The Fairchild Island House Abandoned After Reservoir Relocation

The Fairchild family moved to Willowmere Island House in 1907 after Edward Fairchild built the home on inherited land beside a mountain valley settlement. The two-story residence housed three generations, including Edward, his wife Clara, their children, and later grandchildren who helped manage fishing and small timber operations. The family earned income from licensed fishing, guiding travelers across the lake, and supplying nearby villages with forest products.

Local records describe the island home as a maintained seasonal residence with regular use of the dock, sunroom, and household rooms before regional development altered the area.

The first warning sign appeared in 1928 when the Fairchilds received a notice that their ferry service agreement would end after reservoir expansion plans were approved. Construction of the mountain reservoir changed transportation routes and reduced visitors, causing the family’s guiding income to disappear. By 1930, they closed the upstairs guest room and stopped repairing damaged dock boards and the rope ferry. Government relocation payments were delayed, and unpaid maintenance costs accumulated. In 1933, the family accepted a settlement and moved to a nearby mainland village, leaving the island property behind during the final stages of the reservoir project.

Willowmere Island House was abandoned in 1934 after reservoir relocation ended the Fairchild family’s connection to the property. No restoration occurred, and no Fairchild descendants returned after settling on the mainland. Government records noted unresolved maintenance responsibility and limited access to the isolated island. The remaining rooms stayed closed, with furniture and documents left behind after the departure. Over the following decades, water exposure damaged the dock, foundation, and exterior walls. The small island residence remains empty in the reservoir, continuing to deteriorate without restoration, ownership resolution, or future plans.