It was chartered for the purpose of "erecting a dam, for pleasure, boating, skating, fishing and the cutting, storing and selling of ice."
In the same year the first bathing beach was created and some lots on the north side of the lake were subdivided and sold to summer cottagers.
The Millers and others utilized southern and eastern sides of the lake for swimming, sailing, skating, fishing.
During the winter months, the plant hardiness zone is 5b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −14.1 °F (−26 °C).
Ice storms and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 12 inches (30 cm) of snow are somewhat frequent, particularly during nor’easters from December through March.