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Lake named after beloved early resident

Photo at left: Booth Lake in Troy Township was named after an early resident who could always be found at the lake. . More Mystery Place photos in the GALLERY

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Booth Lake is on the east side of Troy Township and is accessible from Booth Lake Road.

The lake was named for an elderly gentleman named Booth who lived with the Meachams in Troy. He loved the lake and spent so much time there that his neighbors decided to name the lake in his memory.

According to Butterfields History of Walworth County, The Rev. Mr. Beardsley, in his early history of the township said, “An elderly gentleman by the name of Booth came into the country with the Meacham family. He had been in their family a number of years before coming here and continued with them for some years after their emigration here.

“He was a quiet, retiring man who seemed not much burdened with the worldly cares and labors. He was enchanted with the beautiful lake on sections 13 and 24 of Troy and was wont to spend a large part of his time on the lake, either in fishing or in some other manner.

“If anyone inquired for him, they were probably informed that he was down to the lake. And so it came to pass that it was often remarked by someone, ‘Let us go down to the lake and see what Booth is about.’

“At last, the beautiful little body of water, not surpassed by any in the state, came to be called Booth’s Lake, a name which it has continued to hold until this day.”

According to Beckwith’s History of Walworth County, thet Lake has no outflowing or inflowing streams. It covers 125 acres. Wilmer’s Grove Beach was located near the head of the lake.

The Meachams, early settlers in Troy Township, settled in section 25. Because they came with many supplies, they were able to build their log cabin with a wooden floor. This latter was a luxury for many of the early settlers. William Pitt Meacham was born in Troy on Dept. 27, 1836. His was the first birth in Walworth County.

In the early days, a steamer boat, “Lady Anna” was operated by Harold Rodges on Booth Lake. Later, around 1880, he opened a summer resort on Crooked Lake, now known as Lake Beulah.

This included a pavilion and amusement park. Most of the people who came to Booth Lake and Crooked Lake were from the Milwaukee area. Walworth County has 132 lakes, according to the March, 1954 issue of “Badger History.”

Of those, 98 are unnamed.