Keoka Lake in Waterford, Maine is One Family’s Retreat, Accessible to All
December 4th, 2009 categories: Sebago Lakes Region
Keoka Lake in Waterford, Maine
Keoka Lake, in the quintessential New England village of Waterford, has provided the background for the Stockwell family retreats these past 70 years.
Tom Stockwell’s grandfather first rented a cabin on Keoka for family vacations in 1930. Eventually he purchased the adjacent cabin. Tom’s parents, aunts and uncles later purchased five others and in the early ’50s Tom began coming to the lake each summer.
He remembers when he was five, he loved to walk along the shore and throw worms out to the fish so he could watch them eat. Today, Tom still loves to fish at Keoka, but does note that the fishery has changed. As a child he remembers smallmouth bass, yellow perch, brook trout and pickerel in the lake. Today, brook trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass plus white perch are the predominate species. Landlocked salmon were introduced three years ago.
Traveling life’s path, Tom knew he always wanted to live year round in Maine. In the early ’70s that dream became a reality when he spent a winter at the cabin and had to chop a hole in the ice for water. Since then he moved to Bridgton, but the cabin at Keoka is still the summer home for his family.
Part of the beauty of Keoka is that it has always been a family compound—Stockwell family members gather together here each summer. It’s a place where memories are made.
“It’s wonderful to have family, the people you don’t see on a regular basis, get along so well,” says Tom. “Keoka is a treasure.”
The charm includes special places on the lake, i.e. views of Hawk Mountain and Mt. Ti’rem, with Pleasant Mountain nestled between. Rock Island, a rocky outcropping, is another special place. At least two loons make their homes on Keoka. Last summer they had a chick. And during recent Octobers Tom has sighted a bald eagle.
The charm also includes stories such as the legend of Thomas Pond, Keoka’s former name. Supposedly, in the early 1800s Thomas Chamberlain ran away from Native Americans and survived by hiding in a crack in a rock. Though the lake is no longer named for him, Tom Rock Beach holds his legacy.
Because he values this gem in western Maine, Tom Stockwell is actively involved with the Keoka Lake Association (KLA), where he served as president for six years, beginning in 1996. Tom is also a long-time board member for the Lakes Environmental Association (LEA). Originally KLA was formed to manage the dam at the outlet which flows into Bear Pond.
Through a grant, the association has worked with Colin Holme of LEA, plus the folks at Oxford Hills Association, Maine DEP and town representatives, to control erosion and maintain water quality. The water quality has improved from high to a moderate degree of concern in the last few years.
Grant monies are also used to hire Courtesy Boat Inspectors, thus keeping milfoil at bay. Other issues the KLA has addressed recently include trail work at Hawk Mountain to keep it from eroding into the Muddy River and on into the lake and renovation of the picnic area along Routes 35/37, leading into Waterford Flats from Bridgton and Harrison. Here they stabilized the soil, added native plants and placed a culvert under the road.
Volunteers for the KLA “Plant Patrol” have surveyed the aquatic plant life of the lake. Though Eurasian Milfoil has not invaded Keoka, there are two other concerns. A hybrid pond weed that no one can seem to identify is growing in the middle of the lake. Tom calls it “Keoka Hybrid.” Chinese Mystery Snails are also prolific in the lake. These snails are known to get rid of algae, which is good, but like Tom says, “When they die off, the smell is awful.”
Formed by glaciers advancing and retreating, this 465 acre pond is about 42 feet deep. Very few cabins are visible from the shoreline and there is light boat traffic. A boat launch and two public beaches are easily accessible for residents.
Visit historic Waterford Flats on Keoka Lake and, like the Stockwells, I guarantee you’ll feel Tom’s passion and fall in love with this lakefront location.
For more information, check the KLA Web site at www.keokalake.com or LEA at www.mainelakes.com.
To view all the lakefront properties currently for sale on Keoka Lake click below:
Lakefront Properties For Sale on Keoka Lake
Tom - MrLakefront
