Lake History

My Mom, Florence Matuszak, died in 2012. I am now a part owner of her house. She and my Dad bought their lot in the Spring of 1965 and were the 5^th dwelling on the lake when they built their house in the fall of 1965. I fondly remember the Lake Ogemaw display at the Detroit Boat Show at the 8 Mile Military Armory in January 1965. A salesman then came to our house with a projector photo display of the lake and lot offerings. My Mom was insistent that she wanted a lot that would face the west to provide afternoon sun for the kids when swimming. He was a very good salesman telling my parents “you don’t want a lot on the far east end of the lake, it is too steep. I think lot #580 offers what you desire.” So, my parents put a $25 deposit on the lot sight unseen (that my Dad had won on a football square-he was itching to do something with that $25!) They later bought lot #579 as well. I remember the days before the water was in the lake with signs posted all around the lake in the channels and bays “lake water will be XX feet deep”. The old “Peterson Swamp” became Lake Ogemaw.