Cottages & Cottagers  

" "The environs of Lake Maxinkuckee, once the haven for Pottowatomies, and later for fishermen and marine activities, has had a special appeal for many families whose well-maintained and distinctive residences add to the shoreline landscape.

In early pioneer days, the shore area of Lake Maxinkuckee was not too accessible with much of the area heavily wooded. Undulating terrain rose from nearby wetlands on the north, south and west sides of the lake to high ground overlooks, some of which were quite precipitous.

Lake-side development, which began in the 1880s on shore bordering farmland, has continued through the years. Today more than 310 homes occupy nearly all of the shore area. Lakeshore land which 120 years ago could be purchased for as low as $5 per acre and later in 1898 East Shore developments for $200 per lot, is today quite costly.

Many second and third generation families continue as owners of lake property. Where appeal of the lake made it a summertime spa in earlier times, today the comfortable family homes are centers of year-round living and activity...

...For example, Lake Maxinkuckee's shores became the center where families from Logansport, Peru, Terre Haute, Indianapolis, and other cities built their second homes.

Development began along the North and East Shores. Then came home building on Long Point, the West Shore, and later along the South Shore, and more recently in the Venetian Village area."