Other Islands of Star Lake
In addition to the largest island, Pine Island, there are four other islands in Star Lake. All of them are located in the south bay:
The largest two are often called the twin islands, and they are located on the east end of the south shore, near "Trestle Bay" where the main boat landing in located. Tradition names these islands "Pest House Island" and "Bar Island". The story is that Pest House was used for a building to house people with small pox. Other than this being a widely circulated story, I have never found any valid evidence of its veracity. Likewise, Bar Island was the location of a speakeasy. Star Lake was a company town and the company did not want liquor available. Whether it was forbidden in some way, or simply not sold in the store or hotel, both of which were owned by the company, I have no idea. But the story is that if you wanted a drink you went out to Bar Island, put your money down on a little turntable, it turned and out came the desired bottle. Both of these are good stories, even if they aren't true. No one has ever been able to tell me which island is which!
The next island is "Rock Island." It lies at the end of a sand bar, marked part of the way with visible rocks, that extends from the end of the peninsula, south into the south bay. The island his a large rock on it, some shrubs, and not much else.
The smallest island is "Loon Island." It is said to be the nesting place for loons on the lake, but I have never found a nest there. It is about six feet in diameter surrounded by water plants, toward the south end of the large channel that connects the south and north bays. The island is surrounded by a circle of reeds about 35 feet in diameter. There is one shrub on the island, about three feet tall. In the sixty years I have been observing the island, it hasn't changed a bit.
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Major References
Minor References
FROM JAMES ALDOUS DIARY
In his entry for August 23, 1926, refers to fishing near "Pest Island." This usage of the term is much closer in time to a possible actual use of the island than any other I am aware of--Charles Forbes.