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History of HLPOA & Higgins Lake

Our History

I, Orville E. Atwood, Secretary of State of Michigan and Custodian of the Great Seal Thereof, Do Hereby Certify that Articles of Association of Higgins Lake Property Owner’s Association were duly filed in this office on the 15th day of July, Nineteen Hundred and Thirty-five and the said company is authorized to commence its business in conformity with Act 327, Public Acts of 1931.

Association and Incorporation

     The Higgins Lake Property Owners Association (HLPOA) traces its roots to the vision and dedication of Arthur A. Meyer, an electrical engineer with Detroit Edison. As early as 1926, Meyer was advocating for the beauty and purity of Higgins Lake, recognizing the need for an organized group of property owners to protect this treasured resource.

     In 1934, Meyer joined forces with three friends — L.B. Benkert, Paul H. Bruske, and Dr. C.P. Schneider — to form the nucleus of what became the Higgins Lake Property Owners Association. On July 15, 1935, their Articles of Association were officially filed, marking the beginning of HLPOA’s enduring commitment to the lake and its community.

     The Association was formally incorporated as a non-profit organization on January 17, 1940, with the stated purpose:

“To promote the general welfare of the owners of property on the shores of Higgins Lake, Roscommon County, Michigan.”

     The incorporators were Howard W. Peirce, M.D., A.H. Pearson, P.H. Bruske, C.P. Schneider, M.D., A.A. Meyer, and L.B. Benkert.

I, Orville E. Atwood, Secretary of State of Michigan and Custodian of the Great Seal Thereof, Do Hereby Certify that Articles of Association of Higgins Lake Property Owner’s Association were duly filed in this office on the 15th day of July, Nineteen Hundred and Thirty-five and the said company is authorized to commence its business in conformity with Act 327, Public Acts of 1931.

Founding Families

     Today, descendants of two founding families — the Meyers and the Bruskes — still enjoy summers at Higgins Lake, maintaining a living link to HLPOA’s beginnings. The Meyers first settled on Almeda Beach in the 1920s, and the Bruskes established roots in what is now Pinewoods.

  • Arthur Meyer, a 1908 University of Michigan graduate and Detroit Edison’s first electrical engineer, became HLPOA’s first president. His daughter later recalled helping her father recruit members door to door.
  • Paul Bruske, son of Reverend A.F. Bruske, also left a lasting legacy. His father had been invited to Higgins Lake to conduct Sunday services for early settlers and loggers. The family later founded Pinewoods Camp, and their descendants remain part of the Higgins community today.
  • Other founding members — Lawrence B. Benkert, Dr. Curt P. Schneider, A.H. Pearson, and Dr. Howard Peirce — were among the early lakefront owners whose vision helped establish HLPOA’s foundation.

Although not every story of these early pioneers is fully known, HLPOA continues to uncover and celebrate their contributions. Their foresight and dedication built the foundation for an organization that still works, nearly a century later, to “protect, preserve, and enhance the beauty of Higgins Lake and its surrounding watershed.”

Higgins Lake History

Formed more than 20,000 years ago as glaciers retreated from Michigan, Higgins Lake stands today as one of the state’s most stunning inland lakes.

Discover the lake’s scientific origins and rich human history through the following resources:

A Brief History of Higgins Lake

By HLPOA Board Member Bruce Carleton

Glacial Lake Roscommon

2018 Houghton Lake Resorter article exploring Ice Age geology

1921 Michigan Geological & Biological Survey

Early state report on the lake’s ancient formation and changing water levels

Family Histories Around Higgins Lake

Stories of early settlers and lakefront families

Together, these archives reveal how Higgins Lake's natural evolution and community legacy continue to shape its preservation today