area] ]

Each year, Lake Leelanau plays host to a number of unique activities and celebrations. For example, in mid May, the community hosts its annual "Walleye Festival and Car Show". [ [http://www.glenarborbnb.com/happenings.html Area calendar of events] ]

The community has been part to substantial efforts to protect itself from growth, and to foster a nature conservancy. [ [http://www.theconservancy.com/ Leelenau Conservancy] ]

References

Further reading

* [http://clarke.cmich.edu/localhistory/Leelanau.htm Clarke Historical Library, Central, Michigan University, Bibliography for Leelanau County]

External links

* [http://www.lelandmi.com/about/ Leland]
* [http://www.leelanauhistory.org Leelanau Historical Society website]
* [http://www.leelanaucounty.com/lakeleelanau.asp Leelanau County website re Lake Leelanau]