The Origin of the Word 'Lodestar'

Oxford Dictionary
LODESTAR: a NOUN

1. A star that is used to guide the course of a ship, especially the Pole Star.
   
2. A person or thing that serves as an inspiration or guide.
   

‘the book he read was his intellectual lodestar’
‘she was his intellectual lodestar’

Origin: Middle English: from lode in the obsolete sense ‘way, course’ + star.

I was poking around search sites trying to find any information on how the old Camp Lodestar Lodge burned down and when for a blog on the old, new, and historic kitchens of Lodestar. And while finding nothing, I kept coming upon articles referencing 'Shakespeare' popping up in my ‘Lodestar’ searches. 

I followed the link to find, interestingly, The Complete Shakespeare Concordance is an electronic reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the written word so as to make information accessible, worldwide. Apparently, the 832-page concordance shows that Shakespeare’s works is one of the first times we find the word ‘lodestar’ used in the old English style. Maybe you already knew this, but page 452 documents that William Shakespeare used the word ‘lodestar’ to describe 'lodging', a ‘bed’, or ‘state of bedding down’, and also 'lode-star' as 'the leading-star, pole-star' in lyrical prose.

Please forgive my own ignorance, for I had no idea! The name 'Camp Lodestar' is so perfect for this place... a place which provokes the gift of our own, individually unique, 'lodestars'. A place to empower your heart and soul. A place which brings you closer to the things that matter in the midst of other distractions. 

Myself, with more experience in musical theater, have found that Shakespeare has to grow on you – as it did on me, when I was fortunate enough to be immersed in its mysterious, intriguing ways as costume/props/set piece designer alongside Producer/Director Robert Kelly of Theaterworks (Palo Alto) to produce two shows. They were for one of the very first Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festivals in 1995. We did ‘Two Gents of Verona’ and ‘A Midsummers’ Night’s Dream’. Dear Lord, what fun… they were also the last productions I worked on before I started fundraising. I was on my feet 24-7 hours a day in those days - pounding the pavement and stage floorboards.... No wonder they are now riddled with arthritis! (hand flip) ... And, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

(lodge fire update: Jeff (camp manager) only knows the new lodge which replaced the burned lodge is approximately 20 years old)

Link to Shakes' Concordance:​https://books.googleusercontent.com/books/content?req=AKW5Qad1kaG-SzZiEtZOCD1eSFKxDpdN-1SMY9Nb9ebrZG1LhAFKK57RX02BKKQojbOWwjdu655WR5c1J4syvLH0wa5cHjDv5_PSgEDbJwDRF1i_l12JvJR4fbJn1X-t91pmkRgFrcQ0ELAY7PmVJ3NSZY-YPoM7jW4BlPq4yp-5IQCZnUWV3xp_qMKUr373bKcleXnUNXUxJixq_8g-h62nlHbFj8a4yMHUEBgK7JHIeIt_JP5eaydtw_WNK4oFNpUbo0EZOgKuGBAjuFqrXqn7paEa57EiQb7rY2snarW4_pfnZPGYTII