The book I vaguely remember had something to do with a child or maybe siblings going to spend the summer with an elderly aunt (I think) who was living on a lake where most of the houses were abandoned. It had once been a vibrant summer community ca. 1900 (I think), but was now mostly deserted sans aunt’s household. There may or may not have been a mystery component to it. I think I read it around 4th grade maybe ca. 1977?
Maybe Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright?
Look at MAGIC BY THE LAKE, by Edward Eager, which is about that reading level. It’s in the HALF MAGIC universe.
This sounds similar to Goneaway Lake by Elizabeth Enright. A boy and girl cousin discover a mostly abandoned summer community. An elderly brother and sister returned to live there.
“Gone-Away Lake” by Elizabeth Enright? The place used to be a holiday resort, but when the lake dried up everyone left except an elderly brother and sister.https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/175824.Gone_Away_Lake
Gotta be Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright.
This sounds like Elizabeth Enright’s Gone-Away Lake.
Gone Away Lake
Return to Gone Away
I’ve read both Magic by the Lake and Gone-Away Lake recently, and I too think it’s the latter. The community in Magic by the Lake is still pretty active.