Friends of Prospect Lake
DOPPELGANGER
It is said that somewhere in the world everyone has a double. Apparently the same might be said for places. The Friends of Prospect Lake is delighted to offer something a little different for this seasons gallery edition. Local historian and author Gary Leveille has shared some interesting Prospect Lake "alternative realities" he uncovered while researching his book Eye of Shawenon.
In Search of Other Prospect Lakes
By Gary Leveille
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Collecting stuff can become an addiction. While conducting research for my Prospect Lake history book – Eye of Shawenon, I gathered information and images about other Prospect Lakes. I thought it would be fun to share some of my findings. For example, did you know that Eagle Gap Wilderness Area in Oregon claims a Prospect Lake with the highest elevation in the United States? It's an icy glacial pond located at nearly 8,400 feet above sea level.
COLORADO
Colorado is home to two Prospect Lakes. One is found in Colorado Springs. Local tradition suggests that the lake was once a secret submarine training area. The other Prospect Lake is a small reservoir located in Wheat Ridge, a Denver suburb.
MICHIGAN
There was once a Prospect Lake located in Lawrence, Michigan, but it is hard to find. That’s because the 2-mile-long pond had its name changed to Lake Christie by a property developer with the same last name. Nearby Prospect Lake Cemetery still retains its original name.
CLEARWATER FLORIDA
Prospect Lake in Clearwater, Florida is a former storm-water retention pond, now spruced up into an eight-acre pond with fountain and park.
NEW YORK
New York has at least three Prospect Lakes. Two are found in Orange County. One is a small reservoir west of the hamlet of Cuddebackville in the township of Deerpark. The nearby town of Goshen also has a Prospect Lake, also known as Goshen Reservoir. In the Adirondack Mountains, Upper Saranac Lake was once called Prospect Lake, and was visited by President Grover Cleveland. Prospect Park Lake is found in the NYC borough of Brooklyn – near the site of a major Revolutionary War battle.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
There are a few old postcards and references to a Prospect Lake near Lancaster, New Hampshire.
This body of water may be what is now called Martin Meadow Pond.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
The town of Saanich, near Victoria on Vancouver Island, British Columbia is host to 178-acre Prospect Lake. This is a very popular vacation town. The area also hosts Prospect Lake elementary school. Several films have been made here including Mulligans in 2008 and Kid Cannibis in 2014.
ONTARIO CANADA
Two lakes named Prospect may be found in Ontario, Canada. One is north of Barrie near Muskoka. The other is hidden deep in a wilderness area east of Sault Ste. Marie.
NEW SOUTH WALES AUSTRALIA
Australia’s Sea World Research & Rescue Team made news in 2009 when it assisted the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Australian Seabird Rescue in freeing three bottlenose dolphins trapped in Prospect Lake, Ballina, New South Wales, Australia.