A brief history of Lake County preserves

With 26,500 acres in dozens of forest preserves, golf courses and other recreational amenities, the Lake County Forest Preserve District covers a lot of ground.

Most are named after historical or natural features but there are exceptions.

Here's a list of some preserves and a brief explanation of the reason behind the name.

• Ethel's Woods: Located on Route 45 south of Route 173 near Antioch.

The district board in 2000 voted to name the preserve in honor of Ethel Untermyer, who led the campaign that resulted in the formation of the district in 1958. She took the action to after her 3-year-old son, Frank, wanted a place to play in the woods. Old Mill Creek runs through the preserve, which also is home to Rasmussen Lake, a hidden feature formed when a dam was built across the creek in 1957.

• Gander Mountain: This one is related to the topography.

The 294-acre preserve north of Fox Lake on the Wisconsin border contains the highest natural elevation in Lake County, topping out at 957 feet above sea level. A 125-foot hill there is the result of deposits left from retreating glaciers. The payoff for a hike to the top is a scenic view of the Fox River and valley below.

• Singing Hills: Located on Fish Lake Road north of Gilmer Road near Volo.

Described as a hub for the Millenium Trail, which is planned to stretch 35 miles through central, western and northern Lake County. The district acquired the property in 1997 but the name dates to 1942, when Dan Nelson Sr., acquired it as a country retreat for his family.

According to a family account, Nelson named the farm "The Singing Hills" because there were so many birds on the land, including a Great Blue Heron nest, pheasants, grouse and songbirds of all kinds that he considered the land musical.

• Van Patten Woods: Located on Route 173 east of Route 41 near Wadsworth.

It was the district's first forest preserve, created in 1961 with a 162-acre purchase. A gravel pit that was mined from the 1930s through the 1970s was acquired and was transformed into Sterling Lake. The preserve is named in honor of David Van Patten, the first president of the forest preserve district. The lake was named in for Sterling Township, a short-lived name that was changed to Newport in 1850.

-- Mick Zawislak