Lower Shaker Lake

In 1826, early Shaker pioneers dammed Doan Brook to create Lower Shaker Lake and establish a sawmill and gristmill. In 1854 a second dam created Horseshoe Lake to accommodate more mills. In 1892, 280 acres of the parklands were donated to the City of Cleveland, and are now leased by the cities of Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights. It is an Audobon birding area and tagging of migrating birds begins next week.

As I walked along the All People’s Trail, I spotted perodic quotes by Rachel Carlson on the rails. She was a marine biologist and conservationist, credited with initiating the global environmental movement through her book Silent Spring, published in 1962.

“There is something infinitely healing about the repeating refrains of nature - - the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring comes after winter.”