The Origins of Westlake Subdivision

In 1954, an association of investors, including Herman Essig, Henry Esser, Herb Bergman, Harold Bockler, & Don Banghart, purchased a tract of land west of Washington, the land we now know as the Westlake subdivision.  The land was rough, almost worthless, as it was a mishmash of trees, ravines, and small plots that could be farmed.  It is believed that the investors paid less than $100 per acre for the area.  Soon after that purchase, Caterpillar leased the land for several months to be used as a demonstration area for agricultural equipment and also a training area for new employees on the equipment.  Washington resident and Caterpillar employee James Irwin was instrumental in bringing the company to the site. The result of months of demonstrations and training was the construction of two dams and a lake, replacing the meandering ravine running through the 80-acre property with an 11-acre lake.  

The investors quickly stocked the lake with Bluegills and Bass to develop the ecosystem. In addition, they planted over 10,000 trees surrounding the lake to retain soil in areas where future home development was not planned. Multiflora Rose, now considered an invasive species, was also planted in many areas to curtail erosion.

One attempt at improving nature failed. Soon after the lake's completion, the association released over one hundred Ring-Necked Pheasants to try to establish a colony in the area around the lake, but none of them stayed.    

In the summer of 1956, the area around the lake was surveyed and platted for development. Originally called Westlake Acres, the subdivision slowly began to rise, and by the end of 1957, two Washington residents had completed their "summer homes" on the lake. The original lots in 1956 sold for anywhere from $1,500 to $3,200.

Washington High School teacher James Ashbrook was one of the first residents on the lake, with his house completed in 1958.  Others soon followed in that early surge, including Henry Essig, Earl Zimmerman, Bill Frank, and James Irwin.  Some of the early residents maintained permanent residences on the lake, while others used it as a getaway.

In 1958 the lake was stocked with 500 Channel Catfish, sandy beaches were installed, and a diving float was released into the lake.

Thanks to the foresight of the original investors, the Caterpillar company, and the initial purchasers who built the homes, one of the most worthless land tracts in the Washington area turned into something the town can be proud of.