Wooster Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wooster Lake |
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 Wooster Lake
Location in Illinois
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| Location | Lake County, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 42°21′54″N 88°08′56″W / 42.365°N 88.149°W |
| Type | lake |
| Primary outflows | Fish Lake Drain |
| Surface area | 98.9 acres (40.0 ha) |
| Average depth | 16.3 feet (5.0 m) |
| Max. depth | 29.8 feet (9.1 m) |
| Shore length1 | 2.03 miles (3.27 km) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Wooster Lake is a beautiful lake located in Lake County, Illinois, in the United States. You can find it near Illinois Route 134 and Wilson Road. It's mostly in a quiet area called Ingleside. The lake is also close to the villages of Volo, Round Lake, and Fox Lake.
Contents
Discover Wooster Lake's Features
Wooster Lake was formed by glaciers a very long time ago. This means huge sheets of ice carved out the land, leaving behind the lake basin. It's a private lake, so it's not open to the public.
Size and Depth of the Lake
The lake covers about 98.9 acres (40.0 ha) of water. Its shoreline stretches for about 2.03 miles (3.27 km). Wooster Lake is quite deep! It reaches a maximum depth of 29.8 feet (9.1 m). On average, it's about 16.3 feet (5.0 m) deep. This makes it the fourth deepest private lake in Lake County, Illinois.
How Water Flows Through Wooster Lake
Wooster Lake is part of a larger water system that eventually leads to the Fox River. Water flows into Wooster Lake from Fish Lake and then from Fischer Lake. After that, water leaves Wooster Lake through a small creek on its northern side. This creek then flows into Duck Lake, and finally, all this water joins the Fox River.
Understanding Lake Health
Experts from the Lake County Health Department study Wooster Lake to keep it healthy. In 2005, they looked at how much phosphorus was entering the lake. Phosphorus is a nutrient that can sometimes cause too much algae to grow if there's too much of it. During heavy rains, like in June 2004, a lot of phosphorus was measured flowing into the lake. This information helps them manage the lake's health.
Wooster Lake's Interesting Past
Wooster Lake has a unique history, especially involving a group called the Spirit Fruit Society.
The Spirit Fruit Society's Home
In 1905, a man named Jacob L. Beilhart bought a large piece of land, about 90 acres, right on the shores of Wooster Lake. He wanted to create a special community there called the Spirit Fruit Society. About a dozen members moved with him to Illinois, and new people joined too.
Building a New Life by the Lake
Over the next two years, the society worked hard. They built a very large house and a big barn, all by hand! The house was impressive, with 32 rooms and a full basement. It even had modern features for that time. The dining room was big enough to seat 100 people. The society lived peacefully, growing their own food on what they called the "Spirit Fruit Farm." They also welcomed visitors and published a newsletter.
A Leader's Legacy
Sadly, in November 1908, Jacob L. Beilhart became very sick and passed away. He was buried in a simple, unmarked grave overlooking Wooster Lake, just as he believed in living a simple life. Today, the buildings from the Spirit Fruit Farm are gone, replaced by houses. However, Beilhart's grave can still be found in a hidden corner of the land, a quiet reminder of the society's time by the lake.
