Richfield Historical Society

Life on Lake Five by Aerona Smith

In the Village of Richfield, the lakes include Amy Belle, Bark Lake, Friess, Lake Five and Mud Lake. The majority of Lake Five is located in the southern portion of the village which is located in Washington County. A small amount of shoreline on the southern edge of the lake is located in the Town of Lisbon in Waukesha County. There are approximately 55 lake-frontage owners.

Lake Five is known as a “seepage” lake. A seepage lake has no inlet or outlet. Its source of water is from precipitation and groundwater. The lake is spring fed. Since there is no inlet or outlet, water levels may fluctuate. Its size is about 102 acres and has a maximum depth of about 23 feet.

Lake Five is without public access except through a boat rental location. A voluntary Lake Five Advancement Association was established in the 1930s and was incorporated as a non-profit organization on September 15, 1942 and is still active today.

Many enjoyable summer activities take place on Lake Five, such as swimming, canoeing,  kayaking, boating, skiing, and fishing. The lake contains bass, northern pike, perch, walleyes, and pan fish. At times, loons, swans, and cranes make an appearance on the lake. On several occasions even a bald eagle has been sighted. Winter activities include ice fishing, snowmobiling, skating and cross country skiing.

 

Living On Lake Five (Early Years to Present)

In the early 1900s, spring through fall, Lake Five became a weekend and vacationing spot. People from Milwaukee and Chicago came by train to Colgate. While others made the entire trip by horse and wagon (loaded with their luggage and essential supplies). From the Colgate train station to Lake Five was about three (3) miles. Some of the younger generation walked, while others obtained a ride from local farmers in their horse and wagon. A fee was sometimes charged for this service.

Once at Lake Five, one of the first stops was the Lake Five Hotel (established 1876 as a home). A 1915 plat book lists the Koch brothers as owners of the Lake Five Hotel and Saloon in Colgate. The Hotel’s upper level had rooms for lodging on the east side and on the west side had a hall. Through the years, the hotel/tavern remained open for business and was the center of much activity in the community. In later years, the hotel/tavern was known as the “Roadside” and "Uncle Johnnies." Today, it is known as “Joe Mama's Bar and Grill."

In the early years when the travelers or owners finally arrived at their cottages, sometimes they encountered gypsies on their properties. The Lake Five location provided water and food which made a desirable campsite for them. If this occurrence happened, the property owners would ask them to leave.

As not all cottage owners had their own well pumps, many rowed across the lake to a spring house which was located on the Pfister/Vogel property on the north shore of the lake.

In the winter, blocks of ice were cut from the frozen Lake and were then packed in straw, in a windowless structure known as an ice house. One such ice house was located behind the Lake Five Hotel. The ice was sold to neighbors as needed throughout the year. Some of these ice houses later became cottages on the lake.

Shorelines began being developed and cottages built before World War I. Some of the names of the early families at Lake Five include: Wiethaup (1895), Ripple, Schroeder, Lechner, Hesse, Rintelmann, Roloff, Bischoff, Flynn, and Staus. Some of these homes are still standing today.

Travel to Lake Five became a little easier when automobiles came about. Road improvements helped travel to the lake. However, getting to the lake in winter still proved difficult. In 1938, County Line Q was black topped, then Highway J (now highway 164) was next. Gasoline rationing also changed travel to the lake for some summer residents. Commutes were limited.

There were several grocery stores in the Lake Five area. The earliest location was in downtown Colgate. The owner of the store was Frank E. Stirn. It was known as the Stirn Brothers General Merchandise Store (1904.) Another grocery store was located on Plat Rd. To get to the Plat grocery store, people would row across the lake to the spring house. Then they would take a trail through Pfister and Vogel’s woods to the store.

The younger generation chose to hike all the way. A third store was located on highway Q across from the lake. This store was originally a log cabin. The store was open from the mid-1940s. It had several owners through the years. The last owner bought the store in 1973 and renamed it “The Little Store.” Today it is no longer in business. Farmers in the area also sold their products to the people around the lake.

Pfister/Vogel Estate

The entire north side of Lake Five, in Washington County, was the 1912 Charles Pfister estate. The approximately 150 acre retreat was called “Camp Rest.” A mission-style mansion was built on the property. The mansion was primarily used for Pfister’s many guests. Charles Pfister, himself, preferred to sleep in a simple canvas structure on the grounds. In April 1927, he suffered a stroke and died in Milwaukee on November 12, 1927.

The estate was then acquired by Charles P. Vogel (a nephew of Pfister). The Vogel estate was renamed “Carleen” after his daughter. Charles P. Vogel died on September 22, 1959. He was survived by his wife Eileen and two children, Philip and Carleen. Eventually Eileen gave the estate to Marquette/Jesuits with a stipulation that she would keep the house on the property once used by her chauffeur. Marquette/Jesuits still own the property today.

References:
“Lake Five Memories,” Bea Hassler - UW Extension: Wisconsin Lakes
Carleen Vogel Obituary (May 2012) - 1940 Census and Wikipedia