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Largest Private Lake In State WONDER LAKE OFFERS PRIVACY Wonder Lake is the largest -private lake in Illinois. It has twelve miles of shore line which is all private* Twenty-six large private JJeaches give swimming, boating and recreational facilities to its sixteen subdivisions. The most recently developed beach and subdivision in Wonder Lake is St. Francis Heights. It is located on the south end of the lake. St. Francis Heights has 12 lots directly on the water front overlooking the entire four mile length of Wonder Lake. There are 9 lots across the street from the lake with breath taking views. T. P. Mathews developed St. Francis Heights. Wonder Lake is calm enough for water skiing and breezy enough for sailing. Sail boat races are regular Sunday events. In winter, Wonder Lake freezes solid for skating, ice - boating, plus ice fishing. Its many hills provide fun filled hours of tobogganing, sledding and light skiing. Duck blinds are common sights in the fall all around Wonder Lake. HISTORY OF WONDER LAKE The bottom of Wonder Lake was farmland before 1930. It was known as Queen Ann's Prairie and the town of Troy. Before the settlers came to farm in 1830, the Potawatomi Indians had a village in the hills of White Oaks Bay, a subdivision on the west side of Wonder Lake. Old Indian relics are still found. Arrows and tomahawk heads were gathered by Carl Hallstrom when he was a lad for his private collection. It was in 1928 that Mr. E. R. Jacobson, as head of the Wonder Lake Syndicate, conceived the idea of a lake instead of farmland. He and his associates stood on the highest point on Wonder Lake (where the Indians lived) and there del jrmined that a large lake could be man made because of the Nippersink Creek -- they could trap and flood this marshy spring fed farmland with a dam. Its sight was selected between two hills, 1,000 feet apart. The engineering firm, who constructed this dam in 1929, also was associated with the company who built the Panama Canal. The Wonder Lake Syndicate purchased as much land as possible before the dam's construction. Compensation was then paid for over-flowed land through flowage rights. In late summer of 1929 the gates of Wonder Lake's completed dam were closed until the lake was. flooded. It was at six in the morning on Washington's birthday Feb. 22nd 1930, that water trickled over that Wonder Lake Dam for the first time. 803 feet above sea level has been maintained as a minimum level by the lake these past 37 years. This is because the Nippersink Creek flowing into Wonder Lake drains about 100 square miles of land. Modest cabins along the lake were bought in the 1930s from the Wonder Lake Symdicate. The 1940's attracted summer residents of modest means looking for vacation homes. Population growth was even greater in the 1950s with a significant increase in permanent residents. At this time T. P. Mathews became Wonder Lake's leading realtor of resale homes and has continued this reputation through the years. The Wonder Lake Syndicate who formed Wonder Lake 37 years ago is now known as the Wonder Lake Realty Trust. They have appointed T. P. MU'ie>vi, realtor as their exclusive sales agent. The T. P. Mathews, Realtors of 7314 Hancock Drive, Wonder Lake will also operate a office in Sunrise Ridge. All properties still owned by the original developers will be handled by the T. P. Mathews sales staff. WONDER LAKE PROGRESSIVE Business thrives in Wonder Lake in an old fashioned small town way. The town is quaint, clean and friendly. It has all necessary facilities; clinic and groceries, hardware, sporting goods, marina, clothing, gas stations, and many service type businesses. Wonder Lake has its own new impressive post office, three beautiful churches and an excellent Harrison Elementary School. One of the largest and most progressive real estate and insurance services are offered in the T. P. Mathews i.ealtors building on Hancock Drive, the main street in town. The Mathews building is open seven days a week. It is staffed by a most capable team of realty property and sales specialist. Harriet, (Mrs. James) Bell of Wonder Lake has been secretary for T. P. Mathews for the past 14 years. Today Harriet Bell handles insurance dept. etc. for the T. P. Mathews agency. Ruth (Mrs. Loren) Harrison of Ringwood is secretary of the real estate offices. Harold Wohnrade of Wonder Lake is chief accountant. Mr. Wohnrade has had considerable experience in his profession and joined the T. P. Mathews staff, last year. Horace Wagner of Wooded Shores a noted Wonder Lake Kiwanian and Fire Department official has been associated with the Real estate sales force for the past 3 years. Joseph Sullivan of St. Francis Heights, Wonder Lake is active in both realty and insurance departments. Mr. Sullivan had extensive insurance training and experience before joining the T. P. Mathews staff. Mr. Sullivan has been with the organization for 7 years. Harold "Hud" Vogel of Greenwood is manager of the farm sales department. He is also responsible for the greater McHenry County area. Mr. Vogel, born near Richmond is well known and has been with T. P. Mathews for the past 2 years. George Dickman of Deep Spring Woods, Wonder Lake has been with the T. P. Mathews realty department for 14 years. At 75 Mr. Dickman applies his vast experience in years of selling. T. P. Mathews started in the real estate business 17 years ago in a two room office. In 1956 the business expanded into a new building. We are at the same location, but the building has been expanded and remodeled to accommodate a staff of eight people. Recently a branch office was opened in Sunrise Ridge to take care of an additional sales staff. This office was built to handle the development of 400 lake lots on 200 acres. We. are the exclusive agent and developer for the Wonder" Lake Realty Trust, who are the original subdividers of the entire Wonder Lake area. T. P. Mathews has grown with the Wonder Lake area, mo ring here in 1937 he has witnessed the fantastic growth of the past 30 years. Our town Shas progressed from a " vacation home idea" to a "residential oasis" of several thousand permanent residents from nearby cities. The main appeal is the completely private shore with the lake being restricted to property owners and their guests. The demands for modern living become apparent in 1959 and so, we developed Oakwood Shores and St. Francis Heights subdivisions. Both these areas featured three to five bedroom homes engineered for family comfort on large sites. Park like yards and scenic woods add to their splendor. Swimming, skiing, fishing and boating provides family fun the year 'round. Utilities include electricity, gas, telephone and community water. The streets are paved and are all weather maintained. If, we can be of service to you and your fomily in selecting or locating a home let our staff help you. Civic Officials Tour New Board members of McHenry Savings and Loan Left to Right are: Frand Hromec, Jerry Rogers, Bud conducted a tour of their new building this week. Adams, Fred Meyer, Mayor Donald Doherty, William Roger Collins led the group of city and civic offi- Nye, Joe Etten, LeRoy Olsen, Larry Lund, Arnold cials around the facilities which will open May 22nd. Rauen and Roger Collins.