Penn Lake is named after William Penn.  The area which was to become Penn Lake was part of the virgin forest around the White Haven / Bear Creek area.  The Penn Lake property was part of the Albert Lewis Estate.  Albert Lewis’ roots were in the lumber business. Lewis’ father and uncle were lumbermen who came to PA from Maine.

1860’s:

During the early 1860’s, Albert worked for the Lehigh Valley Railroad. He was young, ambitious and a favored employee of Asa Packer. Packer was the Railroad Magnet whose mansion can still be toured in the town of Jim Thorpe. Lewis’ relationship with Packer and others from the railroad would later help him develop his ice interests in the Bear Creek area.

Lehigh River Ice Industry:
The development of the “ice box”, and increased urbanization and consumer demand, created a new, high growth, business venture…the Ice business. White Haven was considered the hub of the Ice Industry due to it’s plentiful lakes, favorable winter climate, and railroad logistics. Rivers, and then lakes, were used to freeze water into ice, which was then cut and shipped to New York and New Jersey for profit.

1880’s:

Starting in 1880 Albert Lewis formed the Mountain Springs and Bear Creek Ice Companies in Luzerne County.  The Bear Creek Ice Company clears the land and dams Wright Creek which creates Penn Lake.  A minimum of 22 years of ice cutting generated a large amount of income for Lewis and his partners.

1911 – 1912:

Bear Creek Company shipped 8,000 tons of ice from Penn Lake in the 1911-12 season. The Ice House at Penn Lake was located on what is now the Yeager’s property. The rail line was located on the top of the dam and the ice was loaded onto the cars from the Ice House.

1915:

Severe weather conditions, including a hurricane in 1915 hit the area and destroyed the ice plants.  Coupled with these natural disasters was the development of ammonia based cooling and refrigeration which allowed ice to be manufactured within the cities and closer to the customers.

1917:

The Luzerne County ice plants were dismantled in October 1917 ending the ice industry at Penn Lake and surrounding areas.

References:
adapted from Albert Lewis: The Bear Creek Lumber and Ice King
by F. Charles Petrillo- 1998 Penn Lake is named after William Penn.  The area which was to become Penn Lake was part of the virgin forest around the White Haven / Bear Creek area.  The Penn Lake property was part of the Albert Lewis Estate.  Albert Lewis’ roots were in the lumber business. Lewis’ father and uncle were lumbermen who came to PA from Maine.

1860’s:

During the early 1860’s, Albert worked for the Lehigh Valley Railroad. He was young, ambitious and a favored employee of Asa Packer. Packer was the Railroad Magnet whose mansion can still be toured in the town of Jim Thorpe. Lewis’ relationship with Packer and others from the railroad would later help him develop his ice interests in the Bear Creek area.

Lehigh River Ice Industry:
The development of the “ice box”, and increased urbanization and consumer demand, created a new, high growth, business venture…the Ice business. White Haven was considered the hub of the Ice Industry due to it’s plentiful lakes, favorable winter climate, and railroad logistics. Rivers, and then lakes, were used to freeze water into ice, which was then cut and shipped to New York and New Jersey for profit.

1880’s:

Starting in 1880 Albert Lewis formed the Mountain Springs and Bear Creek Ice Companies in Luzerne County.  The Bear Creek Ice Company clears the land and dams Wright Creek which creates Penn Lake.  A minimum of 22 years of ice cutting generated a large amount of income for Lewis and his partners.

1911 – 1912:

Bear Creek Company shipped 8,000 tons of ice from Penn Lake in the 1911-12 season. The Ice House at Penn Lake was located on what is now the Yeager’s property. The rail line was located on the top of the dam and the ice was loaded onto the cars from the Ice House.

1915:

Severe weather conditions, including a hurricane in 1915 hit the area and destroyed the ice plants.  Coupled with these natural disasters was the development of ammonia based cooling and refrigeration which allowed ice to be manufactured within the cities and closer to the customers.

