LakeCarey

Lake Carey, Pennsylvania
Located northwest of Scranton on Route 6 north of Tunkhannock.

If past residents had their way, Lake Carey would be cleaning up from the Lake Millkens or Lake Moscoletta tornado.
Near the turn of the century, the Wyoming County lake's name stirred debate in local newspapers and among residents as they sought a name everyone could agree upon.
According to the Wyoming County Historical Society's archives, the lake's earliest known name was Barnum's Pond, after its owner, Elijah Barnum.
Barnum owned a lumber mill at the lake's outlet in 1800. Back then, the lake was "in the midst of a wilderness, the little house near the mill being the only one within miles of it," said the Wyoming Democrat of Tunkhannock in an 1881 article.
After Barnum's wife died, the mill was sold to Abel Marcy. Marcy continued the lumber business and the lake was known as Marcy's Pond, until a blind man named Earl Carey obtained the deed.
Some accounts say Carey was a local farmer who entertained local fisherman. He might have been, but he also owned the lake. The Wyoming County Historical Society has a copy of the deed.
It was first known as Carey's Pond, but later changed to Lake Carey when city people began to frequent its shores after the Montrose Railroad connected it to Scranton. WilkesBarre and Pittston.
That's when the tourists and summer cottagers began to arrive. By 1875, Lake Carey was known as a summer resort. In 1881, there were already 16 cottages.
Rumblings began circulating about a name change in 1881, to which the Wyoming Democrat quickly responded.
"The public have familiarized themselves with the name 'Lake Carey' and they are slow to adopt a new name. To speak of Lake Carey is to make yourself understood and a desire to speak understandingly seems more than ever prevalent."
It was suggested in 1887 that the name be changed to Lake Moscoletta, which was supposed to be the lake's original name given by Indians in honor of an Indian girl.
The Sept. 18, 1891, issue of The Wyoming Democrat berated the Scranton Tribune for changing Lake Carey's name.
"By what authority, we would inquire, does the Scranton Tribune change the name of our popular summertime resort from Lake Carey to 'Lake Millkens?' This same game was tried a few years ago.."
The Scranton Tribune had written: "The name of Lake Carey has been changed to Lake Millkens. The latter was the name of an Indian maiden who in the days of long ago, dwelt on the border of the lake and each morning saw her dusky charms reflected in the placid waters as she made her toilet. Millkens is supposed to be a more fetching name than plain, prosaic Carey. It is a name about which a romance can readily be conjured and no matter what other attractions a watering place may lack, it must have at least one romance in stock."
By 1896, were 68 summer homes at the lake, along with boardwaIks, boat houses, piers, docks and two hotels. Wrigley's Grove was in demand throughout the summer months for Granger's and Sunday school picnics.
The final failed name-change occurred in 1897, according to the Meshoppen Enterprise. It said the lake would be called, "Neoscoletta," "which was its original name having been christened by the Indians in honor of an Indian maid."