The Patterson Lake Area
The Rader homestead seen from accross the lake
With open meadows surrounding a long, clear lake, ringed by hills, with high mountains on the horizon, Patterson lake was an appealing site for a homestead. The first families to develop this land were the Pattersons and the Raders. Sam Patterson, for whom the lake is named, was born in Walla Walla in 1864. After living on it for a period of time, he took squatters right to land on the south end of the lake before it was surveyed and farmed it throughout the 1890s. A historical publication, History of North Washington, described him as having 50 head of cattle, an orchard, and a crop of alfalfa
George Rader purchased the Patterson's property in 1896 for 350$ (which would be worth $11,127.25) today. He payed a 100$ down payment and agreed to work the rest off at 3.50$ per day. The Patterson family moved to the east side of the Methow River between Twisp and Winthrop. The Raders had 15 children. One of them, Leonard Rader obtained a homestead adjacent to Georges, who continually obtained homestead patents to expand his property.
The entire Rader family assembled for a portrait
The family managed to be self sufficient with the resources that the area provided them.
Not far from the Rader Homesteads was the Burton Fender Lumber Mill. The area that the mill was constructed on was purchased by Clarence and Anna Burton in 1909 for 4,000$ (equivalent to 127,168.57$). The mill and lumberyard were successful while the wood lasted, but when the area was finally depleted, they sold the property to Leonard Rader. With Rader Sr.s retirement from farming leaving his homestead to Leonard, his property expanded to 300 acres. Today, the foundation of George Rader's home is still identifiable, though none of Leonard Raders buildings remain.
The head gate of the flume constructed by the Wolf Creek Reclamation district being finished, while spectators look on, c. 1922.
The Wolf Creek Reclamation District began operation in 1921 to supply water for approximately 790 acres of irrigated land in the Winthrop area, including the Methow Valley School District, and irrigation and domestic supply for Sun Mountain Resort.
In 1922, they decided to use Patterson lake as a reservoir. This proved to be a massive undertaking. The surface was raised 25 feet; in order to do this, a flume over a mile long had to be installed. They also constructed a 30 foot high dam at the north end of the lake, which serves as the foundation for the bridge that ones drives across today.
