Portage Lake (Michigan)
Encyclopedia
Portage Lake is a natural lake
, located in Onekama Township
in Manistee County, Michigan
. The village of Onekama, Michigan
is situated at the northeastern end of the lake.
that flowed into Lake Michigan
as Portage Creek. In that same year, the U.S. Government survey identified the lake as "O-nek-a-ma-engk or Portage Lake". The 26th Congress first published this survey information. The first map to show and to name the lake was entitled "The State of Michigan and the Surrounding Country," published by John Farmer of Detroit in 1844.
The lake was first formed during the Wisconsinian glacial age (10,000 to 75,000 years ago) as an arm of Lake Michigan that later closed. It has a 15808 acres (64 km²) watershed with a number of ground-fed small streams.
In more recent times and up until 14 May 1871, the lake was a landlocked body of water with a water level about 12 to 14 feet (4.3 m) above the level of Lake Michigan
. On that date in 1871, homesteaders around the lake, who had objected to the practices of the saw mill owner at Portage
in raising the lake level to power their saw mill, dug a channel through the narrow isthmus about a mile south of the natural outlet at Portage Creek.
This new man-made channel lowered the level of Portage Lake to that of Lake Michigan
and dried out Portage Creek. As a result of this, the small community at Portage
relocated to the previously submerged far northeastern corner of Portage Lake under its official new Post Office name, Onekama
, in 1871.
The man who had managed the Portage Mill, Augustine W. Farr became the key figure in establishing the town in its new location and in beginning to lobby for the designation of Portage Lake as a harbor of refuge.
On the day following the opening of the channel in May 1871, the first vessel to enter Portage Lake from Lake Michigan was the tugboat Williams. In honor of this, the area on the south side at the Portage Lake was named Williamsport, Michigan
, but due to the development of Onekama
at the far end of the Portage Lake, Williamsport, Michigan
never developed as had been originally hoped.
In 1878, Congress recognized the desire to survey the Lake as a first step toward developing a harbor of refuge, as there was no safe harbor in a westerly gale in an 80 miles (128.7 km) stretch of coastline between Ludington, Michigan
and South Manitou Island
. Congress appropriated the first funds to develop the Portage Lake harbor of refuge in 1879 and work continued on and off for decades.
Lighthouse. The first light was established on the pierhead in 1891. In 1893, the channel had a depth of 8.5 feet (2.6 m) with north and south piers 500 feet (152.4 m) long with a red light on a 23 feet (7 m) high pole. The first and only resident lighthouse keeper at Portage Lake Light was John Langland, who served from 1891 to 1917. In 1899 River and Harbors Act provided for the first time to put harbor works under continuous contract. At that point, plans were laid to dredge the channel to a depth of 18 feet (5.5 m) and to extend the north and south piers.
By 1914, steam ships of the Northern Michigan Transportation Company and the Pere Marquette Line regularly called at the Portage Point Inn, bringing passengers from Chicago
and Milwaukee.
About 1936, the Portage Lake Yacht Club was established for small boat sailing on the Lake and was initially located at the Portage Point Inn. Organized by Murray Campbell, George Cartland, Walter Hardy, Lewis Hardy, Homer Hattendorf, John Heskett, Bill Smythe, the Tomlinsons, Leonard Vaughan, Warren Vaughan, and others, particularly their active sailing children.
The Club was incorporated in 1946 and a small club house was built on Portage Point
near the Portage Lake end of the North pier at the end of Portage Point Drive. The Club has continued to award the Pabst Cup, which was originally donated by the Pabst Brewery to the Onekama Sailing Club. They also have weekly sunfish races.
