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OTTER LAKE is situated just 6 km north of Dorset, Ontario. Cottages were first built here in the 1940’s but prior to that a camp “Camp Otter” was established on its north shore in the early 1900’s. Camp Otter had a somewhat colourful history. Back in 1910 a faculty member of Cornell University founded Camp Otter. It was the peacefulness and serenity of nature that attracted a Cornell student, Elwyn Brooks White, to spend summers here. E.B. White was the famed author of the children’s book Charlotte’s Web. Another of his books, The Trumpet of the Swan, features a camp that apparently mirrors what Camp Otter would have looked like during his time here. Another person of interest was James Thurber, the American cartoonist and writer for The New York Times. Thurber, on invitation from White, who was also employed by The New York Times, attended Camp Otter in 1930. During his two week stay, Thurber sketched wild animals for the camp paper Otter Bee. In June of 1989 Cottage Life Magazine published a feature article about Camp Otter and Otter Bee written by Otter Lake cottager, Patricia Bradbury. Camp Otter had been owned by a number of people and, in 1970 after 60 years, it closed.  The land was sold and divided into cottage lots. Today, there are 91 cottages on Otter Lake with many multi-generational families enjoying the beauty of Otter Lake. Otter Lakers are proud and thankful to be part of a colourful history and such a beautiful lake!

Nita Acker

President, OLCA