Willow Lake was built in the late 1800s, by Henry Dubois Van Wyck. Mr. Van Wyck
was a native son who ventured west, made a fortune in the California gold rush and
returned home. Van Wyck served as the first mayor when Fishkill was incorporated
in 1899. He also built Van Wyck Hall in Fishkill as a theater. At Willowlake, the site of
the current main house was formerly the location of a hotel built by Mr. Du Bois
called Knickerbocker Lodge. The Lodge was featured on old postcards and was a
very nice place to go for special occasions. Postcards dated 1906 talk about "our
special wedding anniversary" at Knickerbocker Lodge.

The hotel burned in the early 1920s, and J. H. Noah Slee, a South African inventor
of "3 -in- 1 Oil" , acquired the property and built a stone house for his wife-to-be,
Margaret Sanger. Time named Sanger as one of the hundred most important
people of the 20th century.

Fieldstone from the area was gathered to construct the main house, and stone gate
house.   The main house was finished in 1924, and the stone gate house in 1928.  
Historical lore contends that the water from Willow Lake was, at one time, bottled
and sold to cure diabetes.   There are many old structures on the property, and
"rescued" old farm implements arranged on one hillside, creating a "mini" museum.   
History
Willow Lake Vacation Rentals
Old Postcard of
Knickerbocker
Lodge on
Willowlake