Leaser Lake, reservoir in Lynn Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, US
Leaser Lake is a 117-acre reservoir in Lynn Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, the only lake in the county. It is held by an earth embankment dam about 430 feet long and 53 feet high on the Jacksonville Branch of Ontelaunee Creek. The lake reaches 45 feet deep and lies within a 540-acre park.
The lake opened to the public in 1971 as a recreation area. The dam has experienced seepage problems since construction, requiring repairs in 1991, 1999, and again from 2008 to 2009, with the reservoir finally reaching full capacity in spring 2015.
The lake takes its name from Frederick Leaser, a Lynn Township resident who in September 1777 hauled the Liberty Bell from Philadelphia to Allentown after the wagon carrying it broke down. The bell was delivered to Zion Reformed Church. Leaser's home stood in what is now Lynn Township, and his name has been attached to this water body since it opened in 1971.
A flat, easy trail circles the entire lake and takes about two hours to walk, with picnic tables and rest areas along the way. Only small boats with electric motors are permitted, and gasoline engines are prohibited to keep the water calm and clean. The park offers parking, restrooms, and accessible docks for visitors.
The wagon carrying the Liberty Bell broke down on the way to Allentown in September 1777, and the bell was moved onto Frederick Leaser's own wagon to finish the trip to Zion Reformed Church. Leaser's home stood in what is now Lynn Township, the township that surrounds the lake bearing his name.
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