To start at the beginning, the prime activator in the organization of the lake property owners was Arthur A. Meyer, an electrical engineer for the Detroit Edison Company. As early as 1926, Mr. Meyer was campaigning for lake welfare, preserving the beauty and purity of Higgins Lake. The need for a property owners’ association became apparent. Mr. Meyer was joined by three friends in forming the nucleus of Higgins Lake Property Owners’ Association in 1934. Those sharing with Mr. Meyer were L.B. Benkert, Paul Bruske, and C.P. Schneider. This quartet became a firm force working for realization of worthy objectives. On July 15, 1935, Articles of Association of Higgins Lake Property Owners’ Association were “duly filed” and “said Company” was authorized to commence business.
(Non-Profit) Articles of Incorporation of the Higgins Lake Property Owners’ Association were filed on January 17, 1940. The purpose stated: To promote the general welfare of the owners of property on the shores of Higgins Lake, Roscommon County, Mich. The names of the incorporators are Howard W. Peirce, M.D., A.H. Pearson, P.H. Bruske, C.P. Schneider, M.D., A.A. Meyer, and L.B. Benkert.
Descendants of two of the 1935 Articles of Association signers still enjoy summers at Higgins Lake today. The Meyer clan first settled on Almeda Beach and the Bruskes in what is now known as Pinewoods. As expected, these families have intriguing memories of their early beginnings at Higgins.
Arthur Alexander Meyer was a 1908 electrical engineering graduate of the University of Michigan and, as family legend has it, the first with those qualifications to be hired by Detroit Edison. This reference to Detroit Edison is very relevant since Mr. William C. Miller Sr., who had a cottage on Almeda Beach, was an executive of Detroit Edison and often invited employees to visit. It’s believed that Art Meyer’s first such Miller visit occurred in 1925. The following summer, the family rented a cottage, most likely at Chaney’s Point in the Highland Park area, and purchased a 60’ lot before leaving. The Meyer cottage was built the next year, in 1927. Sometime in the 1930’s, contiguous properties were purchased so the Meyers had 300’ on Almeda Beach. Working with Paul H. Bruske, Lawrence B. Benkert, and Dr. Schneider, Art Meyer founded the Higgins Lake Property Owners’ Association, and became the first president. Several years ago, his daughter, Roberta, shared recollections of knocking on doors to recruit members!
Family members of another HLPOA founder, Paul H. Bruske, continue to enjoy life at Higgins, too. Paul was brought to Higgins Lake by his father, Reverend A. F. Bruske. Reverend Bruske was a Presbyterian minister in Saginaw. He was recruited by those in the Cottage Grove camp to travel up to Higgins to conduct Sunday services for the loggers and families in Cottage Grove. In return, Reverend Bruske was given a lot in what is currently known as Pinewoods. He subsequently purchased the lots on both sides of his, one for his daughter, the other for his son, Paul H. Bruske. Not only is Paul remembered as one of the four founders of the HLPOA, but also founded Pinewoods Camp.
Two others signed the Articles of Association of the Higgins Lake Property Owners’ Association in 1935. They were Lawrence B. Benkert and Curt P. Schneider, M.D. Although information on these families has yet to be found, Roscommon County deed records show the Benkerts were property owners in Lyon Manor in 1919, and the Schneiders on Chicago Beach in the Southwest corner of the lake in 1936. These four were joined by Alan H. Pearson, who bought property in Highland Park in 1918, and Howard Peirce, who purchased property in Whittington Park in 1923. In 1940 Articles of Incorporation were signed by these six.
Although, at this time, little is known of several of these families, the quest for more stories continues. We owe thanks and gratitude for their foresight in laying the foundation of HLPOA as we continue to strive to “preserve, protect, and enhance the beauty of Higgins Lake and the surrounding watershed.”