How Crystal Lake began...

Ida Scott settled at Crystal Lake,

- written around 1993, by Willis Black

A rugged young lady by the name of Ida Scott read glowing reports about the opportunities offered to settlers who would be able to daringly migrate to Saskatchewan and file for homestead rights in the rural area that was virtually a wilderness, devoid of most of the luxuries we take for granted today.

Scott chose to file for a quarter that showed only 115 acres of land, but what appealed to her was that it was situated on a beautiful, clean lake, which only recently had been given the name Crystal, by the surveyors, who also were of the pioneering type.

Scott was to find that she was indeed fortunate to have a number of homesteader neighbors who gladly pitched in together to erect a log cabin in which she would live during the terms of her condition to reside on the land for three consecutive summers (three month minimum periods).   Homesteaders also had to clear and plow so many acres each year for the qualifying clause before the Crown would grant the clear title to the person who abided by the stipulations of the Homesteader Act.

It was a great joy to have the half-section registered in the name of Ida May Scott in 1908 at the Yorkton Land Titles Office.  Around the same era, several families built cabins on various waterfront sites, among these was a lady by the name of Onsrud, who chose a site downhill from the old dance pavilion.

Also, around the same time, another pioneering lady by the name Mary Reynolds Wilson crusaded to finally get a group of eager people together, who then built a library building on a two-acre site that was cut from the northeastern quarter of Section 24, Township 33, Range 4, west of 2^nd, then part of the RM of Buchanan No, 304.

As time progressed, the adjoining quarter, that was owned by the Canadian National Railway, had some favorable areas on the quarter and a race course was constructed on it.  For a number of years, it was a favorite picnic spot and sporting types congregated there for healthy recreational activities.

Eventually interest in the race track faded and then it was reorganized into a golf course; nine holes of what could be described as roller coaster terrain.  It was a challenge to even the most enthusiastic golfers.  Names such as Bill Tate, Rowntree, Gleanson, Dalton, Kuziak, Nadurak and Hallic were prominent around the organization of the Crystal Lake Golf Club.  It was a 100% cooperative outfit, that amazingly functioned quite a few years with much harmony and sporting fellowship.

Again, in the course of time, families with names like Bailey, Dufour, Predy, Armstrong, Malcolm, Stenen, Morgan and others built cabins with a helter skelter non-existant plan that was a big headache for the professional planners.

Today the organized Hamlet of Crystal Lake boasts a population of over 220 cottagers.  The shoreline itself has virtually no cottage sites potential.

Around 1936 Willis and Leonard Black formed a partnership to develop the homestead land they inherited from their parents, Ida and Will Black that eventually grew into Idawill Resort, rental cottages, trailer court, boat rentals and an ideal beach area.