ISLAND BROOK LAGOON CLUB, Long Island Sound, Connecticut, New England

Speranza

One upon a time a fire destroyed the "Lake Forest clubhouse" -- "but fire cannot destroy a lake!"

The sad fact is that "Lake Forest" (strictly, Island Brook Lagoon) neighbours gathered in disbelief to look at the charred remains of the Lake Forest  clubhouse, which burnt nearly to the ground

The blaze even roasted the clubhouse sign.

The Lake Forest club has been the venue for countless wedding receptions, showers and other functions since the 1950s

And its house burnt nearly to the ground.

Elisabeth Meyer, who has lived in the Island Brook Lagoon (or "Lake Forest"( enclave, said although the building was insured and would be rebuilt.

Lake Forest (strictly, Island Brook Lagoon) is located in the North End of Bridgeport.

Residents live:

north of the lake or Island Brook Lagoon

-- off of:

-- Frenchtown Road
-- Dexter Drive
and others up to the Trumbull town line and Chopsy Hill Road in the east.

The Island Brook Lagoon (or "Lake Forest" is an big body of water with a partially wooded shoreline.

It has a surface area of 71.4 acres.

It was originally called Island Brook Lagoon, and contained by a dam made of earth and masonry.

The lagoon has a capacity of 300 million gallons of water.

Its maximum depth reaches 22 feet, with an average depth of 14.7 feet.

HOW THE CLUB CAME TO EXIST:

In 1857, the Bridgeport Water Company sold the area to the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company that, in 1873, constructed the Island Brook Lagoon (the Island brook is the final tributary to the Pequonnock River.

The Island Brook water system was completed in 1876.

It continued to function as a "reservoir" until 1915.

In 1941, the area was sold to Herbray Inc. -- Lester Amster, Louis Landow and Raymond Stoddard.

In that same year, the first parcel of property on the Island Brook Lagoon was sold to Frank Kunkel.

A short while later, Lester Amster invited Kunkel to form the "Island Brook Club" to write laws and regulations pertaining to the lake and the surrounding land.

The first group of lot owners met and formed what became the "Island Brook Club".

In 1942, the first roads were constructed and the members of the club decided to convert an old barn into a club house.

In 1943, the first dues of $10 were paid to the Island Brook Club by members.

Later, a sand beach was created, boat docks added and the clubhouse enlarged.

The blaze was discovered by a little girl living next door, who was awakened by the light from the flames, onlookers said.

The clubhouse was originally a barn.

It was converted into a clubhouse when the Island Brooks Club formed in the early 1940s by Lester Amster and Frank Kunkel.

Lake Forest is also known as Island Brook Lagoon.

It was one of several small reservoirs that served the city until the early 1900s.

In the early 1970s, the club house building was enlarged to its present size.

The intensity of the blaze even melted "Old Glory" hanging from a flagpole on the front lawn, and it roasted the sign, too.

There were no injuries.

Four engine companies, two ladder companies and a rescue truck responded, remaining on the scene until about 8 a.m.

The cause could not be immediately determined by fire inspectors, who were on the scene throughout the morning, along with Chief Brian Rooney.

They said they could not immediately determine the cause.

The Island Brook Club has about 420 members.

The clubhouse, however, was rented by nonmembers for functions.

In 1942 the first roads were constructed, and the members of the club decided to convert the old barn into a clubhouse where lot owners could meet on Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons.

The first social celebration in the new clubhouse was a party on Halloween in 1942, with prizes awarded to the most beautiful, funniest and original costumes.

Later, when the beach was built, the upstairs rooms of the clubhouse were finished with lockers and rooms for men, and the downstairs accommodations were created for women.

While members vowed to rebuild the clubhouse, many said they were sad to see it destroyed.
"I don't think there's a person in the city who hasn't attended a function here at one time or another," Meyer said.