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The Importance of Hotels and Resorts
Katherine L. Weinstein Today Crystal Lake in McHenry County is home to 28,016 people. Settled in 1836 by A. N. Beardsley and officially laid out in 1839, Crystal Lake early earned its title as the oldest village in the area. The town originally centered around farming and trading and played a major part in the ice harvesting industry. But it did not actually begin to grow until a railroad was constructed and trains began passing through it about 1854. Despite this early stimulation however, Crystal Lake still did not blossom completely until its development as a town of hotels and center for many resorts. People were drawn to the area and required hotels because of railroad transportation to the town's "crystal clear" lake and the many recreational opportunities it offered. Many of those attracted to the lake were wealthy, and during the summer months Crystal Lake's hotel and resort trade soared. The first hotel in the area was a log cabin built in 1836 as a stagecoach stop, and it continued to function until the arrival of trains. When trains did come through town, more hotels were built. About 1899 the Chicago and North Western Railroad printed a booklet pointing out Crystal Lake's advantages and the opportunity the Chicago and North Western Railroad gave to travel there. Later, as the automobile industry began to emerge, Crystal Lake continued to make it easy for tourists to visit by keeping dirt roads open for cars and then later by paving the roads. Thus, whether by stage coach, buggy, train, or automobile, it was easy to get to Crystal Lake, thereby keeping the hotel and resort trade prosperous. Another attraction of the resort trade was the crystal clear lake that gave the town its name and the recreational activities. It was claimed to be "one of the most beautiful sheets of water near Chicago." True to its name, the lake was a clean, safe place enjoyed by swimmers of all ages. The area enticed fishermen with its well stocked variety of game fish and fishing supplies. Boating enthusiasts were also satisfied with the availability of canoes, rowboats, and fishing boats. Golf courses were later estab-
lished, along with a great new bathhouse/community center built on the lake shore. Many tourists enjoyed these facilities. Live entertainment was brought in prior to the 1920s to attract guests, as well. For these reasons, the Crystal Lake Herald dubbed the town "the resort headquarters of northern Illinois." All of these attractions made Crystal Lake Chicagoland's summer playground and kept vacationers coming back. As vacationers returned yearly, it became widespread knowledge that Crystal Lake was the "in" place to be, boasting celebrities, millionaires, and some of the most highly regarded members of the social community. Examples of well-known people frequenting the area included John Barton Payne of the Red Cross, Singer J. F. Southhard, Donald R. Richberg, and C.S. Dole. This being the case, other wealthy citizens were attracted who spent money in town, thus contributing to the local businesses. They invested in the property and ended up coming back and settling in Crystal Lake to keep an eye on their investments or falling in love with the town and deciding to live permanently in Crystal Lake. The 1920 census showed a population of year-round residents to have increased 1,931 in ten years to 2,294 before shooting up in 1926 to 4,290. Therefore, the community continued to grow and prosper as a resort area during the summer months, particularly during the 1920s and 1930s, and into the 1950s, all the while bringing in more and more wealth and residents to the area. Crystal Lake has matured greatly since the early pioneer days of 1840s, mainly as a result of the successful resort trade. This progress is due to the accessibility of the hotels, the lake and the town's recreational opportunities, and the aura of prestige created by the popularity of the area among Chicago's social elite.—[From Joan Abernathy, Crystal Lake Herald Centennial Edition; James Heisler, et al., Crystal Lake, Illinois; Dorothy Jeanne Oakley, Historical Geography of McHenry County; Fred D. Pasley, Chicago Herald and Examiner.]
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