Once winter came, the pond’s frozen surface drew many to skate away a cold winter day or evening. A 1905 newspaper clipping noted, “Clinton Lake boasts of the best skating pond in the west part of the county.”

   By 1924, the Bellefield Driving Park was but a memory, and the fairs that once drew thousands ceased to exist. It soon became a summer resort, where campers pitched their tents and came to enjoy hot summer days. Some entrepreneurs set up booths and sold their wares, and the lunch stand became a popular place to grab a quick bite to eat. Residents enjoyed fishing, diving, swimming and sunning. In the evenings, entertainment lent a festive atmosphere, as campers brought out their instruments to entertain the crowd. They brought mouth organs, jew’s-harps, violins and victrolas. Quartets became popular, and campers, along with local residents, would sit around the grounds to listen to the groups perform.

   Fishing grew in popularity by 1933. The pond was stocked with bass, catfish, yellow perch and yellow pike.

   Although the large fair that drew thousands was discontinued in the 1920s, by 1940 Clinton Pond had new life as the location for the annual Clinton community picnic held in the summertime. Residents knew to come to the annual picnic at the “old Clinton fairgrounds,” and spent the day with their families, enjoying baskets they brought filled with food and refreshments.

   Eventually, the pond grew to be known as Clinton Lake.

   Amy Campbell shared information about the lake during that period. She noted, “It was Ed Wilson’s family - my family as well, that owned the lake; the same Wilsons from the founding pastor of the Clinton United Presbyterian church - the Reverend William Wilson. Ed Wilson was my mother’s family. The owners of the lake were the family of Algernon Wilson, the grandson of the minister.”

   Campbell also said she remembers family recalling a story about the Wilson’s house on the lake having bars on the windows because of Indian attacks.

   Judy Bolind added, “Ed Wilson’s ancestors owned the Clinton Lake property in the mid 1800s. It was their farm but was turned into Clinton racetrack and fair grounds.”

   She said it was sold to Pittsburgh Coal Company in 1916.

   Other local families - the Saunders and McElhaneys - owned the property at different times throughout the century.

   From the 1950s through the 1970s, the lake drew people from around the region. Campbell recalls that many kids were bussed to the lake from Pittsburgh in the 1950s through the 1970s.

   Rebecca Reynolds and Keith Wilson both recall that a man died swimming at the lake in the 1970s.

   Other area residents have memories, too. Penny Layne said, “My dad got bit by huge catfish there. We used to catch the catfish with beach towels!”

   Ernie Leopold said, “I went there as a kid with my aunts. Remember a little beach area at the end of the lake near the road. It had a small concession stand and high diving board. Mud bottom and rumor had it, it was full of catfish that would sting you.”

   Others recall iceskating there in the winter.

   The A.R. Building Company purchased the old Clinton Lake property several years ago and began developing the area for residential use. Now, just down the road from Clinton Commerce Park, the new Clinton Lake development offers townhouses available for rent. Developers have maintained some of the historic nature of this once popular community spot, by keeping a six-acre section of the old Clinton Lake as a centerpiece to the development. A walking trail has also been added around the lake.