Orange Lake (New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Orange Lake |
|
|---|---|
View of lake from NY 52 along south shore
|
|
 Orange Lake
Location in New York
Orange Lake
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Orange Lake, New York |
| Coordinates | 41°32′57″N 74°06′12″W / 41.54917°N 74.10333°W |
| Primary inflows | Bushfield Creek |
| Primary outflows | Bushfield Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 1.1 mi (1.8 km) |
| Max. width | 4,000 ft (1,200 m) |
| Surface area | 400 acres (160 ha) |
| Surface elevation | 488 ft (149 m) |
Orange Lake is a lovely lake located near the small community, or hamlet, that shares its name: Orange Lake, New York. You can find it in the Town of Newburgh, in New York State, United States. It's quite large, covering about 400 acres. This makes it the biggest lake that is completely within Orange County, which is also where it gets its name!
Contents
Exploring Orange Lake's Geography
Orange Lake is about 1.1 miles long and 4,000 feet wide. It sits in a valley that was carved out by a glacier a long time ago. There are big swampy areas at its north and south ends. The land gently rises on the east and west sides.
Roads Around the Lake
- NY 52 runs along the southern shore, passing through the swamps.
- NY 300 goes past the northern part of these swamps.
- Lakeside Road follows the eastern side of the lake, which has many homes.
- Rock Cut Road runs along the western shore. This side has fewer buildings.
How Water Flows In and Out
Water flows into Orange Lake from the north through Bushfield Creek. This creek starts in the Town of Shawangunk in Ulster County. Bushfield Creek then flows east, following Route 52 closely. It eventually empties into Quassaick Creek near Algonquin Park. From Quassaick Creek, the lake's water finally reaches the Hudson River. This happens where the city of Newburgh meets New Windsor.
Seeing Far from the Lake
On clear days, if you are at the southern end of Orange Lake, you might be able to see the Devil's Path mountain range. These mountains are part of the Catskills in Greene County. It's one of the farthest places south where you can see these peaks without having to climb a mountain yourself!
Orange Lake's Past: A Look at Its History
Orange Lake has a long and interesting history, going back hundreds of years.
Early Names of the Lake
- The Native Americans who lived here first called the lake "Oussuk". This name meant "stony pond."
- Later, Dutch settlers arrived and called it "Binnin". This meant "water within land" or "water between other waters."
How the Lake Got Its Name
In 1684, a leader named Governor Thomas Dongan bought the lake and the land around it from the Native Americans. He then divided this land into many farms, especially dairy farms.
During the time of the Revolutionary War, a man named Captain Thomas Machin owned some mills here. He had a saw mill, a grist mill (for grinding grain), and even a mint (where money was made). These were located in what is now the hamlet, right where the lake's water flows out. There's a historical marker on Lakeside Road that shows where Machin's Mill used to be. Because of him, the lake started to be called Machin's Pond.
In the 1830s, a local church leader named James B. Wilson began calling the lake Orange Lake. No one is completely sure why he changed the name, but it was probably because the lake is in Orange County. Some local stories say that many people didn't like the new name at first. However, the name stuck, and it's still the name of the lake and the hamlet today!
Mills and Industry
Because Orange Lake is 488 feet above sea level, the stream flowing out of it was perfect for powering mills. The biggest mill was the Newburgh Bleachery, which was owned by the Chadwick Family.
A Popular Spot for Fun
During the 1800s, the shores of Orange Lake became a popular place for people to build summer cottages. Getting to the lake was hard until 1895. That's when a trolley service started between the City of Newburgh and the Village of Walden. Orange Lake was about halfway between these two places, so it became a popular stop.
Soon after the trolley line started, a very successful amusement park opened on the south shore of the lake.
- The trolley line stopped running in 1926.
- The amusement park closed during the Great Depression. It was torn down in 1941.
Pine Point was another very popular resort on a small piece of land sticking out into the lake. During the "big band era" (a time when swing music was popular), many famous musicians played there. These included Frank Sinatra and Benny Goodman. Pine Point opened in 1896 and closed in 1953.
Lakeview House, on Lakeside Road, first opened in 1866 as a place where people could stay. For many years, it was known as O'Malley's Bar. Today, it is still open and serves as a restaurant, using its original name.
How Orange Lake is Used Today
Orange Lake is not used to supply drinking water to any local towns. Also, there isn't a public place where everyone can go to use the lake.
However, people who live in the Orange Lake community, especially those on the eastern shore or in the "Orange Lake Estates" neighborhood on the western shore, have special rights to use the lake. This is true even if their property isn't directly on the water. They enjoy the lake for many fun activities:
- Boating
- Fishing
- Swimming in the summer
- Ice fishing in the colder winter months when the lake freezes over
