The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-12-18
THE LAKE
NOW FILLED
The New Lake on the POGO.
hontas Site Completed on
Time Last Friday.
Al SKATING PARK ASSURED

was closed down on caJufudy nOiHiuA
at nine-twenty and the old pond SO
familiar to an the older residents of
Morristown commenced TO fill again.
The work however was not finished,
although the concrete walls we're fin
ished and laborers have been busy
since completing the dyke at the head
Of Race street and filling 10 on the OPP
posite side Of the dam. The filing Of
fine pond validates the lease which AZ
derman Thompson secured from B. p.
Sieoelstein, the present holder Of title
to tic property and affords a place for
skating, boating, etc, for ten years 70
come. unless something should occur
before the expiration OF the time.
Since the work was started Contractor
Marinaro has had a large force OF men
At work Sundays as well as week days
and many nights, taking advantage Of
every pleasant day to rush the con-
crete and on the cold days wheeling in
the necessary earth for backing A
good share Of the filling was taken
from the bottom of the pond, but con-
siderable was also excavated from the
oakley property along the railroad
a deed many years old giving the own
ers Of the pond chat right.
With the shutting Of the gate came
more trouble. It seemed that the
United Electric CO., had a iive-inch
pipe from their station to the river,
through which they were pumping
water for boilers, etc, When the gate
went down, the river went dry except
for a little water from springs below
the dam and the electric pipe also
went dry. Manager Lynch made a
protest and was told that il was not
the intention OF the promoters Of the
lake to hurt anyone. While A =
Pierson, who has superintendent the
work was away, it is said that NJ.
Lynch and his son went to the gate
with jack screws and raised the gate
and incidentally injured some Of the
green concrete work somewhat Coun-
sci was taken and on being informed
that the Electric Company had apso-
lutely no rights in the matter, the
gate vas driven down to it's place
again
BY Sunday morning the water was
running over the dam and the OLD
pond looked natural, the sheet Of wa
ter covering practically all the land
covered before
The new dam is Of concrete with
concrete wing walls The former dam
was Of logs and stones. Formerly the
water was diverted through the race
to the old mill now torn down, but
since the race has been sold for build
ing lots, that waterway is out Of use
and dyke Of earth and boards has
been constructed to retain the water
in the pond, forcing it over the spill
way Of the dam.
The old dam went out in the great
food Of February 8, 1896, when all the
lower portions Of the town were
Hooded, the Abbett avenue bridge
was undermined and floated down
stream and considerable damage was
done to buildings and streets,
The original dam was built CEN
fury ago. Before that time there had
been a smaller pond with dam near
" back Of j. %. Thompson's residence
for water power for Benohi Hatha-
ways Mill. James Wood, an extern
sive real estate operator ii that day,
purchased the land making up the
pond basin and site If the mill, and
The mill was erected for the manu-
facture Of paper Wood sold the prop
erty to Nathaniel r. Phillips. Day
ton i. Garfield owned tine property for
4 time and tHen the Kays got possess
sion. Their John o., William and
Alexander Kay made papere there in
partnership with William Henderson.
The Kay's also operated at Morris
Plains and Whippany.
The late Dr.. q. j. Flagler took title
to the property 10 1859 and the mill
was turned into a grist mill and 50
continued until it abandoned after
former Sheriff Duling moved out.
Since that time the buildings have
run down. Also on the property was
the Tompkins soap factory, which at
present is doing duty as dwelling
house
1t is estimated that the complete
cost Of the dam and grading will be
about $3 900. lot that amount Si,400
has been subscribed or paid, leaving a
little more than that sum yet to be-
raised. The committee feels that
many who were seepbical regarding
the completion Of the work now that
il is done Will come forward and con-
tribute toward the fund. Anyway
the committee should not be lett In
the lurch after their hard work to fill
one of the needs Of Morristown, a lake
OF ample size for sports both winter
and summer.
20. b. 4th NJ. j. BAL H.
THO tst,vc l1rfaq<3n fif,Nu f,sts,Sx, <,,@.ss,