It was previously called Soft Water Lake[3] until it was named for Polly Gage (1805–1882)[4] who lived on the lake and took advantage of the water’s softness for the laundry of the Nashotah Mission.[5] Gage lived there until 1880 when the property was foreclosed.[6] The family of Laura Tallmadge (1842–1879) also lived on the lake.[5]
^ abEcological Society of America. Committee on Preservation of Natural Conditions (1926). Shelford, Victor Ernest (ed.). Naturalist's Guide to the Americas. Williams & Wilkins. p. 287. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
^Juday, Chancey (1914). "IV Oconomowoc–Waukesha Lakes". The Inland Lakes of Wisconsin: The Hydrogeography and Morphometry of the Lakes. Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey Scientific Series. Vol. 9. Edward A. Birge, Director. Madison, WI: State of Wisconsin. p. Map xiv. OCLC3648367.
^"Died". The Weekly Wisconsin. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. March 15, 1882. Retrieved 18 March 2023. Mrs. Polly Gage, of Nashotah, aged 76 years, fell asleep at St. John's Church Home, in this city, on Friday evening.