The History of Crystal Lake

Abner O. (Joe) Whiddon, already a third-generation Texan Whiddon, prominent land owner and farmer, founded Crystal Lake 1.0 in 1913 where his corn and crops had grown on the West side of Crystal Lake. The lake was fed by a spring-fed creek the Caddo Indians called “Clear Branch.” Crystal Lake included very nice facilities for the day, night swimming and an indoor wooden floor skating rink. Sunday church services were held at the lake every week but the local church-goers frowned on “mixed-sex bathing.” To his dismay, a huge flood washed its ox-built dam away in the great flood of 1933.

His son, Orren Whiddon “O.C.”, AKA “Sugarbear”, took up the dream in 1947, along with his wife, Cynthia Betty Cockrell, a school teacher and Masters graduate of SFA. O.C., being jack-of-all-trades, could build or fix just about anything. O.C. rebuilt the dam larger and stronger and re-engineered the spillway area. The Crystal Lake 2.0 swimming area was relocated to the sandy East bank of the lake. Several iterations of bath house locations, piers, and swimming arrangements were attempted including night swimming, and two golf course locations.

Orren Whiddon had strict rules, though. After only a few years, glass bottles were totally outlawed — and so was cussing. In fact, he preferred church groups and boy scout troops to reserve it in the daytime. A Catholic church held their services there regularly.