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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Friday, July 31, 2009 11:19 PM CDT
Conceived as a water supply, Lake Mattoon has grown into much more

By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer
hmeeker@jg-tc.com

MATTOON — The lake community was taking the 50th summer of the reservoir-turned-recreational-exodus in stride this month.

It was 50 years ago on July 25 when Gov. William Stratton and other dignitaries came down to the new “Mattoon Reservoir” for a dedication ceremony at the lake located southwest of the its namesake. After scorching drought years, the city had a supplemental water source.

Over the years, Lake Mattoon has added residences, fishing facilities, campgrounds, a public beach and activities ranging from hunting to Ironman events.

But in the spirit of Lake Mattoon, no one was tooting any horns on the anniversary this past week.

“I guess it has been 50 years. I guess that’s something to talk about,” said Ron Scheurich as he tended the counter at the Lake Mattoon Marina, a magnet for visitors and area residents wanting bait, supplies, cold soda pop or the latest joke or gossip. “This is just a nice quiet peaceful lake. It’s off the beaten path.”

But don’t be fooled by that humble statement. Lake Mattoon draws visitors from different parts of Illinois as well as many states. Some drop a line in the water or camp out under the shade of hickory, walnut and oak trees in a nearby site for wheeled campers. Some campers say the beauty of the fall colors on the trees along Lake Mattoon is worth the drive.

“I’ve met people from all over the United States. Some come from Florida, Colorado and other states. They really enjoy coming here,” said Scheurich, who moved to Lake Mattoon about 25 years ago.

Started as a reservoir, Lake Mattoon is about more than water, said manager Joel Pittman.

“This is a good, fun, family-oriented lake. To me it’s more than a body of water,” said Pittman as he looked over the public beach just a short distance from the marina and ramp area at the causeway this week. On some summer days, the parking lot is full near the public beach as families take advantage of free admission, he said.

“Here you see people swimming and then over there in the pavilion we have families and groups renting it for reunions or events,” Pittman said.

He credits the Friends of Lake Mattoon for supporting improvements at the lake through the years. The volunteer group helps organize cleanup or other activities. Support also comes from the Ironman or triathlon organization that sends men and women running, biking and swimming at Lake Mattoon.

“The Ironman events have given money back to us for improvements. They bring down 300 people for a weekend,” Pittman said.

The fishing tournaments, sailboat races, waterfowl hunting and water-related sports events also fill the calendar through most of the year.

“We get some ice fishing now and then, too,” Pittman said with a smile.

Everyone hopes for a warm, dry day on the lake, but it was too much dry, wilting weather that helped create the lake in the first place. Long droughts in the early 1950s convinced communities like Mattoon to seek supplemental water sources. For years, the city had depended on Lake Paradise as its water supply lake, but the story goes that one summer people were driving out to the middle of the lake as a drought lingered through the Midwest.

“The water supply was the first thing about this lake,” said Laverne Chronic, a city water department employee for 32 years.

A group of city leaders worked to gain support for building a lake to the south of Lake Paradise. Construction was completed over two years. The lake became the responsibility of the Mattoon water department. Now it is managed by the city parks department.

“My dad helped with the construction out here,” said Donald Fetters, a Mattoon resident who enjoyed a morning visit last week in the well-shaded campground with Chronic, and his wife, Marie, and Betty Basham.

“We always have a unit with air conditioning and a TV. We’re not really roughing it,” joked Marie of their seasonal stay in a camper at the lake.

As Mattoon residents, they understand the city connection to the lake. But others arriving with campers or fishing boats scratch their heads when they realize Neoga is closer to the lake than Mattoon. Adding to the territorial confusion is the fact that the lake area borders Coles, Cumberland and Shelby counties.

“People are surprised when they find out it’s owned by the city of Mattoon. They say, ‘How can a city own a lake?’ I tell them it’s the city’s reservoir for their water supply,” said Scheurich with a smile.

There are other peculiarities that relate to the lake’s history. When you hear about the train that used to go through, don’t ask what cities it connected with.

“It was a little train for kids and adult ‘kids.’ It was a small one,” said Fetters. A carnival once offered entertainment at the lake, too.

A graveyard is between the marina and the campground. It is linked to an old church. But more than grass grows in the the graveyard.

