Lake Swannanoa, New Jersey facts for kids
Lake Swannanoa is a community built around a beautiful lake in Jefferson Township, New Jersey. It's located in the scenic Skylands Region of New Jersey. This lovely spot is about 38 miles (61 km) by road from New York City.
Contents
Discovering Lake Swannanoa's Water
Lake Swannanoa has two main parts, joined by a narrow waterway. It was created by damming Russia Brook, which flows into the Rockaway River. There are also two smaller ponds nearby. In the northern part of the lake, you'll find an island called Snake Island. There's also a smaller island, Turtle Island, but it's hard to see from the shore now.
How the Lake is Controlled
The lake has two man-made dams, one for each section. The south dam has a special overflow area called a spillway and a valve. The north dam also has a large valve and an overflow spillway. Both dams were fixed up in 1998. They were originally built with fieldstone and concrete during the time of the Ringling family.
In 2013, the south dam was made even stronger. This was to meet important safety rules from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). These upgrades were needed after a very unusual storm in August 2000. This storm stayed over the area for more than a day, dropping a huge amount of rain – about 14 to 16 inches! Even though the main road flooded, the dams held strong. Some parts of the dam structure were weakened by the overflow, but these were fixed. Before the repairs, the lake's water level had to be kept lower to be safe.
The Lake's Flowing Water
Lake Swannanoa has a large area that collects rainwater, called a watershed. This means a lot of fresh water flows into the lake. The water in the lake completely changes about every 30 to 45 days. This is great because it keeps the water fresh and clean! However, it also makes it harder to treat aquatic weeds that might grow in the lake.
A Look Back at Lake Swannanoa's Past
Before European settlers arrived, this area was home to Native American tribes. Later, it became mostly farmland.
Alfred T. Ringling's Grand Estate
A famous circus owner, Alfred T. Ringling of the Ringling Brothers Circus, bought up the land. He made the lake much bigger by combining two smaller lakes. He also built a huge 28-room manor house and other buildings. These buildings were designed in a classic style and served as winter headquarters for his son's circus, the R.T. Richards Circus. Famous singer Geraldine Farrar even performed for guests in the manor's music room, which had a large organ and beautiful Tiffany stained glass windows. This grand era ended when Ringling passed away in 1919.
The buildings on the estate are so important that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For many years, the manor house was owned by a religious group called the St. Stanislaus Friary of the Polish Capuchins.
From Estate to Community
In 1925, Arthur D. McAllister bought the Ringling estate and renamed it Lake Swannanoa. He planned to build a fancy golf and country club with elegant parties. However, the Great Depression hit, and his plans couldn't happen.
Instead, in the 1930s, the area was developed into a residential community by Ringling Estates Inc. Small log cabin-style houses were built, mostly as summer homes. Many families used them for vacations throughout the 1950s. Today, most of these houses are lived in all year round, and many homes are built on what used to be several smaller lots.
The name "Swannanoa" is said to come from a Cherokee word, "Suwali-Nunna," which means "trail of the Suwali tribe." However, the name was chosen for the lake because people thought it meant "the beautiful trail." All the street names in the community are named after different Native American tribes.
Lake Swannanoa Today
Today, Lake Swannanoa (which includes the lake itself, the beach, and the land along the shore) is privately owned. It's managed by the Lake Swannanoa Homeowners Association, which used to be called the Swannanoa Sentinal Society. This is a private, non-profit group.
To be a member, you need to have a special agreement related to your property deed. There's a fee to join this agreement, and members also pay yearly dues. Only members who are in good standing are allowed to use the lake and its property.
Images for kids
-
Peggy Winterbottom in the Alfred T. Ringling elephant barn in April 1918.
