In 1895, a Wisconsin lumberman by the name of A.D. Johnston purchased  of land at the south end of Clark Lake with the intent to cut the large pines located there. Upon seeing the land for himself, he was so taken by the rugged beauty of it that he changed his mind and decided to preserve it. He soon invited friends, many of whom were equally impressed and so moved to purchase adjacent lands, and after some time the Sylvania Club was formed, with fishing, hunting, and hiking being the main focus.
In 1895, A.D. Johnston purchased land at Clark Lake with the intention of logging its pines. However, he changed his mind upon seeing the beauty of the land and decided to preserve it. This led to the formation of the Sylvania Club for recreational activities like fishing, hunting, and hiking.