Lake, Michigan is an unincorporated community in central Garfield Township, in southwest Clare County.
Named for its position on Crooked Lake and Perch Lake, Mystic Lake and Gray Lake might be considered part of the community, as well. There is a small residential area north of US-10/M-115, but the concentration of Lake's population is south of the highway. Other routes through the community include Mystic Lake Road, Lake Station Avenue, Maple Grove Road, and Eight Point Lake Road.
Cities and villages within twenty miles of the community include Farwell, Evart, Clare, Barryton, and Lake Isabella.
Although the village was founded as a railroad community, supporting the lumber industry, its economy is based largely on recreational tourism today, centered around its lakes.
Crooked Lake is a 264-acre body of water west of Perch Lake. A public access site is located on the northern portion of the lake, just off of Mystic Lake Road, and includes a paved boat launch with sufficient parking to accommodate about fifteen cars. The Crooked Lake Improvement Association is a membership organization open to owners of waterfront property on the lake or within the Crooked Lake Special Assessment District.
East of Crooked Lake, Perch Lake is a 50-acre body of water with a gravel boat launch off of Mystic Lake Road. It has parking for only four cars.
The village began as a railroad depot on the Pere Marquette Railroad. Besides the depot, the station had a large concrete coaling tower for refueling of steam locomotives, as well as a 95-car passing track. The coaling tower still exists but has been long abandoned. Originally, the village was known as Lake Station.
On February 28, 1877, a post office was established in the depot, with Charles Howard Bates, the station agent, as postmaster. On March 11, 1909, the name was shortened to Lake, but the community is often known as Lake Station today, probably to avoid confusion with Lake Michigan.
Today, the Lake post office serves most of Garfield Township, most of Freeman Township, and a large part of Coldwater Township.
The focus of this portion of our guide is on the unincorporated community known as Lake, Michigan. Although many of these do not currently exist within the community, businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, events, sports programs, and recreational opportunities in Lake are appropriate topics for this category, along with informational sites focused on the area.
Recommended Resources
Crooked Lake Improvement Association
CLIA membership is open to owners of waterfront property on Crooked Lake or those with property within the Crooked Lake Special Assessment District. Its membership policies, a membership application, meeting information, bylaws, financial reports, and a list of members are presented, along with a calendar of events, an overview of the lake, and the community surrounding and including the lake, such as Lake, Michigan. CLIA apparel and accessories are available on its online shopping site.
https://www.crookedlakeclarecounty.com/
The Lake General Store was built in 1904 by Thomas Maltby, who also drew up the first plat map of Lake, Michigan. Although the store has changed ownership a few times over the years, it has served the community for well over a century. Its history, address, map, hours of operation, and telephone number are published on the site, and its beer, wine, liquor, tobacco, meat, and grocery departments are featured, monthly special offers, and gift cards are highlighted, and photos are displayed.
https://www.lakegeneralstore.com/
In business since 1976, Lake Hardware has been in the hands of the same family throughout its history. Associated with Do It Best, the store offers full service for industrial accounts, building professionals, and homeowners, offering key duplication, glass cutting, and paint matching services, along with Rug Doctor rentals. Its lumberyard and lawn and garden departments are highlighted, and its most popular products are featured. An articles and guides section offers various tips and skills.
https://lakehardware.doitbest.com/
Highlighting the unincorporated village of Lake, Michigan, which was first established as Lake Station in 1877, the site includes a brief profile and history of the community, along with a guide to area businesses, restaurants, entertainment venues, and lodging facilities, as well as a map of local snowmobile trails, scheduled activities and events, and a photo gallery showing local people, places, and events. The address, telephone number, and email address of the site owner are included.
http://lakestation.freeservers.com/
Maintained by the YMCA of Metropolitan Lansing, the facilities are situated along Mystic Lake near Lake, Michigan, and offer summer camp programs, aquatics, sports, group fitness, personal training, child care, and community outreach programs, each of which are featured here, including schedules and other details. YMCA membership is highlighted, including its corporate wellness programs, Silver Sneakers program, and nationwide membership. Members and staff may access a private login.
https://www.lansingymca.org/mystic
