Portage Lake (Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Portage Lake |
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 Portage Lake
Location in Michigan
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| Location | Onekama Township, Manistee County, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 44°21′36″N 086°14′25″W / 44.36000°N 86.24028°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 3 miles (4.8 km) |
| Max. width | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) maximum |
| Surface area | 2,110 acres (850 ha) |
| Max. depth | 60 feet (18 m) |
| Surface elevation | 177 metres (581 ft) |
| Settlements | Onekama; Portage Point; Wick-A-Te-Wah; Red Park; Williamsport |
Portage Lake is a beautiful natural lake in Michigan, USA. It's located in Onekama Township in Manistee County, Michigan. The village of Onekama, Michigan sits at the lake's northeastern end.
Contents
Discovering Portage Lake's Past
Portage Lake got its name in 1837. Joseph Stronach called a stream flowing into Lake Michigan "Portage Creek." This stream was near Portage Point. In the same year, a US government survey also called it "O-nek-a-ma-engk or Portage Lake." The first map showing the lake was made in 1844 by John Farmer of Detroit.
How the Lake Was Formed
Portage Lake was created a very long time ago. This happened during the Wisconsinian glacial age, between 10,000 and 75,000 years ago. It started as an arm of Lake Michigan. Later, this arm closed off, forming the lake we see today. The lake has a large area around it, called a watershed, which is about 15,808-acre (6,397 ha). Many small streams fed by groundwater flow into it.
Changing the Lake's Water Level
For a long time, until May 14, 1871, Portage Lake was landlocked. This means it had no direct connection to Lake Michigan. Its water level was about 12 to 14 feet (3.7 to 4.3 m) higher than Lake Michigan. There was a sawmill owner at Portage who used the lake's high water to power his mill. This caused problems for homesteaders living around the lake.
So, on May 14, 1871, these homesteaders dug a new channel. This channel was about a mile south of the natural outlet, Portage Creek. The new man-made channel lowered Portage Lake's water level to match Lake Michigan's. This also dried out Portage Creek.
The Birth of Onekama Village
Because the lake level changed, the small community at Portage had to move. They relocated to the previously underwater northeastern corner of Portage Lake. This new location became the village of Onekama in 1871.
Augustine W. Farr, who managed the Portage Mill, was key in setting up the new town. He also worked hard to get Portage Lake recognized as a "harbor of refuge." This meant it would be a safe place for boats during storms.
First Boat and Williamsport
The day after the new channel opened in May 1871, the first boat entered Portage Lake from Lake Michigan. It was a tugboat named Williams. To honor this, the area on the south side of Portage Lake was named Williamsport, Michigan. However, Onekama grew much faster, and Williamsport never became as big as people hoped.
Creating a Harbor of Refuge
In 1878, the United States Congress started looking into making Portage Lake a harbor of refuge. This was important because there was no safe harbor for boats during strong westerly winds along an 80-mile (130 km) stretch of coastline. This area was between Ludington, Michigan and South Manitou Island.
Congress provided the first money for this project in 1879. Work continued on and off for many years to develop the Portage Lake harbor of refuge.
Portage Lake Lighthouse
A light was first set up on the pier head in 1891. By 1893, the channel was 8.5 feet (2.6 m) deep. There were also north and south piers, each 500 feet (150 m) long. A red light shone from a 23-foot (7.0 m) high pole.
The first and only lighthouse keeper at Portage Lake Light was John Langland. He worked there from 1891 to 1917. In 1899, new laws allowed for continuous work on harbor projects. Plans were made to make the channel 18 feet (5.5 m) deep. They also planned to make the north and south piers longer.
By 1914, large steam ships regularly visited the Portage Point Inn. These ships brought passengers from big cities like Chicago and Milwaukee.
Yacht Clubs on Portage Lake
Boating and sailing have a long history on Portage Lake.
Onekama Sailing Club
The first yacht club on the lake was the Onekama Sailing Club. It started in 1896 and lasted until about 1910. This club was located on an acre of land at the southeast end of Portage Lake.
Portage Lake Yacht Club
Around 1936, the Portage Lake Yacht Club was formed for small boat sailing. It first met at the Portage Point Inn. Many people helped start it, including Murray Campbell, George Cartland, and others. Their children were also very active in sailing.
The club officially became a company in 1946. A small clubhouse was built on Portage Point. It was near the north pier, at the end of Portage Point Drive. The club still gives out the Pabst Cup. This cup was first given by the Pabst Brewery to the Onekama Sailing Club. They also have weekly sunfish races.
Shipwrecks in Portage Lake
Two known shipwrecks are located inside Portage Lake. These are old boats that sank long ago.
- The tugboat Lewis Wallace: This boat caught fire and sank on September 22, 1893. It was in a small bay at the west end of Portage Lake. The Lewis Wallace was a wooden, propeller-driven steam tug. It was built in 1865 and first named Miranda. After a fire in 1879, it was rebuilt and renamed. It was 54 feet (16.5 m) long, 16 feet (4.9 m) wide, and had a 7 feet (2.1 m) draft.
- The steamer Music: This boat also burned and sank on August 30, 1899. It was a total loss. The Music caught fire at the pier in Onekama. It was then set adrift, burning brightly as it floated westward into the lake. It sank on a bar (a shallow area) near the middle of the lake. This boat was built in 1892 as an excursion boat. It was a wooden, propeller-driven steam tug. It was 93 feet (28.3 m) long, 21 feet (6.4 m) wide, and had an 8-foot (2.4 m) draft.
Portage Lake Today
In 2008, Portage Lake had three main places for boaters and yachtsmen:
- Onekama Marine
- Portage Lake Marina
- Portage Point Inn & Yacht Club
You can find a current map of Portage Lake online. It's called NOAA Nautical Chart Great Lakes # 14939.
