Indian Lake (New Jersey) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Indian Lake |
|
|---|---|
The "Big Beach" or the Main Beach (summer 2006)
|
|
 Indian Lake
Location in New Jersey
Indian Lake
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Denville Township, New Jersey |
| Coordinates | 40°53′19″N 74°29′19″W / 40.888640°N 74.488600°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface elevation | 509 ft (155 m) |
Indian Lake is a beautiful reservoir and a small community located in Denville Township, New Jersey. It sits about 505 feet (154 m) above sea level. To its west, you'll see Snake Hill rising 780 feet (238 m), and to its east, Chestnut Hill reaches 640 feet (195 m).
Contents
The Story of Indian Lake
Indian Lake was once a quiet area with many farms. There were farms like the Hinchman farm, the Thomas Green farm, and the Ed Beam farm.
How the Lake Was Created
The idea for Indian Lake came from Joseph B. Righter, a local man from Denville. He wanted to create a community similar to nearby Mountain Lakes. He realized that Den Brook, a small stream, could form a great lake because of the hills around it.
Around 1920, Mr. Righter bought about 300 acres (1.2 km2) of land. He started clearing the trees. Oxen helped pull the trees to a sawmill set up right there.
A dam was built to hold back the water from Den Brook. This dam has since been replaced because it got old.
From Lenape Lake to Indian Lake
As Den Brook filled the cleared land, a new lake was formed. It was first named Lenape Lake. This name honored the Leni Lenape Native Americans, who were the first people to live in this area.
Mr. Righter planned roads and divided the land into plots for homes. The very first house was sold right next to the dam. Sadly, Joseph B. Righter passed away in November 1922. He never saw his dream for Lenape Lake fully developed.
His wife, Susan A. Righter, built the first house on Lenape Lake. It still stands today at the corner of Southwynde Drive and Indian Road.
A Summer Getaway
Later, the A.D. Crane Company bought the property. They changed the original plans. Instead of building expensive year-round homes, they decided to create a summer community with smaller lots. They also changed the name from Lenape Lake to Indian Lake. However, the island in the lake kept the name Lenape Island.
Many new residents came from places like Hudson, Bergen, and Essex counties. Back then, a lot not on the lake could cost $300–$400. Lakefront lots were about $1000.
For many years, Indian Lake was a popular summer spot. In 1924, about 500 people spent their summers there. During the Great Depression, some families moved from New York City to their cottages. After World War II, more people needed homes. This led to Indian Lake becoming a year-round residential area.
Native American History
The earliest known people in this area were the Leni Lenape tribe. What we now call Lenape Island was once a Native American settlement.
A pastor named Rev. C.R. Snyder studied archeology in the late 1800s. He explored the hills and fields around Denville. On Lenape Island, he found many tools used by the local Native Americans. These included arrowheads, knives, pestles, and pieces of pottery.
Getting Around Indian Lake
Indian Lake is right in the middle of Denville Township. Denville is even called the "Hub of Morris County." The lake is very close to Interstate 80, a large highway. It's also near US Route 46 and New Jersey State Route 53. These roads are very busy.
Sometimes, drivers who don't live in Indian Lake use its narrow roads as shortcuts. Roads like Franklin Road, North Shore Road, and Indian Road were built in the 1920s. They were not designed for today's heavy traffic.
Even with the busy roads, many Indian Lake residents enjoy walking or riding bikes to Downtown Denville.
Indian Lake Community Club
In 1923, the people who owned property in Indian Lake wanted an organization to manage the lake. They formed the Indian Lake Community Club. Its goal was to help and protect the interests of everyone living in the community.
The club is a private group. To use the lake and its facilities, you need to be a member. A group of elected officers and trustees runs the club.
Dr. W. Moore Gould was the first president of the Indian Lake Community Club. In 1923-1924, about 130 families were members. Dues were $10 per family. During the Great Depression, some members paid their dues by working for the club. Today, the Indian Lake Community Club has about 500 member households.
Fun Activities at the Lake
The main building for the club is a large clubhouse right by the lake. In summer, Indian Lake has three beaches with lifeguards. These beaches are busy with activities. You can enjoy Boating, fishing, basketball, horseshoes, and other sports. Indian Lake is also a great place for water skiing and tubing.
Indian Lake is part of the Hub Lakes association. This group includes several lakes in Morris County. Hub Lakes organizes sports competitions where Indian Lake members of all ages can join. Sports include volleyball, swimming, diving, softball, horseshoes, golf, and track. The track and dive teams have been very successful recently!
The club also offers year-round programs. These include swimming lessons, aerobics classes, dances, and dinners. Some fun events are a pig roast, a lip sync contest, and visits from Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny for kids. There's also a bass fishing contest, a New Year's Eve party, and a clam bake.
Different smaller clubs help organize events. These include a Woman's Club, Men's Club, Senior Club, Junior Club, and the Aquatic Club. Members can also rent the clubhouse for their own private events.
You can find out about lake activities in the Indian Lake Crier. This is a monthly newsletter sent to local residents.
Indian Lake's King and Queen Tradition
Since 1927, Indian Lake has had a special tradition: choosing a king and queen from the teenagers living at the lake. Except for a few years, a royal couple has reigned every summer.
A Royal Celebration
During World War II, the titles changed to Mr. Victory and Miss Liberty. In 1944, they held a bathing beauty contest instead, as there weren't many young men around. But by 1947, everyone was excited to bring back the royal couple election.
The king and queen are usually high school seniors. They are chosen by a vote of all lake members during Fun Weekend. A few weeks later, a big royal celebration takes place over an entire weekend.
It starts on Friday night with the official coronation and a party. On Saturday, there's a semi-formal royal ball with a special theme. On Sunday afternoon, a car parade goes around the lake, often followed by a picnic. It's a weekend full of tradition that all lake members are invited to enjoy. Since 1965, an adult couple, Mr. & Mrs. Indian Lake, has also been elected.
Images for kids
-
The "Big Beach" or the Main Beach (summer 2006)
-
The Indian Lake Clubhouse in winter 2006
