Camp Bywater is a private Camp on Lake Clear, owned by the Dorlon and Mitchell families. The camp occupies a 4-acre site on the northwestern shore. Early owners of this property include Ida H. Rice, owner of The Rice Hotel, which became the Lake Clear Inn.
FAMILY REUNION — The Dorlon cousins held their first family reunion in 43 years at Camp Bywater in Lake Clear recently. Families traveled from across the country to spend a week at the campsite, established in 1916 by grandparents Philip and Lillian Dorlon. (Photo for the Enterprise by Cady Mitchell)
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, July 24, 1992On January 20, 1906, the premises was conveyed to Ella S. McKenzee of Dobbs Ferry. It had once been the summer Camp of the McKensie School, a boarding school at Dobbs Ferry. This campsite included a main camp and four tent platforms-- one of them a Twin tent platform. . This property was within the boundaries of the Lake Clear Inn. Walter Cluett had helped Charlie Wardner buy the Lake Clear Inn around this time. Portions of the 8th and 9th holes of the Lake Clear Inn Golf Course ran through this property under an agreement with the Dorlons and the Inn.
In 1918, Lillian Cadby Dorlon had contacted Walter, her cousin, about the camp for the summer. They then rented the camp for the summer. On October 3, 1919, Cluett sold the camp to Lillian Cadby Dorlon and her husband Philip S. Dorlon.
November 16, 1934 John H. (Harf) Dorlon, acquired the camp from his parents and siblings. "Harf's Highway" is named after him. Harf enjoyed this camp for many years. He and his family, wife Martha Wetmore Dorlon, daughter Martha Knight Dorlon Mitchell and son John H. Dorlon Jr., stayed in the "Main Camp".
