LOVELL — The Lovell Historical Society has published a new book, “Kezar Lake Memoirs,” edited by Catherine Ingram Stone.

In the summer of 1889, five young men arrived on the shores of Kezar Lake in Lovell. They climbed the surrounding mountains, caught abundant fish and thoroughly enjoyed camp life.

From that year on, they visited Kezar every summer, camping on the islands in the Upper Bay. The composition of the group varied over the years, but the primary participants were Arthur P. Stone, William H. Allison, Frederick W. Dallinger, Lewis D. Hill and William E. Stark.

In 1900, they purchased Rattlesnake Island, their preferred camping spot, for $1,000. More than 100 years later, the island remains in their families’ hands, as do the adjoining properties that Stone acquired privately.

These men kept extensive records of their early visits to Lovell. Photographs, including those from their first camping expedition in 1889, still exist. Additionally, they left behind a large amount of written material.

“Kezar Lake Memoirs” is a collection of those writings, which reflect a defining time in Lovell’s history. The population and economy had been in decline for many years and tourism was about to become Lovell’s major industry. The five campers witnessed and documented the growth of hotels and boarding houses as well as changes in the lake’s usage and the area’s wildlife. They also wrote about the long-lasting friendships they developed and the folklore they heard.

Their writings are combined with 70-plus images from the Lovell Historical Society’s collection.

To purchase the book, call 925-3234, send an email to [email protected] or stop by the society’s Kimball-Stanford House, open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday.