Lake Buel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lake Buel
September on the lake
Lake Buel Location in Massachusetts Show map of Massachusetts Lake Buel Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Monterey / New Marlborough, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States
Coordinates	42°10′10″N 73°16′30″W / 42.16944°N 73.27500°W / 42.16944; -73.27500
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	196 acres (79 ha)
Average depth	20 ft (6.1 m)
Max. depth	42 ft (13 m)
Surface elevation	908 ft (277 m)
Settlements	Monterey, New Marlboro

Lake Buel is a beautiful 196-acre lake in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. It's located just south of Route 57 and east of Great Barrington. Many summer homes and a few year-round houses surround the lake. These homes are in small, friendly neighborhoods, each with its own private road.

The lake got its name from Samuel C. Buel of Tyringham, Massachusetts. On July 23, 1812, he bravely saved people from drowning in the lake, which was then called Six Mile Pond.

The northern part of the lake is in the town of Monterey. The southern part is in New Marlborough. There's a paved boat ramp on the northwest side. This ramp is open to the public. A section of the famous Appalachian Trail also crosses a old mill dam near the lake's northern end.

Discovering Lake Buel's Natural Features

Lake Buel is about 20 feet deep on average, but its deepest point is 42 feet. The area that drains into the lake, called its watershed, covers a huge 3,268 acres. The lake's water is "hard," meaning it has lots of minerals. Its pH level is usually between 7.8 and 8.6. This hardness helps protect the lake from the harmful effects of acid rain.

The lake is considered both "eutrophic" and "mesotrophic." This means it has a good amount of nutrients. These nutrients help many aquatic plants grow, especially in the deeper parts of the lake. The lake's normal water level is 908 feet above sea level.

Lake Buel's Fun History: Resorts and Inns

For a long time, Lake Buel wasn't really a place for fun activities. But in the 1870s, that all changed! It became a super popular summer spot. Two main places opened up: Gibson's Grove on the south side and Turner's Landing on the northwest side.

Gibson’s Grove: A Popular Getaway

In the early 1870s, George N. Gibson created a lovely pine grove for picnics. He called it Gibson's Grove. One day in 1875, picnickers got caught in a sudden rainstorm. This led to the building of the lake's very first building: a dining hall!

By 1876, Gibson's added a special boat called the Wm. B. Gibson to entertain visitors. Soon, Gibson's Grove was buzzing with fishing contests, dances, and big outdoor parties. They even had an ice house by 1893. In the early 1900s, you could rent cozy cottages there. Some even had telephones!

Later, in the 1920s, Gibson's had a fun toboggan slide. It was removed in the 1950s for safety reasons. The property changed hands several times over the years. It became a tavern called the Blue Gill Club. Eventually, the main buildings were taken down in 1975.

Turner’s Landing: Another Lakeside Favorite

Turner's Landing opened around 1875. It was also known as Turner's View House. This spot was very popular, sometimes having hundreds of visitors a day! Before World War I, people could even rent tents to stay overnight.

In 1936, Turner's updated its main building and cottages. Some even got electricity! The large 150-acre property was sold in 1937.

Other Fun Spots Around the Lake

• Littlecrest Inn: This inn opened in 1937 and offered cabins for summer guests. It closed in 1959.
• Miami Beach: An amusement and swimming spot, Miami Beach opened around 1925 on the north shore. It had a dance hall and refreshment room. Sadly, the main building burned down in 1947.
• Bigford’s Landing: Established in 1910, Bigford's Landing had its own boat and a restaurant.
• Hebert’s Beach: This beach opened in 1946 and hosted square dances. Later, it became a motel and then apartments.

Private Cottages: Homes by the Lake

The very first private cabin on Lake Buel was built in 1881. It belonged to Dr. Willard Rice, a dentist from Great Barrington. Later, it became the Mahaiwe Club, a special club just for men.

By 1904, there were 21 buildings around Lake Buel. Many private cottages had fun names like Camp Tee-Hee, Wildwood, and Kamp Kozy. In the 1970s, more cottages were built on land that was filled in with gravel. This area was playfully called Cavity Cove.

Lake Buel's Boats: Launches and Steamboats

The first public boat on Lake Buel was the Wm. B. Gibson. It made its first trip on July 4, 1876. This was the first steamboat in Berkshire County! It was a big boat, 6 feet wide, with a powerful engine. It could carry 200 people on its two decks.

