Loch Erin History
The Loch Erin project located in Cambridge and Franklin Townships in Lenawee County, Michigan was conceived in the minds of two Eastern University Professors in 1966, and with great energy and determination, they set out to fulfill their dream.
The total project was designed by Associated Engineers and Surveyors, of Adrian, with Lou Winkelhause of Ann Arbor doing the dam and spillway. The lake, an impoundment of Wolf and Onsted Creeks emerged, with a surface area of approximately 622 acres. Everyone still agrees that it is an excellent design, with large lots, views of the lake for almost every lot, many parks, and shortcut walkways to the parks for off-shore lots.
The Loch Erin Corporation (headed by the two professors) intended that approximately two thousand lots be developed and sold. The Professors drew the names for the subdivisions and streets from the map of Ireland. They advertised mightily and hired a high-pressured sales team. By the late sixties/early seventies three subdivisions were platted and sold, a total of 583 lots. (Which were a little less than half the total waterfront area.)
Most of the amenities, and the sewer system were still not complete when the developer failed. A successor developer also failed to complete the project, so the 583 lot owners were left with unbuildable lots, to fend for themselves.
On May 16, 1977, the Loch Erin Property Owners Association (LEPOA), which had been set up by the original developer and then allowed to become inactive, was reinstated with attorney Robert R. Nix II as the new resident agent. They hired an Engineer named Ray Fix from Progressive Engineers in Grand Rapids who designed a new concept pressurized sanitary sewer. With the backing of the Lenawee County Drain Commission and with the hard work and good judgement of the LEPOA board of directors, the many problems that had befallen the development were solved.
In January of 1984, IRISH HILLS REALTY, INC. purchased approximately 450 acres around the lake that had reverted to Michigan National Bank. They developed the plats of Wicklow (1984), Kingsford (1986), Wexford (1988), and Limerick (1989).
Loch Erin now has the sewer system in place, paved streets, (these assessments have been paid in full), is serviced by Southwestern Rural Electric Co-op on the South side and Consumers Power on the North and West, Citizens Gas for natural gas, and Frontier Communications with an Onsted exchange for phones. It is in the Onsted Community School District.
The LEPOA is a non-profit organization. Dues are $100.00 per year. The organization is very active, always striving to improve their planned lake development and to keep it a pleasant and pleasurable place to live.