by S. David Phraner (Author)
More than just a history of another Catskill Lake, Wolf Tales 75th tells the eight-decade story of sportsman-family culture built around a historic former canal reservoir. Once nothing more than a swampy pond, this water body evolved into a reservoir for the 19th-century D&H Canal, then into a private fishing retreat of a wealthy and influential attorney, before evolving into a unique colony of environmentalists and sportsmen adhering to a Forever Wild ethic. Reconciling this ethic with the pressures of surrounding development and individual member lifestyles reveals a model of natural conservation and cultural development. Also featured are four other former canal reservoirs that evolved very differently over a different span of years. The author delves into the conflicts arising from colonial patents, social turbulence and emerging communities carved from the wilderness of the southeastern Catskill terrain. Exploring both the natural and cultural environments, the text is a readable and informative blend of historical research and personal anecdotes spanning two centuries. The publisher, Wolf Lake Inc., is the corporate entity chartered by the State of New York that owns and manages the 1800-acre natural preserve surrounding the lakes. Each lot owner is a shareholder in the corporation and a member of the club that executes community social and conservation activities. The Wolf Lake Board of Directors arranged for the printing of this book in commemoration of its 75th Anniversary in 2015.