| WHITE LAKE |
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White Lake has two principal islands, the smaller of which - at the south end - is within the boundaries of Highland Township. This island has been known by several names over the years. As the old postcard below indicates, it was once called "Bi-Hu-Li" Isle or Island. While sounding vaguely Hawaiian, the name incorporates the first two letters of the last names of Messrs. Edward J. Bissell, Frank S. Hubbell and M. B. Liddell; all of whom were early and prominent patrons of the campgrounds on White Lake. It later became known simply as "Hubbell's Island" or "Hubbell Island." Following its purchase by Presbyterian Church it was often called "Youth Island" in recognition of its use as a summer retreat. In 1999 a proposal was made to change the name yet again to "Hansen Island," but this was rejected by the US Board on Geographic Names (USBGN) in February, 2000. Curiously, the USBGN's "official" designation of this geographic feature is "Hubbels Island," i.e., with only one "l" and no apostrophe. For a biography of Frank S. Hubbell click here.