The Wm. B. Gibson picked up passengers at Gibson's Grove and Turner's Lake View Hall. It took only 17 minutes to travel the 1.25-mile trip. Tickets cost 20 cents for adults and 10 cents for children. After being sold, the boat's name changed to the Lake Buell. Sadly, it was destroyed by fire in 1885.

Around 1891, a new steamboat, also called the Lake Buel, was launched. It was smaller, 20 feet long, and ran on oil. This boat operated until 1934. Other motorboats also appeared on the lake over the years, including the Minnehaha and a Chris-Craft. The lake's first private gasoline boat was owned by W.E. Hill.

Summer Camps: Fun by the Lake

Lake Buel has a long history of summer camps for kids!

• Camp Buel: One of the earliest camps, existing around 1900.
• Camp Berkshire: A small boys' camp that ran from 1912 until before 1937.
• Camp Owaissa: A girls' camp on the west shore from 1919 to 1920.
• Camp Half Moon: Started around 1920 and is still active today! It became co-ed in 1994.
• Camp To-Ho-Ne: Opened in 1921. This camp used a "tribal government" system to help with rules and safety. It grew to include tennis courts and a lodge. The camp closed in 1970, and the land later became a housing development.
• Camp Mi Yo Quan / Berkshire Highland: This camp opened in 1937 on the old Turner's Landing site. It ran until 1956.
• Ted Mack Camp: In 1957 and 1958, the site became a summer music camp for kids. Famous people like Marvin Hamlisch were campers there!
• Camp Deerwood: This camp opened in 1970, offering sports, arts, and even ham radio lessons.
• Kutsher's Sports Academy: In 2008, this sports camp moved to the lake, hosting 200 campers.
• Fokine Ballet Camp: This ballet camp leased Littlecrest for several summers in the late 1950s.
• Girl Scout Summer Camp: Bigford's Landing hosted a Girl Scout camp throughout the 1950s.

Lake Buel Associations

The Lake Buel Association started in 1938. Its main goals were to keep the lake healthy, especially by controlling weeds, and to organize fun social events.

In 1986, the Lake Buel Restoration-Preservation district was created. This was a big step for the lake's protection. It was the first of its kind in Massachusetts for a "great pond."

Wildlife: Animals and Plants of Lake Buel

Lake Buel is home to many different kinds of animals and plants. They live in the wetlands, meadows, forests, and the lake itself.

Ferns

Protecting Lake Buel: Milfoil and Zebra Mussels

Lake Buel has faced challenges from invasive species.

Dealing with Milfoil Infestation

The lake has a problem with an invasive aquatic plant called milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum). It probably arrived by accident in the early 1960s. This plant grew and spread a lot between 1974 and 1988. When milfoil decays, it uses up a lot of oxygen in the lake. This creates "dead zones" where other aquatic life struggles to survive.

In the early 1990s, milfoil covered over 40% of the lake! To help, people started harvesting the plant in 1980. They removed a huge amount, about 90 acres of it, that year.

Concerns About Zebra Mussels

In July 2009, tiny invasive creatures called zebra mussels were found in nearby Laurel Lake. This caused many lakes, including Lake Buel, to close their boat ramps to prevent the mussels from spreading.

Zebra mussels are not native to the United States. They came from lakes in Russia. They can grow so much that they cover everything underwater. They can even block pipes and water intakes. As of 2009, there were no specific state laws in Massachusetts to deal with invasive species like these. So, local towns had to make their own rules.

Samuel Buell: The Lake's Namesake

On July 23, 1812, a brave 16-year-old named Samuel Buell saved three people from a rowing accident. Three others drowned, and one person swam to shore. That September, Samuel received a special gold heart medal for his heroism.

Samuel Buell later became a farmer. He passed away in 1865. The lake was officially named in his honor on July 4, 1876, about a decade after his death. Interestingly, in 1878, a local newspaper dropped the second "L" from his last name, and other papers soon followed. That's why it's now Lake Buel!

Amazing Feats at Lake Buel

Lake Buel has been the site of some impressive achievements!

• In 1910, 17-year-old Helen Tobey was the first person known to swim the length of the lake. She swam about 1.5 miles in 70 minutes!
• Helen Humphries was the first to swim the entire length from Miami Beach to Gibson's, which is about 2 miles. She did it in 70 minutes in 1928.
• In January 1987, Michael Danek caught a state record northern pike in Lake Buel. This huge fish weighed an amazing 32 pounds, 4 ounces!

Images for kids

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  July, early morning