Lake Mohawk is a census-designated place and an unincorporated area located in parts of both Byram Township and Sparta Township, in Sussex County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 9,755.
The community is located around Lake Mohawk, the largest artificial body of water in the state of New Jersey that is a private lake.[1] There are two other small lakes in the mountains of the community, the Upper Mohawk Lake and the Alpine Pool, both of which are spring fed. The water for the Alpine Pool cascades down gracefully from a spring that rises from an even higher peak in the mountains. An alpine motif was used throughout the co
The buildings in the tiny town center resemble little castles, or reflect alpine architectural styles. This distinctive architecture in the town center and of many homes was a major aspect of the listing of Lake Mohawk on the National Register of Historic Places. The town center has a few restaurants, a post office, and limited shop, service, or professional space. This area is called White Deer Plaza after a native American who lent her name to the center. A tieredboardwalk was constructed along the northern edge of the lake where the town center exists. A clubhouse dominates the boardwalk near the waterfall created by the dam of the Wallkill River that created the lake. The river continues to flow through the lake in a northerly direction. A landing was provided along the boardwalk that residents may use to tie up to a dock while visiting the country club facilities. There is an outside restaurant that is open from Memorial day to Labor day for members only. Special events are scheduled to keep the children and teens involved. Annual events the Beer and Wine Tasting, German Christmas Market,Holiday Tree Lighting, Easter and Mothers Day buffet, 4 July Buffet and Fireworks. All of the events are for members only.
In the 1950s a movie theater, a stone's throw beyond the main entrance to the lake, called Winona Parkway, was built along the adjacent county roadway, route 15, which leads to the Dutch colonial and revolutionary era mining town of Sparta. The Central Hotel in Sparta drew as many diners for its pizza as did Krogh's Restaurant for its finer fare on the plaza overlooking the lake. Some residents would travel to Perona Farms for their fabulous buffet in nearby Andover. Fresh vegetables were sold from the gardens of a nearby Abby that developed a white corn strain called, Luther Hill Corn, the likes of which were never sold in a grocery store. The cob was about six inches long with jagged rows of tiny kernels that needed no butter for full enjoyment.
Beaches are provided along the edge of the lakes, spaced to enable residents to walk to the nearest one. Membership in the club is required for owners and renters alike. An issue of exclusion was raised at one point legally, but membership remains a requirement for residents. An attended gated area, resembling castle turrets, exists on the western "trail", which leads to the homes on the islands and along the western shore. A golf course located along the western drive is part of the country club.
Except for the Alpine Pool and the Upper Mohawk Lake areas that are accessible from an entrance high in the mountains, all of the community is reached by descending from the surrounding mountains of Sussex County. Homes have been built up each face of the enclosing mountains, but the roads to them are accessed only from the main road around the lake. From the Alpine Pool, a panoramic view of the county is possible. On one side almost the entire stretch of the main lake is visible and on the other, the mountains that reach into the states of Pennsylvania and New York.
At the southern end of the lake is a swimming pool and tennis complex originally called the "Marine Pool", that is constructed to resemble the deck of an ocean liner. It is modeled after the likes of SS Normandie, having all of the appointments of a cruise ship, with a galley motif for therestaurant and a great stand of stadium seating with colorful backs for the spectators at swimming events held at the facility. Through the seating is a stairway to the captain's quarters where the managers and lifeguards have quarters and stow special equipment.
The pool is ozone filtered, without a drop of chlorine in the water, and was the first pool in the United States to use Corona Discharge (CD) Ozone to treat its water. The filter system, built in 1937, was designed to resemble the engine room of the ship. The pool is Olympic-size(50m, with eight lanes) and has a central tower for diving events. The depth of the pool at that portion is ten feet. Both ends of the pool are more shallow, with a kiddie section nearest the tennis courts. On the northern end of the pool near the galley, there used to be a giant wetslide featured in "Zest" soap commercials on television in the 1960s. Beyond the pool to the south are three asphalt tennis courts, with another set of three clay courts in the parking area.
Swimming events at the pool are AAU competitions in all aquatic categories. Celebrities such as Buster Crabbe and Esther Williams were normal fare at the events in the 1940s and 1950s. This was a time when the youngsters of the community could hitch-hike rides along the road from their neighbors without concern.
In the 1940s and 1950s there was an "Indian village" with a souvenir shop, located along the opposite shore of the southern end of the lake that added another attraction depicted in post cards of the day. [2] The development of Lake Mohawk was referred to as a "reservation" in most promotional materials to continue the Indian tribe imagery.
Many of the homes along the water have boathouses and docks. Sail boats and motor boats are a popular way to get around the lake. The "Marine Base", a marina built in the style of the country club, is located at a mid point along the lake on the eastern shore.
The community used to be composed of summer residences. Few lived there around the year. Many houses were not insulated, nor did they have heating beyond a fireplace for especially cool summer nights. Among those who stayed year-round, friends would be hosted for the snowy holidays and winter sports. Driving across the frozen lake was shorter and safer than trying to traverse the steep hills. Even delivery trucks would make the short trip across the ice.
The seasonal residents of the early years included many who showed horses in the English-style regional circuits. Hunters, open-jumpers, and three- and five-gated saddle horses competed in the events. The Lake Mohawk Horse Show drew competitors from New York and Pennsylvania as well as New Jersey. The professional photographer who traveled from show to show along with the competitors throughout the season, maintained his office in Lake Mohawk at a little castle structure opposite the club house. Photographs of the competitors, judges, and winners were available from his files, selected from proofs sent to the subjects or from displays he set up at later shows.
Before the community was created, the area that is today Lake Mohawk was known as "Brogden's Meadow." A 600-foot dam on the Wallkill River was begun in 1926. The lake was filled in 1928. The dam was privately constructed by the developers Arthur D. Crane and Herbert L. Closs. They controlled the development, sales, and rentals of the entire community.
Soon after the construction of the lake, in the mid- to late 1930s, one of the architects was staying with his family in a seaplane on the lake. A fire broke out on the seaplane. While they escaped by boat, the plane sank to the bottom of the lake. In the late 1990s an Italian team attempted salvage, but according to their reports, the wreck was too deteriorated to be recovered.
The route to Lake Mohawk was a winding drive up and down through a shady rural and mountainous roadside until after the completion ofInterstate Highways connecting the area to the New York metropolitan area. After those high speed connections were established nearby into the county, the community took on a year-round population of entertainers, airline employees and pilots, as well as commuters.
