Elktownship History Pages / LAKE GILMAN
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founded April 17, 1891
LAKE GILMAN
Miles Gilman usually referred to as "Skipper" was the founder of Lake Gilman . He came to Gloucester County from Maine about 1908 and settled at Glassboro, where he lived until he started the lake project in the early 1920`s . The area was formerly the Glendinning farm . A mill called "Stone Mill" was located at the stream . Miles Gilman purchased this track containing 140 acres . It took 20 years for him to finish his project .Miles Gilman was a Lt.Commander in the Navy and served his country for 22 years ( hence the name Skipper ) . He was in World War I and served on the USS Arizona, one of the ships sunk at Pearl Harbor .The story of Lake Gilman is especially interesting as it was told by Miles Gilman to his friends . One day while riding in his truck delivering a summons , he happened to have a flat tire on the Glassboro-Ferrell Road . While waiting for a repair-man , because he did not have a spare tire , he started exploring the woods . There he found that two streams formed a perfect " Y " shape running though the lower land and he then decided it would make a beautiful lake if some manpower was exhibited . He bought the Glendinning farm . Miles Gilman set to work with an axe felling trees where the lake-bed now lies . From records kept by him , he actually chopped down 4000 trees , to say nothing of the briars and underbrush . In doing this , it is said he used five axes .The first water went over the dam in 1928 .Mr.Gilman made many improvements such as building a bath-house and a pavilion which he liked to designate as the "shelter" . The lake which was then open to the public , had boats which rented for .15 cents @ day . If you didn`t catch any fish , you did not have to pay for the renting of the boatThe dam broke in 1946 . Some of the homes were flooded up to the second story . The road at the dam was completely washed out .The township lines of Harrison and Elk meet directly in the middle of the lake . Half of the children go to Harrison Township schools and the others attend Elk Township Schools. High school students attend Clearview regional and Delsea Regional High Schools .Every Sunday morning during the summer , chapel is held at 9:00 at the pavilion , & in the past each Saturday night a square dance was held .Once a year, on the fourth Saturday in July, Lake Gilman Day is celebrated, in remembrance of " Skipper Gilman`s " birthday . It begins with swimmimg and ground races, followed by exiting boat races . Everyone participates, and a water pageant with colorful floats, is held in the afternoon. At 5:00pm the judging begins. The grand prize is a silver cup which the winner may keep for one year. If it is won three years in a row by one family, they may keep it permanently.Miles Gilman died on August 11, 1948 . He is buried behind a monument at Lake Gilman. He is a man who saw his dream come true .At Gilman`s death, some residents purchased the lake tract and it became private. It is now administered by Lake Gilman Owners , Inc . |
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