Volume LII | Issue 2
4
The Maus family homestead (Photo courtesy of the family)
MILL POND
A Lasting Legacy
The Maus Family’s Beautiful Homestead Becomes a WLAC Preserve
I
By Lauren Macintyre
t lies shimmering at the northernmost tip of the lake, pristine and tranquil. For decades, Wallooners have glided softly through its peaceful depths, perhaps a little awestruck by the mysterious stillness of the lovely waters of Mud Lake. There are enchanting tales of eagles soaring above in a cerulean sky, swans gliding gracefully through the placid water and deer drinking peacefully on the quiet shore. This is Walloon's cherished Mud Lake, now today called Mill Pond. It is not just aesthetically pleasing, however. From an ecological perspective, it is one of the single most important areas of Walloon, consisting mainly of wetlands that recharge and filter Walloon’s water. Situated at the top of the West Arm just one mile away from Lake Michigan, and elevated at 233 ft. above sea level, recharged water from this wetland flows more than 20 miles through the main body of Walloon to the Bear River, and eventually into Little Traverse Bay. Its eco-
logical impact on all of Walloon is simply phenomenal. The beautiful land on the west side of Mill Pond has an interesting history, closely
0 0.07 0.15 WALLOON LAKE
MILL POND
tied to some of Petoskey's best known families. Once the 130-acre homestead of the Comstock Family, the Mill Pond property was purchased by the William Maus family in the late 1950's as a summer residence on Walloon. 0.3 Miles As a young man, retailer William Maus had journeyed to Petoskey to work at the venerable Fochtman Department Store. He
