Cedar Lake, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cedar Lake is a 99 acre (40 hectare), residential lake, private community and unincorporated area within Denville Township, Morris County, New Jersey, United States. The community's governing body, the Cedar Lake Property Owners, has been maintaining its 320 acres of land since June 2, 1925.
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[edit] History
Cedar Lake was originally a small, natural, spring-fed body of water. In its early days, the lake was used as an ice factory, where the frozen water was harvested and sold during the winters. The lake was dammed and its size was increased to improve the ice harvesting. In 1906, when it was still called Cranberry Lake or Silver Lake, it was purchased by M. W. Raynes and George B. Wright under their company Cedar Lake Park, Inc. The developers marketed their property as a summer resort and built cabins, lodges, and camps for its new residents. Many wealthy New Yorkers vacationed at the lake during weekends, including prominent figures such as Babe Ruth, who stayed in a house on the West Side of the lake. Cedar Lake Park, Inc. went bankrupt in 1924, and the Cedar Lake Property Owners (CLPO) was incorporated and eventually took over ownership of the lake, roads and certain lots from the prior owner. As transportation improved and major highways were built through Denville, houses were built on most of the lots surrounding the lake. Today, over 300 families live in the Cedar Lake Community.
[edit] Recreation
The lake's water is clean, and is used for many recreational activities, including: swimming, fishing, ice skating, and non-motor boating. The Lake has two sand beaches and a floating dock, called "the float", all of which are centers for Cedar Lake's inhabitants to socialize, at any hour of the day and night, for and with many generations, and which are used by most members of the lake, especially throughout the summer months. The Cedar Lake Community Club (CLCC) runs a clubhouse available to all members of the lake, which provides a tennis court, basketball court, and a playground, organizes many community activities, and hosts a bar for the adults every Friday night.
Cedar Lake is a member of a local athletic organization called Hub Lakes, which includes other local communities: Lake Arrowhead, Estling Lake, Lake Hiawatha, Indian Lake, Lake Intervale, Mountain Lakes, Lake Parsippany, Rainbow Lake, Rock Ridge, Lake Telemark, and White Meadow Lake. Hub Lakes provides competition between the lakes in bowling, diving, golf, horseshoes, roller hockey, softball, swimming, table tennis, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. The lake's swim team is a strong unifying element for the community, involving much of the lake's youth each summer.
[edit] Lake Culture
The Cedar Lake culture is a source of pride for all Cedar Lakers. The community's prodominently middle class inhabitants, geographic isolation from other Denville neighborhoods, and strong involvement in organized lake activities all contribute to the friendly, safe, and caring environment that characterizes Cedar Lake culture. The youth of the community are encouraged to get involved in programs such as playgroup and the swim team at a young age, which helps them to become close to their peers. The parents often get involved with their children's lake activities and community club events. Many families on the lake have been there for numerous generations, also contributing to the close-knit environment.
[edit] External links
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(County seat: Morristown) |
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| Boroughs |
Butler | Chatham | Chester | Florham Park | Kinnelon | Lincoln Park | Madison | Mendham | Morris Plains | Mount Arlington | Mountain Lakes | Netcong | Rockaway | Riverdale | Victory Gardens | Wharton |
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| Towns | Boonton | Dover | Morristown | |
| Townships | Boonton | Chatham | Chester | Denville | East Hanover | Hanover | Harding | Jefferson | Long Hill | Mendham | Mine Hill | Montville | Morris | Mount Olive| Parsippany-Troy Hills | Pequannock | Randolph | Rockaway | Roxbury | Washington | |
| CDPs and other communities | Budd Lake | Cedar Knolls | Cedar Lake | Convent Station | Flanders | Green Village | Lake Swannanoa | Landing | Lake Telemark | Long Valley | New Vernon | Port Morris | Stirling | Succasunna-Kenvil | Towaco | Union Hill | Whippany | White Meadow Lake | |
