Tuscarora Lake is a man-made body located in the town of Erieville, NY, not far from Cazenovia. Its floor is dense with vegetation, as is the lake's shoreline. Long-time resident on the lake Dr. Frederick Schoot owned many acres of the lake's Northwest shore. When Dr. Schoot passed in 1961, he instructed that his children preserve the green shores of the lake and that they never build on his acreage. His children still retain ownership of the land and have thus far honored their father's wish. It is thanks to Dr. Schoot and his love of the lake on which he spent his life that Tuscarora Lake remains a place of natural beauty and tranquility.
The lake is fairly deep varying from thirty feet at the north end to seventy to eighty feet at the south end. The lake begins its freeze in October. Its thaw begins, on average, in early April. Local schools at one time held ice skate clubs at Tuscarora Lake.
Two hotels stood on the western edge of the lake from 1910 until the 1940's.
Until the late 1960's, many underwater trees and roots from the shore created obstacles to boating in certain areas of the lake where the branches reached the surface. There were recorded numerous accidents, and luckily just a few fatalities.
In 1946 Jaret Kane and his wife Leona were boating in the northwest part of the lake when a branch of a tree punctured their schooner's hull. Both swam to shore, but Mrs. Kane suffered from hypothermia for months after. She passed in early 1947.
In 1959, a Canadian visitor to Tuscarora Lake was thrown from his motorboat when the boat crashed against a rock hidden by a gathering of overgrown brush. He collided with a branch and his lungs were damaged. He died while waiting for rescue.
Danielle Brice née Loughlin
In the most tragic incident, in 1968 a woman and lifelong resident of the lake drowned when she was thrown from the motorboat in which she rode with her new husband and brother-in-law. Danielle Brice née Loughlin was born and raised on Tuscarora Lake in the home of her parents, Lowell and Bea Loughlin. She was 23 years old when she passed, and married just three months to Aubry Brice. The widower Brice and his brother, Joshua, survived without injury. A monument to Danielle Brice stands in a clearing on the lake's southeast shore.
The trees and underbrush were cleared from the lakebed in an effort begun in 1969.
Scottish Fest
Since 1988 the lake has welcomed the Erieville Scottish Fest, a celebration of Scottish culture, food, and arts held on the Latham Landing at the nothern point of the lake. The Scottish fest is a major attraction for visitors to the lake. It is held annually in the early weekends of June.
Lake Conservation Committee
If you would like to join the lake Tuscarora Conservation Committee, contact committee@tuscaroralake.org. Committee members work with town council on necessary improvements to the lake as well as planning for possible festivals and celebrations at the lake.
This page created by the TUSCARORA CONSERVATION COMMITTEE. (C) 2004
The lake is fairly deep varying from thirty feet at the north end to seventy to eighty feet at the south end. The lake begins its freeze in October. Its thaw begins, on average, in early April. Local schools at one time held ice skate clubs at Tuscarora Lake.
Two hotels stood on the western edge of the lake from 1910 until the 1940's.
Until the late 1960's, many underwater trees and roots from the shore created obstacles to boating in certain areas of the lake where the branches reached the surface. There were recorded numerous accidents, and luckily just a few fatalities.
In 1946 Jaret Kane and his wife Leona were boating in the northwest part of the lake when a branch of a tree punctured their schooner's hull. Both swam to shore, but Mrs. Kane suffered from hypothermia for months after. She passed in early 1947.
In 1959, a Canadian visitor to Tuscarora Lake was thrown from his motorboat when the boat crashed against a rock hidden by a gathering of overgrown brush. He collided with a branch and his lungs were damaged. He died while waiting for rescue.
Danielle Brice née Loughlin
In the most tragic incident, in 1968 a woman and lifelong resident of the lake drowned when she was thrown from the motorboat in which she rode with her new husband and brother-in-law. Danielle Brice née Loughlin was born and raised on Tuscarora Lake in the home of her parents, Lowell and Bea Loughlin. She was 23 years old when she passed, and married just three months to Aubry Brice. The widower Brice and his brother, Joshua, survived without injury. A monument to Danielle Brice stands in a clearing on the lake's southeast shore.
The trees and underbrush were cleared from the lakebed in an effort begun in 1969.
She was lost where she was found
She gave back to that from which she'd take
The water was her playground
A home on the shore she always knew she'd make
She was lost where she was found
Sparkling forever under Tuscarora Lake
"Diamond In the Lake"
-By Marie Ann Karp, 1968
She gave back to that from which she'd take
The water was her playground
A home on the shore she always knew she'd make
She was lost where she was found
Sparkling forever under Tuscarora Lake
"Diamond In the Lake"
-By Marie Ann Karp, 1968
Scottish Fest
Since 1988 the lake has welcomed the Erieville Scottish Fest, a celebration of Scottish culture, food, and arts held on the Latham Landing at the nothern point of the lake. The Scottish fest is a major attraction for visitors to the lake. It is held annually in the early weekends of June.
Lake Conservation Committee
If you would like to join the lake Tuscarora Conservation Committee, contact committee@tuscaroralake.org. Committee members work with town council on necessary improvements to the lake as well as planning for possible festivals and celebrations at the lake.
This page created by the TUSCARORA CONSERVATION COMMITTEE. (C) 2004