Third Lake

History

The Alexander Druce Family were the earliest residents of the settlement in 1861. This family owned the land as well as both Druce Lake and Chittendon Lake. The second of which was named after a farming family from further north, the name would be changed to Third Lake in 1954. The Druce Family cemetery was in place by 1907. In 1959 Third Lake was incorporated as a village in order to avoid pollution and halt development. Despite the actions taken, major development of the area began in the mid-1980's in the hands of a development syndicate. Third Lake has been the headquarters of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of New Gracanica – Midwestern America since 1977. Third Lake is home to the New Gračanica church and monastery complex, which houses a detailed replica of the Gračanica monastery in Kosovo. Built on land that the Most Holy Mother of God Serbian Association purchased in 1977, New Gračanica Church and the main building on its grounds dedicated to the feast of the "Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God" were completed and consecrated in 1984. It is an impressive architectural replica of the original Gračanica of Kosovo, but built in a scale eighteen percent larger than the original. New Gračanica is richly attired with detail such as hand-carved wooden entrance doors depicting 23 monasteries and churches from various regions of Serbia.

Geography

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Third Lake has a total area of , of which (or 66.97%) is land and (or 33.03%) is water.

Race & ethnicity