1917:

The Luzerne County ice plants were dismantled in October 1917 ending the ice industry at Penn Lake and surrounding areas.

References:
adapted from Albert Lewis:The Bear Creek Lumber and Ice King
by F. Charles Petrillo- 1998

1923:

Albert Lewis died in 1923.  The land around Penn Lake was conveyed from his estate to his daughter, Lily Lewis Kilner.

1938:

In December 1938, Lily Lewis Kilner sold the land around Penn Lake to Harry F Goeringer and his wife, Mary C. Goeringer for real estate development. The land was surveyed and laid out in lots by the Sturdevant-Dilley Engineering Company Civil Engineers of Wilkes-Barre,PA.

Harry Goeringer was the realtor who sold the lots around Penn Lake. He advertised it as an “unspoiled, tranquil place nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains on the Bear Creek-White Haven Highway” (See “Vintage Brochure” – on sidebar of this page) Thomas Carter, Sr, was a sales agent for Mr. Goeringer.

Houses started appearing around the lake in late 1938. Some of our Early residents included the Carters, the Evans, the Shinkles and the Smaltz family. Some of the residents built ”changing houses” or pagodas on their lots. These were intended to be temporary structures but a few may actually can be seen around the lake today. The pagoda seen in the photo was originally built on the Alvin Reimold property after WWII. It is now located next to the lake spillway.

Dot Evans, one of our current residents, recalls that a builder by the name of” French” built her grandfather’s cottage (named “The Pioneer”) in the fall of 1938. Early residents had the responsibility of clearing the trees and stumps from the lake. Social events including the spaghetti dinner and church services were held in the basement of the Keblish house (the big white house by the dam) during this era according to Evans.

Late 1930’s:

From left to right:  Lillie Boyer, Helen Boyer, and Ester Boyer (sisters)

July 14, 1941:

The Penn Lake Association is incorporated as a non-profit organization for the purpose of creating a governing body for the Penn lake community.

July 28, 1941:

The association’s Charter and Articles of Incorporation are signed by Judge John Aponick, Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.

First Officers

President – Charles Chapman
Vice President – Warren Seiple
Treasurer – Elmer Wendel
Secretary – Ralph Beetz

First Board of Directors

Harold Wagner
William Deisroth
A. Bavalack
S.A. Jayne
Clifford A. Shinkle

1943:

In 1943, the Community House Dedication Ceremony took place. Below are pictures of the historical day at Penn Lake.

The pictures below were taken in the 1940’s, donated by Howard “Danny” Jenkins. Danny Jenkins’ father purchased land at Penn Lake when the road around the lake was only 3 weeks old. He built a cottage at 16 Lakeview Drive (not the current cottage at that address). There was Carter’s store, next to them was the cottage of Dr. Brogan and then Danny’s cottage. Next to Danny was Bozzart’s cottage. Danny was born in 1941 and Penn Lake is still a big part of his life.

The following pictures were submitted by Bob Davis. The first picture was pasted to a cross-section of a small tree stump. These were sold at the Carter’s store.

1940s

Below are a few pictures after the flood in 1942.

1949

The Women’s Auxillary of Penn Lake is formed

At the same time in the 1940’s, the Penn Lake Rod and Gun Club was formed. Its original organizers were:

Dr Brogan
Thomas Carter, Sr.

This men’s club was the group that started the traditional “Night at the Races” fundraiser. Funds generated from this event were used to sponsor a Pheasant Hunt and for stocking the lake. Records indicate that the first fish stocked were bass and shiners.

1951:

1954 article from The Journal:

The Penn Lake Association holds its 2nd annual fair- for fund-raising purposes
(see newspaper clipping below):

1956:

Thomas Carter, Sr. and his son, Lawrence are hailed as “heros” for saving the lives of 2 hunters who almost drowned in the lake. They were presented with a plaque at a dinner held in their Honor. Shown below, the Wilkes-Barre Record newspaper covered the story on October 7, 1957.

Below are pictures of the Boat Regatta in the 1960s. These photos were donated by Dot Bahrt.