“They still have burials out there now and then,” said Marie.

Some people have committed their lives to the lake. For them, Lake Mattoon is a patch of heaven.

“Every now and then I wonder if I want to go someplace else. Then I realize how great a place I have for home,” said Scheurich.

Contact Herb Meeker at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.

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kamfong wrote on Aug 1, 2009 1:07 PM:

" Does anybody know where the little train and tracks went,that used to be part of the beach??? "

Texas T wrote on Aug 2, 2009 9:04 PM:

" I remember about 40 years ago, my grandparents would bring their camper up to Lake Mattoon and my Aunt and Uncle would bring theirs down from Champaign as well as their boat, for the summer and we would spend the summer at the lake camping and boating and playing in the water. I remember my older brother learning how to ski and falling flat on his face and I thought that was the funniest thing in the world. We had some really good times out there. I also remember laying in my bunk in the camper and hearing the whistle of the train. Those were the days. "

illinibill wrote on Aug 3, 2009 7:39 AM:

" Kamfong -
I live at Lake Mattoon and "Heard" that a family named Wright had bought the train and all other parts. She stored this on property in Short's Subdivision where grass grew up through it until a few years ago. At this time the carnival which was at Neoga Days made her an offer and it was cleaned up and gone in 2 days - where, I don't know. "

kamfong wrote on Aug 3, 2009 8:57 AM:

" Thanks for the info I Bill,I found a huge market for that stuff in Arizona,and told some folks I'd try to locate some stuff for them.Wish they still had it around here,I remember riding it at the beach when I was a little kid. "

Mike P wrote on Aug 3, 2009 1:57 PM:

" How is the dredging going? Haven't heard anything about it for who knows how long.

Parks department likely had to drive right by lake paradise both ways, to go to Neoga to maintain the new lake. Both places maintenance could have been bid like the cemetary care, and cost less, reduced staffing and overhead needs, and not see one of them headed to parceling off to GOB croneys for their own use, project, or other scheme.

Lake paradise might be in for some kind of hunting club on most of the north end they plan to sell off. When is the city going to draft ordinances responsibly protecting taxpayer assets from being squandered, pilfered, pawned and mismanaged. Perhaps the voters need to see aboput passing some binding ordinances of their own, to guide the hands constantly digging deeper in their pockets. "

Hooligansmom wrote on Aug 3, 2009 6:21 PM:

" I for one am not the least impressed with Lake Mattoon. Last year I took my kids out to swim. The beach was filthy. All kinds of litter and dog poop everywhere. The kids decided they didn't want to swim so we left. We started to drive out and realized we could do something about the trash so we picked up over half a trash barrel full. Back when my dad registered boats at the lake there were so many things to do there. The little train, the carnival rides and games the bands on weekend nights. AAHH the good ole days. "

Hammbone wrote on Aug 4, 2009 12:01 AM:

" Looking more like a cash cow for more of Mattoons Follys.Sell the lands fill the coffers and build some more baseball diamonds. Build a real skate board park and draw some real cash from the many that will flock to it like ducks to water.Not just a flat slab of concrete with flimzy ramps that will break apart after the winters freeze and melting cycle has come and gone.if the skate board was made like the one that was used in X Games 15 the draw would be HUGE.Skaters would come in droves to ride it and spend money on food and motels. It would be a great draw and a boost for the town. Not some cheap"There ya go,shut up about it" flat slab of concrete. Pittyful just pittyful. I can just hear the thoughts about the folks that came with the ramps to show whats in the market,,TOO EXPENCIVE. This is Mattoon were cheap O's If Half the money that was spant on these fancy sports complexes was spent are this skate board park,we would have a darn nice park!!! "

medic57 wrote on Aug 4, 2009 11:24 AM:

" If the skate board was made like the one that was used in X Games 15 the draw would be HUGE.Skaters would come in droves to ride it and spend money on food and motels.

Yeah, right, I can just see the worlds best boarders coming to Mattoon to shred. By the way, just how much did it cost to build that park? A world class park with ametuer boarders equals world class lawsuits. "

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Berit Haldorsen, left, walks past her sister, Callan, at the beach at Lake Mattoon, Ill., on Tuesday, July 28, 2009. (Journal Gazette/ Times-Courier, Kevin Kilhoffer)