Thanks to everyone who replied about the two Otter Lakes. Many were careful to distinguish between a actual lake versus a community by the same or similar name. (1) "Otter Lake" is a magical community and lake in the Northeast corner of Oneida County part of the Adirondack chain of Lakes that is 3 miles n. of White Lake & s. of Old Forge. It is in the "Town of Forestport", although they go to Town of Webb Schools and pay taxes to the Town of Webb. It is along present-day Rt. 28 n. of Woodgate. Maps show OTTER LAKE NE of Boonville (2) "Big Otter Lake" is in Herkimer County, and slightly in Lewis County. There is reportedly no settlement there today. There were camps there during the logging in the early 1900's. Maps show BIG OTTER LAKE slightly NW of Old Forge & east of Lowville in the Adirondack Park. The lake outlets into Otter Creek which flows into the Black River. I was given pointers to search for "Otter Lake" and 'big otter lake' in http://mapping.usgs.gov/www/gnis/gnisform.html and to current townships in all New York Counties in 1898. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/gmdhome.html UNANSWERED QUESTION: Was Big Otter Lake once in "Town of Gregg", Lewis County, NY? ThankS again, Rick Merrill Regards, Rick Merrill "Vincit qui Patitur" - Merrill family motto