A severe storm in 1873 dramatically lowered Crystal Lake by roughly 20-feet. At the time, engineer Archibald Jones and his crew were trying to build a system of canals to Lake Michigan.
The storm destroyed a temporary dam as water flushed downstream for three weeks and created miles of new sandy beach.
This set the stage for a new railroad, telegraph and telephone services and development of a modern resort community.
The canals were never realized, but a permanent dam would be built in 1911 to accommodate the growing population.
Now it's home to the Village of Beulah with thousands of cottages, multiple resorts, shops, trails and rails, boating access, church camps, yacht clubs — all made possible by that terrible storm.
The community celebrated the 150 year anniversary on “Archibald Jones Day” September 4, 2023.