Information gleaned from a number of sources, the book, Nestled Among the Lakes and Pines, compiled by Tina Susdick, information given by Walter Loofboro, Clayton Pederson, George Haack, and Will and Ollie Engebretson.

I will begin with some history of the beginnings of our state, county and township. In 1846 Chippewa County was formed, in 1848 Wisconsin became a state and in 1889 the Township of Sampson was formed. In 1901 Chippewa County became the size it is today, 1025 acres. There are two stories out there about how the township was named. One story says it was named after Admiral William T. Sampson, hero of the Spanish-American War. The other story was it was named after Levi Sampson, a Civil War Veteran.

In the book Nestled Among the Lakes and Pines, there were a number of plat maps; the plat map of 1888 of Sampson Township shows the owners of the lake to be A. J. McDonall, George Davis, George Gillmore, H. M. Richardson and some unknowns. In the plat of 1902 we see the name of R. E. Loofboro, grandfather of present day lake owners Terry and Walter Loofboro and the great-grandfather of lake owner Duane Pederson. In 1954, John Butcher's name appeared on the map. This piece is now owned by Gail and Allan Servoss. In 1968 William and Mary Martens (parents of Marlys Haack) purchased property on Loon Lake and established Loon Lake Campground. This campground is now owned and run by Marlys and her husband George Haack. On the 1975 plat map you will find the name J. D. Luebkeman. He was the owner of the property presently being developed by Taylor Investments. In 1991 the Butterfield name appears on the map; this family also presently owns lake property.

One of the main events remembered about this lake was that it almost completely dried up in the 30's and a large section of the south end dried up in the 50's. Walter Loofboro remembers his dad talking about how the lake was farmed in the 30's when it dried up. Ollie Engebretson remembers that during the drought years, there was a section that was fenced off, over by their cabin and cattle were brought there to be watered. She said the deepest hole is southwest of them, off the point. She also commented that when the lake was being farmed, rocks were picked and piled in the middle of the lake where the buoy is on the end of the sand bar. George and Clayton both spoke about the rock fence ridge that runs out from the peninsula. Clayton also remembers a big rock in the lake that during the drought years kept getting hit by lightning. On the south end of the lake, there is another rocky shoal, a half moon ring of rocks, that Walter remembers when some of the lake dried up in the 50's.

Clayton commented that it was either in 1933 or 1934 when the lake was at its lowest. He remembered too that the deepest spot was on the east end of the lake over by the Engebretson's and the island or peninsula. He remembered playing in the north end of the lake at about age five, (1934). His dad, Ivar Pederson, pastured on the lake, and there were big cracks in the lake. In the fall of 1934 his dad "plowed up" grass on the edge of the lake and hand seeded canary grass. The area north of the peninsula is still grassy to this day. He remembers in 1935, when he was too young to help, his brothers would wade out with aprons their mother made, and harvest the canary grass as it was getting ripe. His dad put a plastic sheet on a wagon where they laid the grass, took it home and threshed out the seed. The seed was then sold to the UW-Wisconsin in Madison for planting ditches and waterways. He commented that it took about two years for the lake to be refilled after the drought. By the end of 1935 it was pretty deep again.

In the cabin of Walter and Marcia Loofboro were written some comments. On Sept. 17, 1939 it had been written, "the lake very high". One year, on Octocber 8-15 it was commented that the loons were still here. In the fall of 2000, the water level was quite low and the lake froze out. Walter also remembers one year when it froze so deep that even the frogs froze out. In the fall of 2002 the water level was the highest Walt has ever remembered. It has dropped considerably in 2004, for this is a ground water lake and is affected by precipitation in the area. In 2003 two young loons were raised by their parents on the lake, which hasn't happened for a number of years.

History written by Marcia Loofboro. I hope this information gives you a greater appreciation of the value of this very special lake.

Loon Lake
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