Truman B. Worden is recorded as a First Land Owner in Genoa Township, Section 25, in the spring of 1835. The Genoa Township parcel included most of the lake, which now bears his name. He also purchased property in Brighton Township, Section 31. (However, he didnt live on that property; he apparently lived in a log cabin at about 400 E. Grand River. This place was known as the Worden House and was used as a school during the 1840s.) Wordon was the first death in the village, November 29, 1837 and the first buried in the cemetery by the Mill Pond. (the 1880 Census lists his wife, Jane, (born 1809) as divorced. The only person so identified in the Brighton Township Census.)
By 1850, Ben Cushing owns the Worden Lake site. The Cushings had a tavern and hotel on the Grand River Trail in Brighton at the time. They were also the builders of the Eastern House in 1850, on the northeast corner of the Trail and Fitch Street, (Main). To preserve food during the summer, . . ice was cut on Big Worden Lake during the winter months and stored in sawdust in an ice house for use in the Eastern House. (Construction of the railroad resulted in a Little Worden Lake and a Big Worden Lake.) By 1895 a railroad spur is found on the east side of the lake. That portion is owned by H. Newman. Ice was shipped to Detroit and other cities. Several structures are shown on the atlas, which can be considered ice storage buildings.
John Learys WORDEN LAKE FARM, in the 1895 atlas, included the south and west portion of the lake. He also owned 40 acres in the SW ¼ of the SE ¼ of Section 25 in Genoa Township, which fronted on the north side of Brighton Road just east of the curve around Lime Lake. (Another major source of ice.) John probably followed the usual agricultural pursuits of the time; raising crops and perhaps cut some of the marsh hay that was also used to insulate ice.
By 1935 the Stuhrburg Brothers own the ice business side of the lake and also ran the Eastern House. Dr. J.D. Singer owns the remaining 71 acres, which had constituted Learys Worden Lake Farm.
By the late 1950s, a group of businessmen has purchased the property and much of the lake. In 1961 skiers from Southeastern Michigan are flying down the slopes of Mt. Brighton. Mt. Brighton subdivision comes into existence and homes and churches line the north side of Brighton Rd., John Learys old farm.
Compiled by Marieanna Bair from First Land Owners of Liv. Co. and Early Land Owners and Settlers of Liv. Co. 1820/1870 and Early Obituaries, all compiled by Milton Charboneau; Village Cemetery transcription by John and Janice Field; census records and atlases.