The current chart of Portage Lake is NOAA Nautical Chart Great Lakes # 14939
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
, located in Onekama Township
Onekama Township, Michigan
Onekama Township is a civil township of Manistee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,514 at the 2000 census.- Communities :* The Village of Onekama is located within the township on the northeast side of Portage Lake...
in Manistee County, Michigan
Manistee County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 24,527 people, 9,860 households, and 6,714 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 14,272 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
. The village of Onekama, Michigan
Onekama, Michigan
Onekama is a village in Manistee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 647 at the 2000 census. The village is located on the shores of Portage Lake and is surrounded by Onekama Township. The town's name is derived from "oneka-ma-engh", a native phrase for "portage"...
is situated at the northeastern end of the lake.
History
The Lake was first identified as Portage Lake in 1837, when Joseph Stronach named the natural stream at Portage PointPortage Point
Portage Point is an unincorporated summer resort area of Onekama Township, Manistee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It includes the site of the first town on Portage Lake at It is located on the narrow strip of land between Portage Lake and Lake Michigan developed by the Portage Point...
that flowed into Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
as Portage Creek. In that same year, the U.S. Government survey identified the lake as "O-nek-a-ma-engk or Portage Lake". The 26th Congress first published this survey information. The first map to show and to name the lake was entitled "The State of Michigan and the Surrounding Country," published by John Farmer of Detroit in 1844.
The lake was first formed during the Wisconsinian glacial age (10,000 to 75,000 years ago) as an arm of Lake Michigan that later closed. It has a 15808 acres (64 km²) watershed with a number of ground-fed small streams.
In more recent times and up until 14 May 1871, the lake was a landlocked body of water with a water level about 12 to 14 feet (4.3 m) above the level of Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
. On that date in 1871, homesteaders around the lake, who had objected to the practices of the saw mill owner at Portage
Portage Point
Portage Point is an unincorporated summer resort area of Onekama Township, Manistee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It includes the site of the first town on Portage Lake at It is located on the narrow strip of land between Portage Lake and Lake Michigan developed by the Portage Point...
in raising the lake level to power their saw mill, dug a channel through the narrow isthmus about a mile south of the natural outlet at Portage Creek.
This new man-made channel lowered the level of Portage Lake to that of Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
and dried out Portage Creek. As a result of this, the small community at Portage
Portage Point
Portage Point is an unincorporated summer resort area of Onekama Township, Manistee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It includes the site of the first town on Portage Lake at It is located on the narrow strip of land between Portage Lake and Lake Michigan developed by the Portage Point...
relocated to the previously submerged far northeastern corner of Portage Lake under its official new Post Office name, Onekama
Onekama
Onekama is the name of a village and a township in Manistee County, in the U.S. state of Michigan:* Onekama, Michigan* Onekama Township, Michigan...
, in 1871.
The man who had managed the Portage Mill, Augustine W. Farr became the key figure in establishing the town in its new location and in beginning to lobby for the designation of Portage Lake as a harbor of refuge.
On the day following the opening of the channel in May 1871, the first vessel to enter Portage Lake from Lake Michigan was the tugboat Williams. In honor of this, the area on the south side at the Portage Lake was named Williamsport, Michigan
Williamsport, Michigan
Williamsport is a place name in Onekama Township, Manistee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located on the southwestern shore of Portage Lake at . and had its beginning in about 1871 when a channel was dug connecting Portage Lake with Lake Michigan...
, but due to the development of Onekama
Onekama
Onekama is the name of a village and a township in Manistee County, in the U.S. state of Michigan:* Onekama, Michigan* Onekama Township, Michigan...
at the far end of the Portage Lake, Williamsport, Michigan
Williamsport, Michigan
Williamsport is a place name in Onekama Township, Manistee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located on the southwestern shore of Portage Lake at . and had its beginning in about 1871 when a channel was dug connecting Portage Lake with Lake Michigan...
never developed as had been originally hoped.
In 1878, Congress recognized the desire to survey the Lake as a first step toward developing a harbor of refuge, as there was no safe harbor in a westerly gale in an 80 miles (128.7 km) stretch of coastline between Ludington, Michigan
Ludington, Michigan
Ludington is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,357. It is the county seat of Mason County.Ludington is a harbor town located on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Pere Marquette River...
and South Manitou Island
South Manitou Island
South Manitou Island is located in Lake Michigan, approximately west of Leland, Michigan. It is part of Leelanau County and the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The uninhabited island is in land area and can be accessed by a ferry service from Leland...
