Loon Lake
From Heritage
A Brief History of the Loon Lake area
In the years following 1875, settlers began exploring the lakes in this area. Deer Lake was named because hunters could easily hunt deer as they swan across the Narrows. In 1881, Colville Valley pioneer John U. Hofstetter named Loon Lake because it was a favored nesting place for the Common Loon.
The Loon Lake School District was formed on May 6, 1889. Also that year, the railroad started coming to the town. The residents petitions for a Post Office and it was started in February of 1890.
The first townsite to be platted was on the east side of Loon Lake. It was dedicated by Eva and Cyrus Mather on September24, 1890 and was called Lake Side. They changed the name to Loon Lake on February 18, 1891.
The present town of Loon Lake was platted on July 29, 1891 by Louise and Daniel Corbin. They called their town Loon Lake Park and it soon developed into a thriving community with many stores, two hotels and a Post Office. Half of the town was destroyed by fire in the summer of 1931. It is thought that the fire was started by children playing with matches.
One of the most notorious people to ever live in Loon Lake was Harry Tracy, the outlaw. Harry Tracy worked as a lumberjack for Mr. Dunlap in the winter of 1896-97 and it was during this time that he lived in a cain on Loon Lake near the island. He was said to be friendly and a good worker. His life of crime started in the spring of 1897 after he left Loon Lake and headed south. It was a five year period that put Tracy's name into the record books as one of the most feared outlaws in the West.
Some people say he was heading back to Loon Lake in 1902 when his life was ended in a wheatfield near Creston, Washington after a long manhunt.
These days, most people may not remember Harry Tracy but they do remember this area as being one of the favorite recreations spots in Washington. Mr. Corbin first open Loon Lake Park in 1889 as a kind of picnic grounds. Excurstions on the train were run to the park in the summer and it soon developed into a recreation resort. The park was sold to Evan Morgan in 1897 and he changed the name to Morgan Park.
A ferris wheel operated for many summers. A spacious pavilion was also built which was used for dances and other entertainment. There were many bathing and boat house. Visitors could sail on the steam launch "Gwen". The Gwen was said to be "safe, swift and comfortable, with accomodations for 100 passengers." It made pleasure trips during the entire summer season.
Morgan Park is now a privte, community beach for those property owners in the Morgan Park sub-division.
For additional information on the history of the Loon Lake area, visit the Old Schoolhouse in Loon Lake. We are open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturdays, year around. We will also open at other times with an appointment. Call 509-233-2222 to schedule a time. E-mail contact is Lorinda@theheritagenetwork.org.