. Congress appropriated the first funds to develop the Portage Lake harbor of refuge in 1879 and work continued on and off for decades.
Lighthouse. The first light was established on the pierhead in 1891. In 1893, the channel had a depth of 8.5 feet (2.6 m) with north and south piers 500 feet (152.4 m) long with a red light on a 23 feet (7 m) high pole. The first and only resident lighthouse keeper at Portage Lake Light was John Langland, who served from 1891 to 1917. In 1899 River and Harbors Act provided for the first time to put harbor works under continuous contract. At that point, plans were laid to dredge the channel to a depth of 18 feet (5.5 m) and to extend the north and south piers.
By 1914, steam ships of the Northern Michigan Transportation Company and the Pere Marquette Line regularly called at the Portage Point Inn, bringing passengers from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Milwaukee.
Yacht Clubs
The first yacht club established on Portage Lake was the Onekama Sailing Club established in 1896 and which survived until about 1910. This club was located on an acre of land at the southeast end of Portage Lake.About 1936, the Portage Lake Yacht Club was established for small boat sailing on the Lake and was initially located at the Portage Point Inn. Organized by Murray Campbell, George Cartland, Walter Hardy, Lewis Hardy, Homer Hattendorf, John Heskett, Bill Smythe, the Tomlinsons, Leonard Vaughan, Warren Vaughan, and others, particularly their active sailing children.
The Club was incorporated in 1946 and a small club house was built on Portage Point
Portage Point
Portage Point is an unincorporated summer resort area of Onekama Township, Manistee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It includes the site of the first town on Portage Lake at It is located on the narrow strip of land between Portage Lake and Lake Michigan developed by the Portage Point...
near the Portage Lake end of the North pier at the end of Portage Point Drive. The Club has continued to award the Pabst Cup, which was originally donated by the Pabst Brewery to the Onekama Sailing Club. They also have weekly sunfish races.
Shipwrecks
There are two known shipwrecks located inside Portage Lake:- The tug boat Lewis Wallace, which burned and sank in the small bay at the west end of Portage Lake between the East end of the North Channel pier and the present site of the Portage Lake Yacht Club on 22 September 1893. Classified as a wooden, propeller driven steam tug (Official number 16625), she had been built in 1865 by Barbage, in Grand Haven, MichiganGrand Haven, MichiganGrand Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is the county seat of Ottawa County. Grand Haven is located on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Grand River, for which it is named. As of the 2010 census, Grand Haven had a population of 10,412. It is part of the...
and originally named Miranda. After a fire in 1879, she was rebuilt at Saginaw, MichiganSaginaw, MichiganSaginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
and renamed Lewis Wallace. She had an overall length of 54 feet (16.5 m), a beam of 16 feet (4.9 m), and a draft of 7 feet (2.1 m). - The steamer Music which burned and sank on the sank, a total loss, on bar south of North ( or "Andy's") Point near the middle of the Lake. She caught fire at the pier in Onekama and was cast adrift, burning like a torch as she drifted westward out into the lake 30 August 1899. Built as an excursion boat by McMillan in South Haven, MichiganSouth Haven, MichiganSouth Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Most of the city is in Van Buren County, although a small portion extends into Allegan County. The population was 5,021 at the 2000 census....
in 1892 (Official number 92421), she was classified as a wooden, propeller-driven steam tug, and had an overall length of 93 feet, beam of 21 feet (6.4 m) and an 8 feet (2.4 m) draft.
Modern conditions and facilities
In 2008, Portage Lake has three facilities for yachtsmen:- Onekama Marine
- Portage Lake Marina
- Portage Point Inn & Yacht Club
The current chart of Portage Lake is NOAA Nautical Chart Great Lakes # 14939